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The introduction of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) into the diesel pool has led to an increase in the incidence of diesel fuel filter blocking. In contrast to conventional diesel, filter blocking events can occur above a fuel's Cloud Point (CP). It has been shown that this phenomenon is due to trace levels of impurities carried over from the original oil source into the final fuel. The two species identified as being the main cause of the filtration problems are saturated monoglycerides (sMG) and sterol glucosides (SG). Reported in this paper is an extensive study completed to understand the impact that these impurities have on the filterability of FAME and FAME containing fuels. This has been investigated using laboratory based filterability tests that incorporate a specific cold soak and the critical contaminant levels causing failure have been determined.

This paper describes the use of axiomatic design to create an academic program which targets the needs of the automotive industry-especially local industry. Creative and innovative engineers and technicians are needed to design, develop, and maintain the vehicles and transportation systems of the future. The design of a new program is presented using axiomatic design to establish multiple levels of customer needs, functional requirements (FRs), associated design parameters (DPs), and resulting design matrices (DMs) that clearly define the program. The curriculum for a two-year automotive technology program is enhanced by partnering with a four-year mechanical engineering program, local and national industries, and local secondary school programs. The paper also discusses potential complexities of the proposed program design and implementation and mitigation strategies.

A joint program was undertaken to evaluate the use of Middle Distillate Flow Improvers (MDFIs) in diesel fuel to ambient temperatures as low as -40°C. The objectives of the program were to (i) study MDFI effectiveness at preventing fuel filter blockage due to excessive wax formation at temperatures below -30°C, and (ii) determine the effectiveness of Low Temperature Filterability Test (LTFT) laboratory procedure in protecting vehicles these extremely low temperatures. A total of seven fuels were blended (including 4 treated with MDFI additive) and subsequently tested in three heavy duty trucks in an all weather climate controlled chassis dynamometer facility. Overnight soak temperatures were as low as -40°C. Two of the trucks were equipped with an engine that was known to be critical for fuel filter plugging due to excessive wax formation. A total of 14 valid vehicle tests were run over a six-day period.