Notice This Before Using B20

The Government aims to make the use of biodiesel blended fuels (B20)  compulsory for all vehicles from 1 September 2018. All vehicles and machinery with diesel engine, both in Public Service Obligation (PSO) and non-PSO sectors, must use fuel blended with 20 percent palm oil-based biofuel content. It would be better for public to notice B20 basic characteristic before using it. According to First Chairman of The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) Jongkie Sugiarto, B20 basically is no different from existing diesel fuel. “Its performance is exactly the same as existing diesel fuel. It’s no difference.” In other words, all vehicles in the market are ready to use B20. “If it were unusable, B20 would not be sold in Indonesia,” he said. Gaikindo Chairman Johannes Nangoi remarked that B20 has a soap-like effect that is able to clean sludge off fuel tanks. In that case, fuel tank in old vehicles should be cleaned before using B20. “As long as it is clean, there will be no problem,” Johannes said. If it is not cleaned, it will lead to fuel filters being clogged by the sludge. “Without cleaning the tank, fuel filters could be clogged at the first use. It is because the old fuel is not as good as B20 so that it brings dirt and deposit at the bottom of the tank. The deposit dirt will be automatically cleaned by B20 because it has a soap-like effect,” Johannes said. ***