A Laboratory Test for Fuel Injector Deposit Studies

A Pore Fuel Injector Deposit (PFID) test has been developed which provides repeatable results. The test can discriminate gasolines with differing fuel injector fouling tendencies in vehicles. Results confirm previous work that added mono-and diolefins increase deposit growth. The test is also able to evaluate the performance of additives. Other factors found to affect injector deposit formation include: injector soak temperature, injector soak pressure, weeping vs non-weeping injectors, and the presence of oxygen around the injector pintle. The PFID test can be run in about one quarter the time needed to evaluate fuels in vehicle and dynamometer tests.⁽¹⁾