Coconut oil revs diesel engines

Engineering students Dominic Schwalger (left), from Samoa, and Penaia Rogoimuri from Fiji, fill the tank of a diesel motor with coconut oil. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Two Auckland University engineering students are hoping research showing the effectiveness of running diesel motors on coconut oil can be put to use in their home countries of Samoa and Fiji.

Dominic Schwalger and Penaia Rogoimuri, who are both in the final year of a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanics, have shown that coconut oil can run an engine as efficiently as diesel if properly tuned for the fuel.

The pair, both on scholarships from their home Governments, are also confident that coconut oil is a more environmentally friendly fuel after they analysed performance and exhaust emissions.

Mr Rogoimuri, a lecturer at Fiji Institute of Technology, said coconut oil was already used as fuel in a few villages in Fiji but he hoped its use could be expanded as confidence grew that it was a viable alternative.

He said coconut oil was not much more expensive than diesel and would become increasingly economical as fuel prices rose.

"The use of coconut fuel in the islands could become widespread. A combination of a ready supply of coconuts, rising fuel prices and ease of manufacture makes this a real option for villagers who need to run equipment like generators or boat engines."

Mr Schwalger, an engineering officer with the Ministry of Works in Apia, said it might surprise Pacific Islanders to discover they could run diesel motors on coconut oil.

He said there was also new technology to enable people to make coconut oil in their backyards rather than sending the coconuts to a mill.

"Producing coconut oil for use in standard engines is a simple process, unlike some biodiesels which require complex equipment and chemical reactions."

Mr Schwalger said the white flesh of the coconut is dried out, then pressed to release the oil, currently used for cooking and suntan lotions.

"What we have shown is that without any modification to either the pure oil or the engine you can use it as an alternative fuel."

Coconut oil could also be blended with diesel to help prevent it solidifying under temperatures of about 23C.

Uses for coconuts

Coir, the fibrous husk of the coconut, is used for ropes, mats, brushes, stuffing fibre and horticulture mulch.

Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut.

The cavity is filled with "coconut water", a refreshing drink containing sugars, fibre, proteins, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Milk (approximately 17 per cent fat) is made by processing grated coconut with hot water or hot milk, which extracts the oil and aromatic compounds from the fibre.

Coconut cream is what rises to the top when coconut milk is refrigerated and left to set.

Oil comes from the flesh of the coconut, and is used in food products, the production of cosmetics and soaps - and possibly now as engine fuel .