Report on investigation of alcohol combustion associated wear in spark-ignition engines: mechanisms and lubricant effects. Interim report, September 1976-December 1984

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6325658

Naegeli, D W; Owens, E C

An investigation of the effects of alcohol fuels on spark-ignition-engine wear and deposition was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Army Belvoir Research and Development Center. This research has investigated four alcohol-containing fuels: pure methanol, pure ethanol, methanol in unleaded gasoline, and ethanol in unleaded gasoline (gasohol). Tests were conducted using a variety of single-cylinder research engines and production multicylinder engines, mounted in dynamometer test stands. This testing indicated that pure alcohol fuels reduced the buildup of engine deposits. Also, neat methanol greatly increased engine wear rates at engine temperatures below 75 C, while anhydrous ethanol and the alcohol-gasoline blends did not increase wear rates over that of unleaded gasoline. Engine-based tests were conducted to investigate the effects of variations in lubricant base stocks and additive formulations on the wear observed with methanol. To determine interaction between fuel alcohols and engine metals, two approaches were developed. The role of nitrogen in the wear process was studied by operating a 2.3-litre engine fueled with methanol in a nitrogen-free atmosphere. Bench experiments indicated that formic-acid and peroxides are formed as methanol combustion intermediates.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA). Army Fuels and Lubricants Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6325658
• Report Number(s): AD-A-157714/7/XAB; AFLRL-176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ALCOHOLS
COMBUSTION
GASOHOL
GASOLINE
ADDITIVES
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
FUELS
CORROSION
DEPOSITION
DEPOSITS
DYNAMOMETERS
LUBRICANTS
METALS
NITROGEN
PEROXIDES
WEAR
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
330101* - Internal Combustion Engines- Spark-Ignition