Influence of Fuel Volatility on Customer Perception of Cold Start Driveability

A program was conducted to determine if customers would recognize differences in cold start driveability as influenced by fuel volatility. Results showed that customers did notice differences in vehicle driveability as gasoline volatility was changed. Customer preference of fuel volatility was 52 percent for the most volatile fuel, 32 percent for an intermediate volatile fuel and 16 percent for the lowest volatile fuel available in this test. Customers perception of cold start driveability was similar to cold start performance as measured by the CRC procedure.