Intake Valve Deposits - Effects of Engines, Fuels & Additives

A measurable incidence of driver complaints about vehicle driveability has occurred in certain imported passenger cars. Critical engines are higher specific output, lean burn designs that are sensitive to deposits formed on intake valves. U.S. engines are trending toward similar” designs but have not yet been tuned as close to the lean limit of combustion. It is reasoned that the continuing trend toward more precise management of air fuel ratio results in engines much less tolerant of deposits throughout the fuel metering and induction system. Consequently, more effective additive systems to control induction system deposits have been developed. Discussed in this paper are the interrelationships of fuel composition and engine configurations. Results of these continuing studies are helping to define the more important fuel and additive parameters for deposit control in various engines.