Phase 2 Reformulated Gasoline

                     Performance Subcommittee





                             Final
                         Meeting Summary
                          July 18, 1995






                  California Air Resources Board




I.   Introduction

     The performance subcommittee discussed the following key issues regarding
     the Phase 2 Reformulated Gasoline performance and compatibility testing
     program:

          On-Road Vehicle Test Program
          Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Test Program
          Preliminary Results of the Texaco (Bakersfield) Test Program
          Chevron Test Program
          GM Bench Test Program
          Technical Review Panel Report

     The minutes from the previous meeting, May 16, 1995, were approved with some
     changes to the section regarding Chevron's Test Program.  Copies of
     presentations or materials given at this meeting are enclosed with this
     summary.

II.  On-Road Vehicle Test Program

     The test program is scheduled to end at the end of August.  Fuel supply is
     more than adequate for the allotted time.  Incidents have been reported by
     fleets and ARB inspectors; they will be characterized in the Technical
     Review Panel Report section (section VII) of this summary.

III. Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Test Program

     The utility lawn and garden testing at Fresno has seen two incidents thus
     far.  One was a trimmer with a worn piston and the other, a blower with loss
     of power.  The equipment has been shipped to the manufacturer for analysis.
     Seven PPEMA member companies have their own CaRFG test programs.  Kiortz-Echo
     has completed testing, five others have begun their own testing, and
     the seventh has its test program on hold at this time (See attachment for
     details).  Harley-Davidson Motorcycles has logged 43,000 miles on eight
     vehicles to test CaRFG emissions, fuel economy, and durability.
     Harley-Davidson reported an engine failure at 67,000 miles, but they consider that
     the end of the engine's useful life.  Two additional marine test sites have
     been added to the test program, they are Lake Cachuma Boat Rentals and
     Paradise Watercraft Boat Rentals.

     Contact: Kathleen Nolan  (818) 350-6519

IV.  Preliminary Results of the Texaco Test Program

     Texaco's Bakersfield gasoline test program is complete.  It evaluated five
     percent and ten percent aromatic hydrocarbon content gasoline.  The fleet
     tested comprised 27 refinery vehicles, of which 14 vehicles operated on ten
     percent aromatic fuel for two weeks then switched to five percent for an
     additional two weeks.  The other 13 vehicles operated on conventional
     gasoline for two weeks and switched to five percent for the final two weeks.
     The Bakersfield refinery site is considered a severe climate due to the heat
     and dust at the refinery.  The results of the test program will be reviewed
     by the Technical Review Panel.  At this time, Texaco reported five vehicles
     with fuel system component failures, four of which were on the five percent
     aromatic fuel.  Five other incidents were still undecided.  Texaco's
     preliminary conclusions are that a combination of fuel system component age
     and a change to lower aromatic gasoline could possibly lead to some fuel
     system component failures, and some vehicles may require tune-ups after
     switching to lower aromatic gasoline.

     Contact: Chris Paul, Texaco (409) 989-2949

V.   Chevron Test Program

     The Chevron test program is complete.  They used an employee test fleet of
     115 vehicles on a reformulated gasoline and a control fleet of 115 vehicles
     on conventional gasoline.  The fleet was chosen to emphasize an older fleet
     and imported vehicles.  The overall number of incidents reported were 31 for
     the test fleet and 22 for the control fleet.  Of those incidents, the test
     fleet had six elastomer incidents and the control fleet had one.  Chevron's
     findings are that at the 94 percent confidence level, vehicles operating on
     CaRFG experienced a greater proportion of fuel system elastomer incidents
     than those operating on conventional gasoline.

     Contact: Randy Barber (510) 242-2448

VI.  GM Bench Test Program

     The GM bench test program began the second week of June and is evaluating
     five test fuels (includes fuel switching).  The components being tested
     include five elastomeric materials, 3 plastic materials and 2 foam
     materials.  As of July 17, 1995, no potential problems have been indicated
     by preliminary property test results.



VII. Technical Review Panel Report

     The Technical review panel is in the process of reviewing incidents that
     have been reported by the fleets, and ARB inspectors.  The ARB CaRFG test
     program has about 800 test vehicles and about 500 control vehicles, and at
     this time, 60 incidents have been reported.  From the test fleet, 49
     incidents were reported, but 31 were not attributable to CaRFG, the
     remaining 18 are still being investigated.  For the control fleet, 11
     incidents were reported, one is not fuel related, and the remaining 10 are
     still under investigation.  Attachment 7 of this summary provides tables
     listing each of the incidents reported on a fleet by fleet basis.

Attachments

CBG Program Advisory and Subcommittee Activities