IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) e-ISSN: 2278-1684,p-ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 10, Issue 3 (Nov. - Dec. 2013), PP 36-43 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 36 | Page Experimental Investigation on Use of Methyl Ester Kusum Oil and Its Blends In Direct Injection Ci Engine N.P.Rathod 1 , S.M.Lawankar 2 1 M.Tech student, Thermal Engineering Govt. College of engineering,Amravati, 2 Asst. professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Govt. College of engineering, Amravati. Abstract: The research on alternative fuels for compression ignition engine has become essential due to depletion of petroleum products, higher oil prices and its major contribution for pollutants, where vegetable oil promises best alternative fuel. Vegetable oils, due to their agricultural origin, are able to reduce net CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere. In the present paper, the research efforts directed towards improving the performance of C.I. engine using vegetable oil (Methyl ester kusum oil) as a fuel. The paper deals with results of performance of a single cylinder, four stroke, C.I. engine using kusum oil methyl ester and its blends with diesel. The performance of engine was studied at constant speed, with the engine operated at various loading conditions. Performance parameters considered for comparing are brake specific fuel consumption, thermal efficiency, brake power, exhaust gas temperature, smoke density and part load and peak load performance of the engine. The engine offers increase in thermal efficiency when it is powered by kusum oil and its blends at various loads. The power developed and exhausts gas temperature increases with the increase and specific fuel consumption is higher than diesel fuel. I. Introduction Diesel engine is a popular prime mover for transportation, agricultural machinery and industries. Diesel fuel is largely consumed by the transportation, industry and agricultural sectors. The consumption of diesel oil is several times higher than that of petrol. Import of petroleum products is a major drain on our foreign exchange sources and with growing demand in future years the situation is likely become even worse. Also, diesel and petrol engines are the main sources of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and un-burnt hydrocarbon emissions and increase in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere leads to global warming and green house effect. The world is on the brink of energy crises. Due to the shortage of petroleum products and its increasing cost, efforts are on to develop alternative fuels especially, to the diesel oil for fully or partial replacement. It has been found that the vegetable oils are promising fuels because their properties are similar to that of diesel and are produced easily and renewably from the crops. Vegetable oils have comparable energy density, cetane number, heat of vaporization and Stoichiometric air-fuel ratio with that of the diesel fuel[5]. In most of the developed countries, biodiesel is produced from soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, peanut, etc., which are essentially edible in Indian context. Among the various vegetable oil sources, non-edible oils are suitable for biodiesel production. Because edible oils are already in demand and too expensive than diesel fuel. Among the non-edible oil sources, Jatropha, karanjan, Mahua, Neems, sal, Kusum, Nahar, Rice bran and Tumba is identified as potential biodiesel source and comparing with other sources, which has added advantages as rapid growth, higher seed productivity, suitable for tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The experimental results of various researchers support the use of biodiesel as available alternative to the diesel oil for use in the internal combustion engines. It is also important to note that most of the experiments conducted on biodiesel are mainly obtained from refined edible type oils only. The price of refined oils such as sunflower, soybean oil and palm oil are high as compared to that of diesel. This increases the overall production cost of the biodiesel as well. Biodiesel production from refined oils would not be viable as well as economical for the developing countries like India. Hence, it is better to use the non-edible type of oils for biodiesel production. In India, non-edible type oil yielding trees such as mahua, sal, linseed, castor, karanji, neem, rubber, jatropha, kusum and cashew are available in large number. The production and utilization of these oils are low at present, because of their limited end usage. Utilization of these oils/ biodiesel as fuels in internal combustion engines is not only reducing the petroleum usage, but also improves the rural economy. Efforts are made here to produce biodiesel from typical unrefined oil (Kusum seed oil) and to use it as the fuel in diesel engines. 1.1 Characterisation of Kusum Seeds oil: In India, Kusum is one of the forest-based tree-borne non-edible oil. The botanical name of Kusum is Schleichera oleosa. S. oleosa is widely found in the sub-Himalayan region, Chattishgarh, throughout central