50,000 mile methanol/gasoline blend fleet study: a progress report

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6066846

Stamper, K R

Seven current production automobiles are being used in a fleet study to obtain operational experience in using 10% methanol/90% gasoline blends as an automotive fuel. Data from chassis dynamometer tests (run according to the 1975--1978 Federal test procedure) have been obtained, showing fuel economy and exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburned fuel, methanol, and aldehydes. These data are shown for each of the vehicles when operated on the 10% methanol blend, and on unleaded low octane Indolene. Chassis dynamometer tests were run at 5,000-mile intervals during the 35,000 miles accumulated on each of the four 1977 model-year vehicles and at 5,000 and 10,000 mile accumulation levels for each of the three 1978 model-year vehicles. These data show an average decrease in volumetric fuel economy (approx. = 5%) and a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions associated with the use of the 10% methanol blend. Exhaust emission deterioration factors are projected from the Federal test procedure urban cycle data. The most severe driveability problems that have been encountered thus far into the program are related to operating on a phase separated fuel and materials compatibility problems with an elastomer in the air-fuel control hardware of one vehicle.

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Bartlesville, OK (USA). Bartlesville Energy Technology Center
• Sponsoring Organization: Not Available; USDOE
• OSTI ID: 6066846
• Report Number(s): CONF-790520-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330800* -- Emission Control-- Alternative Fuels
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ALDEHYDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ECONOMICS
EXHAUST GASES
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASOHOL
HYDROCARBONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
TESTING
WASTES