Engine wear with alcohol fuels in nordic conditions

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Engine wear with alcohol fuels in nordic conditions

Nylund, N.O.

A field test with different alcohol fuels was carried out at the Technical Research Centre of Finland in 1979 - 1984. The test involved 19 passenger cars. The engines of the test vehicles were dismantled both before and after the test. E15 fuel was used both in new and old cars, and this fuel did not cause any problems due to corrosion. M15 is a more difficult fuel both in regard to corrosion and fuel stability. None of the test engines showed signs of accelerated wear of the kind that could have shortened the lifetime of the engine considerably. Temperature has a strong effect on engine wear of engines running on neat alcohol. For this reason the Research Centre developed a dual fuel system for gasoline and alcohol. Change-over from gasoline to alcohol takes place at a coolant temperature of 70 Cel. Dual fuel cars and cars with a simple fuel system (gasoline as starting aid) were compared regarding engine wear and driveability. The driveability of the dual fuel car does not differ from that of a normal gasoline vehicle. In the most severe operating conditions only the dual fuel system can prevent the engine from excessive wear. A very efficient system for preheating the inlet air was used in all neat alcohol test vehicles. There was no sign of abnormal corrosion inside the engines.