RESEARCH PAYS OFF. BROADENED DIESEL FUEL SPECIFICATIONS REDUCE RAILROAD COST

Two fuel properties were studied to find the tolerances of diesel fuel engines: cetane number and distillation range. These two problems were deemed most likely to correlate with engine problems and to control the price of fuel. The test program included long-term engine idling, engine performance, and limited wear/endurance. The laboratory tests were conducted on full-sized, 12-cylinder locomotive diesel engines. One fuel was tested for a year on locomotives in revenue service. It was found that both makes (General Electric and General Motors) of diesel engine have a much greater tolerance for cetane number and distillation range than called for in specifications for 2-D fuel oil. Based on the findings, broad fuel specifications were recommended. These include a minimum cetane number of 32 and a maximum 90 percent distillation point of 700 degrees F. The application of these specifications by several major railroads in the United States and Canada is noted. It is also noted that the use of the specifications represents a potential savings of as much as $70 million a year based on an estimated 3.5 billion gallons used by railroads in the United States. All of the savings in fuel costs are net savings.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/trnews/rpo/rpo.trn136.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07386826
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 1988-5

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 18-19
• Serial:
  • TR News
  • Issue Number: 136
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0738-6826
  • Serial URL: https://doi.org/10.17226/895

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cetane number; Diesel fuels; Distillation; Locomotives; Prices; Railroad transportation; Refining; Savings; Specifications; Testing
• Old TRIS Terms: Distillation, refining process
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469727
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM