COLD START WEAR PERFORMANCE IN METHANOL AND GASOLINE ENGINES

Rapid engine wear is one of the most serious problems associated in the commercial exploitation of carburetted, straight methanol spark ignited engines. The existing lubricants are reported to be deficient in the control of cylinder bore and piston ring wear. Whereas, extensive efforts have been made to develop improved lubricants, the problem of increased wear of methanol has not, as yet, been satisfactorily addressed. The various mechanisms proposed for this increased wear have been examined in this paper. It was recognized that the conditions which aggravate the wear of methanol engines are encountered during cold start and warm-up due to the differences in the volatility characteristics of this fuel. In this study, cold start wear tests were conducted in a cold room with temperature control ranging from plus 25 deg to minus 40 deg C. Wear data of methanol engines, under starting conditions typical of the Canadian environment, are compared with data of a gasoline counterpart. The analysis of these data so obtained suggests that a temperature dependent theory is valid to explain the cold start wear results. Further, the cold start wear can be a significant portion of the total wear and is attributed to the direct attack of methanol on the cylinder walls in the first few seconds of engine operation.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Michigan, February 25-March 1, 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Nautiyal, P C
  • GOETZ, W A
  • Hoffman-Goetz, L
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 8 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Cold starts (Driving); Cold weather; Engine operation; Fuels; Gasoline; Methanol; Spark ignition engines; Volatility; Wear
• Old TRIS Terms: Cold start; Engine warmup; Fuel volatility
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450926
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 850215, HS-038 970
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM