72-19
EVALUATION OF ECCONO-NEEDLES
April 1972
Henry L. Gompf
Test and Evaluation Branch _
Environmental Protection Agency
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Background
Canco Incorporated of San Rafael, £alifornia, requested
that the Test and Evaluation Branch conduct a program to
determine the emission control potential of Eccono-Needles.
The company representative presented test data which they had
obtained from a reputable laboratory showing significant,~re-
ductions in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. This
data was generated using a group of vehicles operated and tested
at 5000 feet above sea level where baseline CO levels are much
higher than at sea level.
Device
Eccono-Needles replace the stock idle mixture screws from
a vehicle's carburetor. The replacement screws are available
in six sizes covering a significant proportion of vehicles
currently being operated in the United States.
Eccono-Needles are hollow-allowing air to bleed through
them with the intended effect of leaning air/fuel ratio.
Installation instructions supplied with the device call for
scre\ving the Eccono-Needles in until they are seated and then
backing off one-half a turn. The use of a garage-type combustion
analyzer, while not specified in the instructions, enables more
precise settings of lean idle mixture.
Test Program
Three vehicles from the EPA test fleet were selected for'
installation of Eccono-Needles:
1962
1963
1970
All three
Chevrolet Biscayne
Ford Galaxie
Plymouth Valiant
vehicles were equipped
283 CrD
289 CID
225 CID
with automatic transmissions.
. The Valiant and the Galaxie were subjected to three test
configurations. After baseline testing at "best idle" setting,
Eccono-Needles were installed according to the installation
instructions and the cars were again tested. Subsequently, the
idle CO was set at a minimum level with Eccono-Needles and the
two vehicles were retested. The Biscayne was tested in only
the baseline and lean-set Eccono-Needles configurations.
All testing was performed in accordance with the November 10,
1970, Federal Register. This document details the standard
Federal Emission Test Pro~edure for 1972 model year vehicles.
Fuel consumption \vas quantitatively' evaluated during the testing.
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Test Results'
The test results for the three vehicles are presented in
, the Appendix of this report. These results are summarized below:
Summary of Emission Results
t Reduction from Baseline
1962 Chevrolet
Normal 5et/Lean idle
1963 Ford
Normal set/Lean idle
1970 Plymouth
Normal set/Lean idle
HC
CO
C02
NOx
7%
30%
9%*
14%*
7%
10%
2%*
18%*
'2%*
5%
0%
5%*
5%*
19%*
3%
4%
0%
33%
1%*
2%*
*Increase
Fuel consumption calculations for the three vehicles
indicated the following results:
Fuel Consumption/Change from Baseline
1962 Chevrolet
Normal set/Lean ldle
1963 Ford
Normal set/Lean idle
1970 Plymouth
Normal set/Lean idle
4%**
1%***
1%***
0%
'4%***
"''''Penalty
"'''''''Benefit
Conclusions
With careful combustion analyzer setting of Eccono-Needles
hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide levels can be reduced in the
vehicles tested. Oxides of nitrogen tend to increase. Similar
reductions of HC and CO might be achieved by resetting the
standard idle mixture screws.
Fuel consumption results were mixed'and therefore no
conclusions as to the effectiveness of Eccono-Need1es on fuel
economy can be made.
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" ..~----_._--..''''''A-- ~..--~- .---
_.........- .-.'
19r2 Federal Te~t Proc~dure
: ~A~l ~'Re,~~1-~: ~~~ :~~anj~ ~Per ~Mi1e
.- ~ - - :. ::.. ::; '-. - _: - . . -...... . - '00 ~
1962 Chevro1et-283 CrD
. .. - - -
~:'IJate-'
- - - - .
HC
co ~: .CO 2 NOx
- - -
...'-
54.5 _.515.8 3.8
: .: 6?7 . 9 ::532.7 3.9
- 47.2 ::525.9 4.1
- "
4-2.4 - . !)2Li-:-S - 3.9
- - -
- - .
f'I~--
~se1ine
:;- 3.=- ,L7. - 7 2
:'.c. 3::"16 -'72
:'3,:-is--72
J-_....-,-
::'~:Average
" -
5.30
: . !S . 3
-: , ~ .1
- . 5 9
'...,... .......- - ~
..;.\':._:.:--
- ~
Eccono-Need1es (low id1~_CO)
~ - 4. :. 6 -: 7 2 ,', ~ :' -::: . 5 '. 4 :.. '.:.. - -= ~.
