Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

GM's (General Motors Corp. ) outlook on future automotive fuels and lubricants

Conference · · 45th API Refining Dep. Midyear Meet. Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6464368

Significant fuel and lubricant challenges for the petroleum and automotive industries in the 1980's include improvements in light-duty automotive diesel fuel quality to meet the EPA particulates standard of 0.2 g/mi by 1985, to improve low-temperature operability, and to avoid water-related problems (GM's redesigned fuel system for its 5.7 l. diesels can reduce waxing and water-in-diesel fuel problems); improvement in the fuel-saving qualities of lubricants and implementation of a system, notably the ASTM engine-dynamometer test, to measure these improvements; development of an unleaded gasoline fuel waiver-request system based on the composition of the fuel additives; other engine-fuel improvements to mitigate the effects of an increased use of knock sensors on octane quality and to meet the requirements of redesigned gasoline-fueled, spark-ignition engines; and implementation of a system to generate adequate nonpetroleum fuels, particularly from oil shale and coal, for automotive testing, because thes two sources are the most likely supplements to, and replacements for, oil-based fuels in the 1990's and beyond. Work in progress at GM and GM-supported programs on fuel economy improvements and alternative fuels are also discussed.

Research Organization:
General Motors Corp. Research Lab.
OSTI ID:
6464368
Report Number(s):
CONF-8005115-
Journal Information:
45th API Refining Dep. Midyear Meet. Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: 45th API Refining Dep. Midyear Meet. Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 3-80
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English