AGCO Approves Biodiesel Blends up to B100 for SisuDiesel Engines

29 November 2006

AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, has approved a broad range of biodiesel mixtures for its SisuDiesel engines. Depending upon the engine model, blends of up to B100 can be used without engine modification or any change in warranty coverage for the specified warranty period.

The biodiesel—the only approved alternative fuel for SisuDiesel engines—must adhere to the European standard EN 14214 or the US standard ASTM D6751.

Based in Finland, SisuDiesel is an AGCO-owned company that supplies diesel engines for a variety of AGCO brand products, as well as other OEM manufacturers for agricultural, industrial and marine applications. For agricultural machines, SisuDiesel offers 3-, 4- and 6-cylinder engines.

All new Tier 3-compliant SisuDiesel engines with common rail fuel injection systems may not be used with more than a maximum 20% biodiesel blend (B20). In other parts of the world outside the US and Canada, Tier 0 Valmet and Sisu diesel engines, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 Sisu engines can use biodiesel up to B100, or 100%.

However, when any blend greater than 5% (B5) is used, the crankcase oil drain, oil filter change and fuel filter element change intervals should be reduced by 50%, according to the company. Up to 5% dilution of biodiesel can be used with normal service intervals.

We see biodiesel as a win-win product for farmers, the environment and AGCO products. Even low blends of biodiesel have shown to reduce friction, lower maintenance costs and lengthen equipment life while proving friendlier to the environment and developing new markets for our customers’ commodities.

—Martin Richenhagen, chairman, president and CEO of AGCO Corporation

Biodiesel blends of 5% (B5) have also been approved for use in Perkins, MAN and Caterpillar engines used in a number of Massey Ferguson, FENDT and Challenger products respectively.