Long-Term Methanol Vehicle Test Program: Final Subcontract Report, 1 November 1992 - 1 February 1995

Technical Report · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/100331· OSTI ID:100331

Jones, J. C.; Maxwell, T. T.

Work was sperformed to determine effects of methanol fuel on engine performance and exhaust emissions during long-term use in a 1988 Chevrolet Corsica. Engine wear, gasket performance, fuel economy, emissions level, oil consumption, and overall vehicle performance were monitored over 22,000 miles. Baselines were established at the beginning for comparison: engine was disassembled, bearing/ring clearances and cam profiles were measured. Higher flow rate fuel injectors from AC Rochester were installed and the computer system calibrated for M100 fuel. The vehicle durability test increased oil consumption by 26% under cold-start conditions, 9% under hot start. Oil consumption under hot start was higher than under cold start by as much as 56%; effect of component temperatures on oil viscosity appears to be the cause. It is recommended that oil consumption of a gasoline-fueled vehicle be measured in order to normalize the effect of methanol operation on oil consumption, and to study the effect of steady-state and transient conditions on oil consumption.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 100331
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-425-7633; ON: DE95009289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
AIR POLLUTION
AUTOMOBILES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LUBRICATING OILS
METHANOL FUELS
PERFORMANCE
PROGRESS REPORT
alternative fuels
emissions
engine performance
methanol