EFFECT ON COLD STARTING PERFORMANCE OF AN EXHAUST GAS TO ENGINE COOLANT HEAT EXCHANGER IN AN AUTOMOBILE

The effect of exhaust-to-coolant heat exchange on fuel economy and cab heater performance during cold start was studied using a 1981 Ford Granada automobile and a 1977 Buick V-6 engine on a test stand. The ambient soaking temperatures ranged from 35 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. It was found that fuel used in a 7 minute warm up run of the test stand engine was less by 2.1 to 4.6% when the heat exchanger replaced the muffler in the system. Likewise for the Granada, fuel consumption was less by 2.8 to 3.8% over an in town test route and less by 1.5 to 1.8% on a highway test route, when the heat exchanger replaced the muffler. Similarly, the time required for the coolant at the inlet of the cab heater to reach a temperature of 180 Fahrenheit was 27.5 to 28.8% shorter for the test stand engine, 6.3 to 7.0% shorter for the Granada in town route and 16.6 to 16.9% shorter for the Granada highway route, when the heat exchanger replaced the muffler.

• Corporate Authors:

  North Dakota State University, Fargo

  Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
  Fargo, ND  United States  58102
• Authors:
  • Goettler, H J
  • Vidger, L J
• Publication Date: 1983-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 89 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coolants; Exhaust gases; Fuel consumption; Heat exchangers; Vehicle cold starts; Vehicle power plants
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile engines; Cold start
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387343
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOE/CS/15063-T1
• Contract Numbers: FG01-81C515063
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 1984 12:00AM