This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Gasohol: Laboratory and Fleet Test Evaluation
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
An experimental program was conducted as a cooperative effort between the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and the Department of Energy’s Bartlesville (Okla.) Energy Technology Center to determine the effects of a gasohol fuel when compared to a control gasoline. The test vehicles used in this program were separated into two groups--a test fleet and a control fleet. The vehicles consisted of several vans, trucks, and automobiles routinely used in commercial service. The laboratory analysis included testing the vehicles on a controlled environmental chassis dynamometer at a constant ambient temperature of 75° F.
Field measurements and data collection included road driveability, in-use fuel economy, and fuel system failures. Laboratory analysis provided information on exhaust emissions, fuel economy, and trace metals in the crankcase lubricating oils. The effect of varying the chassis dynamometer inertia weight was also examined.
A reduction in regulated exhaust emissions was found with gasohol, but there was considerable variation among the vehicles. No difference was detected in vehicle fuel economy at actual load weights. Unregulated emissions were higher for gasohol, but the absolute levels were low. The fuel economy with gasohol relative to gasoline was improved as the vehicle weight was increased. A larger quantity of copper was found in the crankcase lubricating oil of the vehicles operating on gasohol when compared to the vehicles operating on gasoline. Driveability was poorer with gasohol, especially during the winter and summer seasons.
Recommended Content
Technical Paper | Alcohol Fuel Vehicles of Volkswagen |
Technical Paper | METHANOL-GASOLINE BLENDS PERFORMANCE IN LABORATORY TESTS AND IN VEHICLES |
Technical Paper | Ethanol-Blended Fuel as a CO Reduction Strategy at High Altitude |
Authors
Topic
Citation
Gurney, M., Allsup, J., and Merlotti, C., "Gasohol: Laboratory and Fleet Test Evaluation," SAE Technical Paper 800892, 1980, https://doi.org/10.4271/800892.Also In
References
- Dubuc Serge M. “Effects of Driveability of Varying Road Load and Inertia Weight.” Paper 790927 presented at the 1979 SAE Fuels and Lubricants Meeting, Houston, Texas October 1–4 1979
- Spindt R. S. Hutchins F. Peter “The Effect of Ambient Temperature Variation on Emissions and Fuel Economy.” Paper 790228 presented at the 1979 SAE Congress and Exposition Meeting, Detroit, Michigan February 26-March 2 1979
- Allsup J. R. Eccleston, D. B. “Ethanol/Gasoline Blends as Automotive Fuels.” Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels Technology Asilomar, California May 28–31 1979 I
- Naman T. M. Allsup, J. R. “Exhaust and Evaporative Emissions from Alcohol and Ether Fuel Blends.” Paper 800858 presented at the 1980 SAE Passenger Car Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan June 9–12 1980
- Raible C. J. Cox, F. W. “Chromatographic Method of Analysis for Methanol and Ethanol in Automotive Exhaust.” Paper 790690 presented at the 1979 SAE Passenger Car Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan June 11–15 1979
- Cox, F. W. “Physical Properties of Gasoline/Alcohol Blends.” September 1979