Performance Subcommittee
Meeting Summary December 1, 1995
Introduction
The performance subcommittee discussed the following key
issues regarding the California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG)
performance and compatibility testing program:
On-Road Test Program
Off-Road Test Program
State Fire Marshal Data
Other Issues
Copies of presentations or materials given at this meeting
are enclosed with this summary.
II. On-Road Test Program
Ford completed its analysis of the fuel pumps from the
ARB and Texaco test programs and provided the ARB with their
findings. Ford's analysis of these fuel pump incidents was
discussed by the subcommittee. In the ARB test program, the
vehicle with license plate number 2F49402 had a reported fuel
pump failure; however, Ford's analysis of the fuel pump
showed that it operated properly. The subcommittee agreed to
remove that incident from the "fuel" pump category and to
place it in the "other" category. Further, one other fuel
pump from the Texaco Test Program was found to be in
appropriate operating condition and that issue will be looked
at by Texaco.
The General Motors bench testing is complete for the
fuel system plastic materials and about 60 percent complete
for the fuel system elastomers (further details of the status
of the GM bench testing are attached). The final plastic
material tested was a foamed nitrile float material used in
older vehicles. Samples of this foam material were exposed
to three CaRFG blends and two conventional fuels. The volume
and density changes observed for these samples indicate no
changes that would affect its performance. Since the last
update, one more fuel system elastomer, a nitrile rubber, was
completed on the three CaRFG fuels and in the Auto/Oil fuel
RFA. In the previously reported elastomer tests, the
material samples were exposed to the test fuel for 500 hours
then to low aromatic fuel for another 500 hours to simulate
exposure of "used" elastomers to a low aromatic CaRFG
formulation. The elongation results of this severe test
indicate that the nitrile rubbers are unsatisfactory for high
flex applications for all fuels tested -- conventional and
CaRFG fuel. However, most vehicle manufacturers made
material improvements in the early 1980's and the likelihood
that nitrile rubbers are still in use is minimal. In the
less severe reflux tests the elongation results in CaRFG
fuels were more favorable than those of the conventional RFA
fuel. Overall, these results indicate no real differences
between the CaRFG fuel and the conventional RFA fuel. The
results are discussed in more detail in the attachment.
III. Off-Road Test Program
The majority of the testing in off-road vehicles and
equipment was complete in August, 1995. The results of these
programs, CSU Fresno, CalTrans, Lake Tahoe and Lake Cachuma
are currently being drafted for the CaRFG report. In these
test programs, approximately 12,000 hours were logged on test
fuel and about 25,000 miles on the snowmobile testing.
Andreas Stihl conducted testing on a chain saw and a
weed trimmer. They reported no significant changes in
technical parameters with the use of CaRFG; power
characteristics and plug seat temperature were equivalent
between CaRFG, Federal RFG and conventional fuel.
Additionally, they found that hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide
emissions remained unchanged with CaRFG in new engines.
Based on testing of Federal RFG, they also reported
difficulty starting engines using oxygenated fuels, and at
higher ambient temperatures.
The results from the five remaining PPEMA member
companies are still pending. Husqvarna's, Dolmar-Makita's,
and Shin-Daiwa Kogyo's testing is on hold due to CARB
certification efforts. Homelite and Poulan results are
expected very soon.
IV. State Fire Marshal Data
The State Fire Marshal maintains a database of vehicle
fire information that they will provide to the subcommittee
at its request. The data contains current and historical
information on vehicle fires with details such as where in
the vehicle the fire started, the likely cause of the fire
and detailed vehicle information. One of the uses of this
data is to see if the rate of vehicle fires changed with past
gasoline regulations. Furthermore, the Fire Marshal will be
able to identify vehicles prone to fires and monitor if there
are any increases in fires during the change to CaRFG.
V. Other Issues
The ARB received a letter from the "Seep Subgroup" of
the Technical Review Panel regarding their assessment of
seeps. The subgroup consists of members from the domestic
auto manufacturers and headed by Loren Beard, Chrysler. The
subgroup inspected vehicles in the ARB test program on both
the test and control fuel and some vehicles in the Detroit
area. They conclude that seeps "do not represent an abnormal
condition" and further recommend that seeps be removed from
further consideration in the test program. (The letter is
attached.)
The CaRFG report will be ready for approval by the
subcommittee at the next full subcommittee meeting in
February. We are planning to have a smaller meeting for
those who are interested in commenting on the report, in
mid-January, before presenting it to the full subcommittee.
On a side note, ARCO and Ultramar are proposing to
conduct a fleet test program to further study the effects of
a CaRFG oxygenated with ethanol prior to the 1996 winter
season. The concept is still in its preliminary stages.
Attachments
CBG Program Advisory and Subcommittee Activities