In-cylinder fuel and lubricant effects on gasoline engine friction

The purpose of the research reported in this thesis was to investigate the viability and quantify the potential gains of improving fuel economy of the gasoline engine through strategic application of additives. An increased awareness of the link between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming means that there is a desire to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation. There is therefore a growing emphasis on improving the fuel economy performance of vehicles. The addition of friction modifier additives to the fuel is one way to achieve this. Using bespoke in-cylinder sampling techniques, an understanding of the operation of the piston assembly, a system responsible for much of the power loss in the internal combustion engine, is developed. Validation is given to the hypothesis that fuel economy gains can be achieved through the application of friction modifier administered to the engine via the gasoline. Results show gasoline administered friction modifier additive can accumulate in the piston assembly lubricant at levels 77 times greater than the initial fuel treatment level. The performance of a large number of friction modifier additives were uniquely screened in a novel bench-top test which simulated the arduous in-cylinder conditions found in a firing gasoline engine. The test generated vast amounts of information which led to high performance formulations capable of reducing the friction coefficient in both the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes by around 50% when compared with the result for the base oil alone. Surface analysis techniques were also employed 0!l engineering surfaces coated with friction modifier additives and add to the knowledge of their mechanism of action. Finally a series of engine tests were conducted which prove the effectiveness of friction modifier administered to the engine via the gasoline. A fuel economy improvement of approximately 2% was seen where friction modifier gasoline was employed. Application of successful technology such as this is shown to correspond to the projected saving of around 502 million litres of gasoline and 388,000 tonnes of carbon (C02) per year in the UK alone.