STUDY ASSESSES FUEL EFFECT ON EMISSIONS

A joint U.S. auto-oil industry research program is finding that subtle differences in gasolines can have significant effects on auto emissions. Sponsors said there have been three major findings so far: Adding oxygenates reduces the amount of exhaust emissions. Changing the level of olefins has little effect on exhaust emissions. Reducing aromatics and/or the boiling point of gasoline can either reduce or increase exhaust emissions, depending on the type of vehicle.

Dec. 24, 1990

2 min read

A joint U.S. auto-oil industry research program is finding that subtle differences in gasolines can have significant effects on auto emissions.

Sponsors said there have been three major findings so far:

Adding oxygenates reduces the amount of exhaust emissions.
Changing the level of olefins has little effect on exhaust emissions.
Reducing aromatics and/or the boiling point of gasoline can either reduce or increase exhaust emissions, depending on the type of vehicle.

Joseph Colucci of General Motors Research Laboratories, said, "The initial findings reveal that gasoline composition changes can favorably impact vehicle exhaust emissions, but they are not equally effective in all vehicles. This illustrates the complexity of the problem being tackled by this program."

Program sponsors released their first data last week in Washington, D.C. More results will be released next spring.

The effort, sponsored by the big three auto manufacturers and 14 oil companies, is called "The Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program."

It is evaluating reformulated gasolines and methanol fuel blends in current and future vehicles in an attempt to give federal and state regulators better data on which to base air quality decisions (OGJ, Oct. 23, 1989, p. 24).

The initial data was sent to the Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, and Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management.

The two industries are equally sharing the cost of the programs.

Initial data focused on the use of aromatics, methyl tertiary butyl ether, and olefins in gasoline and on lowering the boiling range of gasoline.

During the initial research, more than 2,200 vehicles emissions tests are being conducted on 53 cars and light duty trucks using 29 gasolines, including those with oxygenate compounds and methanol blends.

In the spring, sponsors plan to release data on evaporative emissions and tests of methanol blend fuels.

The second phase of the program will run from 1991 through 1993.

It will examine use of the best reformulated gasolines and methanol fuels, explore emissions from autos burning methanol and compressed natural gas, and test fuels in consumer use.