71-2
Retro-fit Emission Control Devices for Pre-1968 Vehicles
July 1970
Henry L. Gompf
Division of Motor Vehicle Research and Development
National Air Pollution Control Administration
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
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Subject: Used Car Test Program Results
General Motors Inc., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Corpora-
tion have developed retro-fit devices to be applied to
pre-1968 uncontrolled vehicles as a means of reducing emis-
sions from the large population of such automobiles. Be-
cause of preliminary claims by manufacturers which created
interest in state legislation, an emission test program \vas
initiated.
Three automobiles from the HEW fleet in Ypsilanti were se-
lected to be used as test vehicles. These cars included:
a 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne with a 283 cubic inch engine and
automatic transmission, a 1963 Chevrolet Impala with a 283
cubic inch engine and standard transmission, and a 1963
Ford Galaxie with a 289 cubic inch engine and automatic
transmission. For the series of tests Indolene 30 was used
and fuel consumption was measured for each test by weighing
the test fuel tank before and after each run. All tests
were cold start.
The following tests were performed on both the uncontrolled
vehicle tuned to recommended manufacturer specifications
and on the same vehicle after installation of the retro-fit
device according to the instructions supplied with the de-
vices.
1. 1968 Federal procedure for exhaust emissions (FTP).
2. 9 cycles of the 7-mode Federal cycle used with con-
stant volume sampling (CVS).
3. Proposed 1972 LA4-S3 test cycle with constant volume
sampling (CVS).
The 1968 Federal procedure data were obtained with NDIR instru-
ments while both NDIR and FID instruments were used in the CVS
technique. The Whittaker "NOX Box" was used for determination
of oxides of nitrogen in the CVS sample.
The General Motors device was tested on all three cars while
the Ford device which is designed only for Ford products was
tested only on the Ford Galaxie. The 1962 Chevrolet Biscayne
was tested both with a stock carburetor and a lean limit carb-
uretor.
Dynamometer Results
Actual emission levels for the various configurations tested
are shown in the appendix to this report. Included in these
results are the fuel consumptions obtained for each test.
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GM Device
Table I shows the percent reduction of hydrocarbon, car-
bon monoxide, and nitric oxide emissions for the four
vehicle configurations. As is shown, using'the 1968
Federal procedure the average reductions are: 54% less
hydrocarbons, 24% less carbon monoxide, and 29% less
nitric oxide. Using the 9 cycle CVS test the average
reductions change to 37% less hydrocarbons, 19% less
carbon monoxide, and 20% less nitric oxides. Using the
1972 proposed Federal procedure reductions were 35%
less hydrocarbons, 14% less carbon monoxide and 16%
less nitric oxide.
it should be noted that in two cases the constant volume
sampling technique indicated an increase in carbon mono-
xide and nitric oxide with the device installed. This
occurred with the 1963 Chevrolet Impala being tested
by the 9 cycle CVS test and with the 1962 Chevrolet
Biscayne (with lean carburetor) being tested by the pro-
posed 1972 Federal procedure.
Ford Device
Table II indicates the percent reduction in levels of
emissions for hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitric
oxide for the 1963 Ford Galaxie with the Ford device
attached. As indicated with the 1968 Federal procedure
hydrocarbon was reduced 66%, carbon monoxide 39%, and
nitric oxide 57%. With 9 cycle CVS hydrocarbon was re-
duced by 39%, carbon monoxide increased 9%, and nitric
oxide decreased 33%. Using'the 1972 proposed Federal
procedure hydrocarbon was decreased by 58%, carbon mono-
xide 27% and nitric oxide 16%.
Fuel Consumption
GM Device
Table I shows the relative change in gasoline consump-
tion caused by the attachment of the General Motors
device. On the 1968 Federal test procedure (and neces-
sarily the 9 cycle CVS) the average fuel consumption
was increased 8% with the kit. An average 6% increase
was measured by testing with the proposed 1972 federal
procedure.
