Engine Oil Additive Effects on Deactivation of Monolithic Three-Way Catalysts and Oxygen Sensors

It is widely known that pellet-typed catalysts are deactivated by phosphorus (ZnDTP) that comes from engine oils. In this paper, the poisoning of monolithic three-way catalysts and oxygen sensors by engine oils is studied. First, catalysts and oxygen sensors were poisoned on the engine bench by test oils in which the quantity of phosphorus and ash was varied. Next, performance of the catalysts and sensors alone was examined and the vehicle exhaust emission at FTP mode was measured on a chassis dynamometer. The results indicate that phosphorus in engine oils poisons the monolithic catalyst and the oxygen sensor resulting in deterioration of the vehicle NOx exhaust emission. However, Ca sulfonate and Mg sulfonate detergents act by restraining phosphorus poisoning of the catalyst and the oxygen sensor.

Through analysis of the catalyst and sensor surfaces, it is concluded that phosphorus poisons the catalyst and sensor forming a dense coating. But Ca and Mg prevent phosphorus from adhering to the catalysts and the sensors and from forming the dense coating.