Physico-chemical properties of diethyl ether/linseed oil (DEE/LO) fuel blends were empirically tested in this article for the first time. In particular, kinematic viscosity (ν), density (ρ), lower heating value (LHV), cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and surface tension (σ) were examined. For this research diethyl ether (DEE) was blended with linseed oil (LO) in volumetric ratios of 10%, 20% and 30%. Obtained results were compared with literature data of diethyl ether/rapeseed oil (DEE/RO) fuel blends get in previous research in such a way looking on differences also between oil types. It was found that DEE impacts significantly on the reduction of plant oil viscosity, density and surface tension and improve low temperature properties of tested oils. In particular, the addition of 10% DEE to LO effectively reduces its kinematic viscosity by 53% and even by 82% for the blend containing 30% DEE. Tested ether reduces density and surface tension of LO up to 6% and 25% respectively for the blends containing 30% DEE. The measurements of the CFPP showed that DEE significantly improves the low temperature properties of LO. In the case of the blend containing 30% DEE the CFPP can be lowered up to −24 °C. For this reason DEE/LO blends seem to be valuable as a fuel for diesel engines in the coldest season of the year. Moreover, DEE/LO blends have been tested in the engine research. Based on results it can be stated that the engine operated with LO results in worse performance compared with regular diesel fuel (DF). However, it was found that these disadvantages could be reduced with DEE as a component of the fuel mixture. Addition of this ether to LO improves the quality of obtained fuel blends. For this reason, the efficiency of DEE/LO blend combustion process is similar for the engine fuelled with regular diesel fuel. In this research it was confirmed that the smoke opacity reaches the highest value for the engine fuelled with plant oils. However, addition of 20% DEE reduces this emission to the value comparable for the engine operated with diesel fuel.

The article analyses energy and environmental operating parameters of a compression ignition internal combustion engine running on HVO-biobutanol and castor oil fuel blends, also comparing them with parameters of an engine running on convection diesel. Since biobutanol is known for poor lubrication characteristics, it was mixed with 5% of castor oil. The obtained blend of biobutanol and castor oil was mixed with HVO at 2/95, 10/90, and 20/80 v/v and fed to the compression ignition internal combustion engine. The presented physicochemical indicators justified the use of the said fuel blends. Constant engine crankshaft speed of 2000 rpm and a variable load expressed as BMEP of 0.1–0.9 MPa was selected in the research. When using the biobutanol–castor oil additive (hereafter simply biobutanol additive) in HVO, an increase in the rate of heat release (ROHR) and the convergence of its value to that of to conventional diesel fuel was observed. A decrease in BTE values was also observed with increasing biobutanol concentration in the blend. Increasing concentration of biobutanol in blends led to an increase in BSFC both in terms of volume and mass; HC and NO_x emissions grew as well, but smoke emissions declined, and no material changes in CO and CO₂ emissions were observed.

The need for creative solutions in the real-time monitoring of health is rapidly increasing, especially in light of health incidents in relation to drivers of motor vehicles. A sensor-based health monitoring system provides an integrated mechanism for diagnosing and managing in real time, enabling the detection, prediction, and recommendation of treatment and the prevention of disease onset. The real-time monitoring of driver’s health represents a significant advancement in the assurance of driver safety and well-being. From fitness trackers to advanced biosensors, these devices have not only made healthcare more accessible but have also transformed how people interact with their health data. The purpose of this scoping review is to systematically collect and evaluate information from publications on driver health monitoring systems to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on wearable or remote sensor technologies for driver health monitoring. It aims to identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed and suggest future research directions that will help to fill these gaps. This approach involves the topic of vehicle safety and healthcare and will contribute to the advancement of this field. By focusing on the real-time monitoring of health parameters in an automotive context, this review highlights the potential of different types of technologies to bridge the gap between health monitoring and driver safety.

