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Project 55 leader Dr Damon Honnery using the Rail CRC diesel engine
test facility at Monash.
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The rail industry has a history of being approached by companies
offering fuel additives professing to reduce fuel consumption,
increase power and improve emissions. Rail CRC’s Project 55
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The assessment of the effect of diesel fuel additives on locomotive
performance and operation’
has provided the rail industry with an independent assessment of
the abundance of fuel additives marketed to the industry claiming
to deliver substantial fuel savings and efficiencies. However,
testing of more than 10 additives available on the market today did
not achieve a repeatable reduction in fuel consumption of more than
one per cent, even though some companies market up to five per cent
fuel savings as a result of additive use.
While the main aim of the project was to ultimately find additives
that would assist the industry to save on fuel, other elements
included the assessment of alternative fuels as a future option for
the industry and investigations of after-market fuel and exhaust
system fixtures to improve fuel consumption and exhaust emissions
and ascertain whether these improvements could translate to real
financial and environmental benefits for the industry. Rail CRC
researchers at Monash University have tested alternative fuels
including biodiesel, water-diesel emulsion and vegetable oil, and
have commenced planning for ultra-low sulphur diesel testing.
The Rail CRC funded Diesel Engine Research Facility at Monash
University has been a significant success, and remains open as a
support service for the industry to test future alternative fuels
and additives.