~~4:10:i2~-- -- :,-5.4
~-4--&~7-2 ~ :5'.6
~ ~~,:_7-'-J 2 ' : *
19.8
~ ~36. 2
:::2~.4
:~3~.26
- ,540.9
:-,585.5
:: 541. 6
>609.9
4.5
4.8
*
4.1
-
----~----_. .- --. .
- - 'Average
~. ~
29.6
- 569.5
- ~ - ~
...''''' . . ...
4.5
. ... - .... - .
~-" 'Re'duction
'; fRPEl, ~~? ,el ine
: ~~ . p
7%
30%
- r ::
:,... ~
; :;%~:~?:crea'se 14% increase
:::.'J:-. ..:. -: .;. - :. :-. .:
Baseline fuel consumption,
;E~~DfiD~N~~dle~:ffi~l- ~~~~umption
Ecco;-'C-':~2_~,~C':: ::.::'~ ::-::-,:::',:'-.' -
14.7
14.1 mpg
*Error in sampling
*E~"~':': ~n ~~~~.~~!:;
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1972 Federal Test Procedure
All Results in "Grams Per Mile
1963 Ford-289 CrD
Date HC CO C02 NOx
Baseline
2-2-72 8.9 116.1 508.1 4.1
2-3-72 7.3 124.2 522.5 4.0
2-4-72 8.0 119.7 529.1 3.9
2-5-72 7.4 105.9 523.4 4.2
2-28-72 9.2 130.5 519.6 4.0
Average 8.2 119.3 520.5 4.0
Eccono-Need1es (followed recommended installation)
2-29-72 7.1 104.6 537.7 4.4
3-1-72 8.0 111.8 528.3 4.3
3-2-72 7 . 5 103.7 523.8 5.0
3-3-72 7.8 102.3 535.3 5.0
Average 7.6 106.9 531.3 4.7
% Reduction
from Bas~line 7% 10% 2% increase 18% increase
Eccono-Need1es (lean idle CO)
3-17-72 8.3 112.7 498.5
3-22-72 8.5 113.0 546.5
Average 8.4 112.9 522.5
% Reduction
from Baseline 2% lncrease 5% 0%
3.7
4.6
4.2
5% increase
Baseline fuel consumption
Eccono (normal set) fuel consumption
Eccono (lean idle) fuel consumption
12.3 mpg
12.4 mpg
12.4 mpg
<,-"'.".".-"<"'-=--=--- ~.~. ,,~~..~
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1972 Federal Test Procedure
All Results. in Grams Per Mile
1970 Valiant-225 CID
Date HC CO C02 NOx
Baseline
2-2-72 2.3 44.7 407".9 4.8
2-4-72 1.9 37.0 418.7 3.7
2-5-72 2.0 33.1 425.7 5.3
2-23-72 2.4 41.0 392.3 4.9
2-25-72 1.9 36.5 407.9 5.3
2-26-72 2.1 36.1 397.9 5.1
2-28-72 2.3 48.6 403.8 5.4
Average 2.1 39.6 407.7 4.9
Eccono Needles (followed recommended installation)
2-29-72 2.5 62.9 384.8 4.4
3-1-72 1.9 31. 8 404.1 4.7
3-3-72 2 . 2 47.2 398.3 4.9
Average 2.2 47.3 395.7 4.7
0 Reduction
'0
from Baseline 5%increase 19% increase 3% 4%
Eccono Needles (lean idle CO)
3-17-72 2.3 28.7 394.5 4.8
3-21-72 2.3 29.7 422.2 4.7
3-22-72 1.9 24.2 419.3 4.9
3-23-72 1.8 23.3 407.8 5.4
Average 2.1 26.5 411. 0 5.0
~. Reduction
0
from Baseline 0% 33% 1% increase 2% increase
Baseline fuel consumption
Eccono (normal set) fuel consumption
Eccono (lean idle) fuel consumption
18.5 mpg
18.5 mpg
19.2 mpg
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