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AG News AGCO Corporation's SisuDiesel Engines Approved for Biodiesel Blends

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AG), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, in an effort to improve emissions from farm machinery marketed around the world, has approved a broad range of biodiesel mixtures for its SisuDiesel engines. Biodiesel fuels come from a variety of existing crops, and producers worldwide may soon be looking at soybeans, sunflowers and rapeseed as more than a commodity. For some, these products have become a source of energy, particularly for their AGCO, Massey Ferguson^® and Challenger^® tractors, combines and windrowers.

SisuDiesel has approved the use of Biodiesel at rates up to 100 percent, depending upon the model, without engine modification or any change in warranty coverage for the specified warranty period. 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.

“As the only approved alternative fuel for SisuDiesel engines, biodiesel must adhere to the European norm EN 14214 or U.S. norm ASTM D6751,” explains Matti Ruotsala, vice president and managing director, Valtra explains. “Typically, this type of fuel includes rapeseed methyl ester (RME) or any of the other fatty acid methyl ester formulations, collectively known as FAME.”

“Biodiesel refers to the pure fuel before blending with diesel fuel,” Ruotsala adds. “Biodiesel blends, on the other hand, are referred to as B5, B20, etc., with the number representing the percentage of biodiesel contained in the blend.”

As Ruotsala explains, all new Tier 3 compliant SisuDiesel engines with common rail fuel injection systems may not be used with more than a maximum 20 percent dilution of biodiesel (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 percent. However, when any blend greater than 5 percent (B5) is used, the crankcase oil drain, oil filter change and fuel filter element change intervals should be reduced by 50 percent. Up to 5 percent 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,” says Martin Richenhagen, chairman, president and CEO of AGCO Corporation. “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.”

SisuDiesel engines aren’t the only engines used in AGCO products, or approved for biodiesel, however. Biodiesel blends of 5 percent (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.

For more information on any of the AGCO brands of farm equipment, visit www.agcocorp.com.

About AGCO

Founded in 1990, AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AG) (www.agcocorp.com) is a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements, which are distributed through more than 3,600 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide. AGCO products include the following well-known brands: AGCO^®, Challenger^®, Fendt^®, Gleaner^®, Hesston^®, Massey Ferguson^®, New Idea^®, RoGator^®, Spra-Coupe^®, Sunflower^®, Terra-Gator^®, Valtra^®, and White^™ Planters. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance. The company is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and in 2005, had net sales of $5.4 billion.