Methanol/ethanol/gasoline blend-fuels demonstration with stratified-charge-engine vehicles: Consultant report. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5204267

Pefley, R; Adelman, H; Suga, T

Four 1978 Honda CVCC vehicles have been in regular use by California Energy Commission staff in Sacramento for 12 months. Three of the unmodified vehicles were fueled with alcohol/gasoline blends (5% methanol, 10% methanol, and 10% ethanol) with the fourth remaining on gasoline as a control. The operators did not know which fuels were in the vehicles. At 90-day intervals the cars were returned to the Univerity of Santa Clara for servicing and for emissions and fuel economy testing in accordance with the Federal Test Procedures. The demonstration and testing have established the following: (1) the tested blends cause no significant degradation in exhaust emissions, fuel economy, and driveability; (2) the tested blends cause significant increases in evaporative emissions; (3) analysis of periodic oil samples shows no evidence of accelerated metal wear; and (4) higher than 10% alcohols will require substantial modification to most existing California motor vehicles for acceptable emissions, performance, and fuel economy. Many aspects of using methanol and ethanol fuels, both straight and in blends, in various engine technologies are discussed.

• Research Organization: California Energy Commission, Sacramento (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5204267
• Report Number(s): P-500-80-14
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
ALCOHOL FUELS
AUTOMOBILES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DISPERSIONS
ENGINES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ETHANOL FUELS
EVALUATION
EXHAUST GASES
FEDERAL TEST PROCEDURE
FUEL ECONOMY
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASOHOL
GASOLINE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
METHANOL FUELS
MIXTURES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
STRATIFIED CHARGE ENGINES
SYNTHETIC FUELS
VEHICLES
WASTES