SENSITIVITIES OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES TO VARIATIONS IN FUEL PROPERTIES

An assessment of the sensitivity of the automotive gasoline and diesel engines to variations in fuel properties has been made. The variables studied include H/C ratio, distillation range, aromatic content, ignition quality as determined by the octane number, and the auto-ignition quality as determined by the cetane number. The sensitivity of the engine is "measured" against its power output, fuel economy, emissions, and degradation of lubricants. The sensitivity to the use of alternate fuels such as neat fuels or fuel extenders is discussed. The alternate fuels studied include shale oil derivatives, coal liquefaction derivatives, and alcohols. The impact of using emergency fuels in automotive gasoline and diesel engines is discussed.\n