Nowadays, a car’s engine oil change interval is an essential factor in reducing wear. The correct choice depends on various factors. This study analyzes the changes in the composition of three different engine oils (0W30, 5W30, and 5W40) during the generally accepted oil change interval (15,000 km) in gasoline and diesel cars during the post-warranty period. Commercially available low-level biofuel blends (B7 and E10) were used to power test vehicles in a field test. Engine oil samples were taken every 3000 km for more detailed analysis and tested in an accredited laboratory. The contaminants in the engine oil were determined using several testing methods: spectrometric analysis, gas chromatography, etc. Studies have shown that all used cars have an increase in the number of iron particles, an increased concentration of silicon, and also an increase in the number of nickel particles above 12,000 km. Tests also showed a sharp drop of molybdenum anti-friction additives 4.5 times and a gradual increase in fuel concentration for the Opel Insignia over 12,000 km, but over 9000 km, a significant increase in the concentration of chromium particles. Based on this research results, it is preferable to choose a maintenance interval of no more than 12,000 km for cars during the post-warranty period. In this way, the intensity of engine wear can be reduced due to the loss of adequate protective properties of the engine oil.

The aim of the study was to determine impact of commercially available hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and its mixture (HVO5, where 5% (v/v) HVO and 95% (v/v) FDD) with diesel fuel (FDD) on the power, torque, fuel consumption, and exhaust gas composition of an atmospheric internal combustion diesel engine used in off-road applications. Diesel fuel was used as the comparative fuel. Testing was realized in a full-load mode on the KOHLER KDI 1903 M 3-cylinder diesel engine on a SIERRA CP-Engineering engine test bench. The AVL SESAM FTIR exhaust gas analytical system was used to determine exhaust gas emissions, while the AVL KMA Mobile fuel consumption measuring device was used to measure fuel consumption. Research showed that the lowest power and torque readings were obtained with FDD, while HVO showed a slightly higher result compared to the fossil diesel fuel. At the same time, the highest hourly fuel consumption was observed running on HVO5, while the lowest was observed with FDD. Increases in carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions were observed for HVO5 compared to those of FDD. The CO content in emissions increased by an average of 3.0% using HVO and by an average of 36% using HVO5, but the NO_x content in the emissions increased by an average of 3.0% using HVO and by an average of 8.8% using HVO5. The reduction by an average of 60% using HVO in emissions was found in the case of hydrocarbons (HC). Research confirmed that the physicochemical properties of HVO could leave an impact on the main engine performance parameters and exhaust emissions.

In this paper, an analysis of the physico-chemical properties of diethyl ether/sunflower oil blends, as well as changes in emissions in work with AD3.152 diesel engine, were realized. The following properties of tested blends have been examined in detail: density (ρ) at 15 °C; kinematic viscosity (v) at 40 °C; cold filter plugging point (CFPP); lower heating value (LHV); flash point (FP); and surface tension (ϭ). In this research, different blends of diethyl ether (DEE) with sunflower oil (SO) in ratios of 10:90, 20:80 and 30:70% by volume were chosen. It was confirmed that DEE impacts significantly on reducing of SO viscosity. Furthermore, the density, as well as the surface tension of tested blends, have been reduced significantly when DEE was blended with SO. In this way, DEE impacts on better atomization of the SO injected into the combustion chamber. It was confirmed that DEE addition improves the low-temperature properties of SO significantly, which indicates the possibility of also using such blends in the winter season. On the other hand, the flammable DEE additive significantly lowers the flash point of the tested blends, which requires compliance with the transport safety rules applicable to gasoline. An engine tests carried out in condition of its partial load i.e., for 80 and 120 Nm, showed that combustion process of DEE/SO blends is more and more similar to the combustion of diesel fuel when adequately higher content of DEE is blended with SO. In particular, it was confirmed that the highest smoke concentration was observed for the engine operated with SO. However, 30% addition of DEE to SO brings this smokiness significantly closer to the value typical for the engine operated with diesel fuel. Additionally, concentration of unburned hydrocarbons (THC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are comparable for diesel fuel and DEE/SO blends.