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Title: Effectiveness of mandated oxygenated fuel usage to reduce carbon monoxide exhaust levels in Colorado

Miscellaneous ·
OSTI ID:5674848

An examination of Colorado Automobile Inspection and Readjustment (A.I.R.) two-speed exhaust emissions testing results was undertaken to evaluate changes in carbon monoxide exhaust levels due to the use of oxygenated fuels. Vehicles utilized within the study were separated according to their various emission control technologies: precatalyst (1938 to 1974), catalyst (1975 to 1980), and closed-loop (1981 to 1988). It was found that pre-catalyst and catalyst vehicles utilizing oxygenated fuels had significant reductions in carbon monoxide exhaust levels at 2,500 R.P.M. Results for closed-loop vehicles at 2,500 R.P.M. showed no significant reductions in carbon monoxide exhaust levels. Further examination of idle data for closed-loop vehicles indicated that a small percentage of these vehicles were considered gross-emitters based on the 1.5 percent cut-point set in Colorado. Results of the study indicated that the impact of oxygenated fuels, as well as the rationale for using such fuels as a carbon monoxide reduction strategy, may be difficult to justify as newer, more sophisticated light-duty vehicles comprise a larger proportion of the overall vehicle population in Colorado.

Research Organization:
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
OSTI ID:
5674848
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English