variavel0=<b>Guilherme Jr. Pianovski</b> - guilherme@cefetpr.br Centro Federal de Educação Tecológica do Paraná
<b>José Antonio Velásquez</b> - velasqz@rla01.pucpr.br Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná PUCPR
<b>Abstract.</b> Use of biodiesel in automotive compression ignition engines in order to substitute diesel fuel is considered in this work. Technical, environmental, social and economical concerns support such substitution. It is presented a comprehensive literature review on biodiesel production technologies using several vegetable oils and either methanol or ethanol. Additionally, thermo-physical data related to biodiesel obtained from several vegetable oils were compiled from literature. Finally, overall engine performance was evaluated by testing in a dynamometer a turbocharged, six-cylinder diesel engine. Several blends of biodiesel and diesel fuel were studied during the tests. These tests allowed to confirm technical feasibility of using biodiesel as a partial substitute to diesel fuel.
<b>Keywords.</b> Diesel engines, Alternative fuel, Vegetable oil esther, Biodiesel, Transesterification.