The increase in the number of
motorised vehicles as public transport results in increased fuel demand, while
petroleum reserves are decreasing every year. Sustainable use of renewable
fuels is needed to reduce dependence on the use of petroleum, one of which is
bioethanol. This study aims to determine the fuel characteristics (density,
viscosity, calorific value, and flash point) of pertalite fuel (E0) and
pertalite mixture with porang tuber bioethanol (E10, E20, E30, E40, E50, E60,
and E70), as well as to analyse the effect of fuel on the performance of Honda
Vario 125 cc motorcycle engine in 2021 (torque, effective power/wheel power,
fuel consumption, average effective pressure, and thermal efficiency).
This research is a type of
experimental research. Honda Vario 125 cc experimental test engine of 2021
using chassis dynamometer instrument test equipment. Engine performance testing
using SAE J1349 testing standards full open throttle valve test method with
engine speed variations from 3000 rpm to 9000 rpm. Testing fuel characteristics
using ASTM standards (density D1298, viscosity D1343, calorific value D240, and
flash point D93). Data analysis using quantitative descriptive method.
The
results of the character test (density, viscosity, and flash point) of the fuel
(E0, E10, E20, E30, E40, E50, E60, E70) increased as the bioethanol
concentration increased, but the calorific value of the fuel decreased when the
bioethanol concentration increased. While the results of engine performance
testing using fuels (E0, E10, E20, E30, E40, E50, E60, E70) show that E50 gives
the greatest influence. This is evidenced by the torque of 12.22 Nm at 5000 rpm
engine speed, effective power/wheel power of 10.57 HP at 8000 rpm engine speed,
average effective pressure of 19.16 kgf/cm2 at 5000 rpm engine speed, and
thermal efficiency of 20.20% at 4000 rpm.