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Investigations into fuel compositional effects on emissions using model and full range fuels suggest aromatic components promote NOx conversion over the catalyst Steady state results derived from a single engine (Ricardo Gasoline Fuels Consortium data) show that at a typical part load condition, the catalyst removes NOx less effectively with lower aromatic fuels. Neither CO nor H2 contribute significantly to catalyst performance. Two vehicles were tested over a European cycle. Toluene formed more combustion chamber NOx, offset by increased catalyst conversion efficiency giving lower tailpipe NOx than isooctane in the vehicle with the better catalyst light-off and AFR control.

A 1.8 litre four-cylinder engine with a slice between the head and the block carrying instrumented plugs has been used to study the growth of combustion chamber deposits and some of their effects on engine operation. Different techniques for measuring deposit thickness, knock onset and deposit effects on the thermal characteristics of the cylinder have been developed. Deposit growth as measured by deposit weight on the plugs is reasonably repeatable from run to run and cylinder to cylinder. The presence of deposits already in the cylinder does not affect deposit growth on clean plugs introduced into the combustion chamber. Deposit thickness and morphology vary substantially at different locations, the thickness being greatest at the coolest surfaces. Deposits increase the flame speed and reduce the metal temperatures just below the surface. They also reduce the mean heat flux away from the cylinder.