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After-treatment systems (ATS) consisting of new catalyst technologies and particulate filters will be necessary to meet increasingly stringent global regulations limiting particulate matter (PM) and NOx emissions from heavy duty and light duty diesel vehicles. Fuels and lubes contain elements such as sulfur, phosphorus and ash-forming metals that can adversely impact the efficiency and durability of these systems. Investigations of the impact of lubricant formulation on the transfer of ash-forming elements to diesel particulate filters (DPF) and transfer of sulfur to NOx storage catalysts were conducted using passenger car diesel engine technology. It was observed that for ATS configurations with catalyst(s) upstream of the DPF, transfer of ash-forming elements to the DPF was significantly lower than expected on the basis of oil consumption and lube composition. Sulfur transfer strongly correlated with oil consumption and lubricant sulfur content.

Methanol continues to be an important alternative fuel candidate for use in spark ignition engines. In addition to its potential as an alternative energy source, methanol has been claimed to provide benefits in possibly reducing reactive hydrocarbon emissions which contribute to ozone formation. This has resulted in considerable interest in using methanol fuels in several U.S. urban areas to assist in air pollution reduction. As a result of government incentives on these issues, engine builders are now developing new generations of vehicles capable of operating on methanol. Lubrication of these engines will require methanol-compatible oil formulations. Test work has shown that some current quality engine oils, designed for use with gasoline fuel, severely limit engine durability due to excessive wear of the valve train, cylinder bore, and bearings. A laboratory engine test program using a 2.3-liter engine has been conducted to evaluate methanol-fueled engine lubrication.