Effect of Reformulated Diesel Fuel on Unregulated Emissions of Light Duty Vehicles

Unregulated emissions of reformulated diesel fuels (sulfur < 50 ppm, aromatics < 20 vol-%) were compared to the European EN590 specification fuel (sulfur < 500 ppm, aromatics < 35 vol-%) in three IDI passenger cars and one DI van using FTP and/or ECE/EUDC emission test procedures. The effect of reformulated diesel fuels on the mutagenicity of particulate soluble organic fraction (SOF) was studied.

Fuel reformulation reduced particulate emissions in IDI cars. Reformulating fuel by decreasing heavier aromatics - without decreasing final boiling point - reduced particulate mutagenicity on emission basis. At low ambient temperature (-7°C) particulate PAH and mutagenic emissions increased compared to the standard ambient temperature (+22°C) with all fuels.