Ford Device
Table II indicates that attachment of the Ford device
caused a 27% increase and a 6% increase using the 1968
and 1972 Federal procedures respectively.
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Driv'eability Effects
Certain qualitative effects on performance were noticed by
the test personnel during the running of the test cycles.
With installation of the General Motors device the car lost
a small but noticeable degree of responsiveness. The effect
of application of the Ford device was more severe. The car
had a tendency to surge at constant loads. In addition full
throttle accelerations were needed to match the cycle accel-
eration requirement. This was not necessary at all for the
uncontrolled vehicle.
Summary of Results
1. Emissions of all three pollutants, hydrocarbon, carbon
monoxide, and nitric oxide, on the average were decreased by
the application of a retro-fit device. Th~e constant volume
sampling technique used both in the 9 cycle and 1972 Federal
procedure showed considerably smaller reduction than did the
1968 Federal procedure.
Comparison of 1968 FTP and 1972 FTP Results
GM Device
1968 % 1972 %
Reduction Reduction
Hydrocarbon 54%
Carbon Monoxide 24 14
Nitric Oxide 29" 16
Ford Device
1968 % 1972 %
Reduction Reduction
Hydrocarbon 66% 58
Carbon Monoxide 39 27
Nitric Oxide 57 16
The several increases in carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide
with the device attached indicate that the real effectiveness
of the device on some vehicle configurations is marginal.
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2. Since ail tests showed either no appreciable change or
an increase in fuel consumption, it is obvious that one of
the penalties of the devices will be increased operating
costs.
3. Attachment o'f a retro-fit device does decrease the ve-
hicles performance, in one case an intolerable amount.
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TABLE I
GM Retro-Fit Device
Percent Reductions*
•63 Chevy
Impala
'68 Procedure
HC
CO
NO
Fuel
64%
6
45
19 inc.
'63 Ford
Galaxie
61%
25
41
6 inc.
'62 Chevy
Biscayne
(stock carb)
43%
37
1
6 inc.
'62 Chevy
Biscayne
(lean carb)
48%
28
28
0
Average
541
24
29
8 inc,
Cycle CVS
HC
CO
NO
ruel
29
16 inc
21 inc
19 inc
46
21
31
6 inc.
39
25
2
6 inc,
35
14
24
0
37
19
20
8 inc.
72 Procedure
HC
CO'
NO
Fuel
39
6
12
14 inc.
49
26
28
0
33
24
22
0
20
1 inc.
2 inc.
9 inc.
35
14'
16
6 inc.
* Note:
"inc."
indicates increase
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TABLE II
Ford Retro-Fit Device
1963 Ford Galaxie
Percent Reduction*
'68 Procedure
HC 66%
CO 39
NO 57
Fuel 27 inc.
9 Cycle CVS
HC 39
CO 9 inc.
NO 33
Fuel 27 inc.
'72 Procedure
HC 58
CO 27
NO 16
Fuel 6 inc.
* Note: "inc." indicates increase
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Appendix
•Emission Test Results
1968 FTP
Without device
With device
9 Cycle CVS
Without device
With device
1972 FTP
without device
With device
1968 FTP
Without device
With device
9 Cycle CVS
Without device
With device
GM Device
1963 Chevrolet
HC ppm
e 909.6
867.9
317.7
314.2
HC gpm
e 11.69
10.54
7.82
8.22
e 10.78
10.27
5.85
7.09
1963 Ford
HC ppm
e 922.7
954.5
363.3
372.8
HC gpm
:e 13.07
13.06
6.73
7.39
Impala
CO %
3.52
3.33
3.19
3.00
CO gpm
75.28
75.16
86.69
87.49
98.41
98.45
85.51
98.99
Galaxie
CO 1
3.81
3.42
2.66
2.73
CO gpm
87.77
78.83
65.07
66.98
NO ppm
371.7
534.4
263.5
272.7
NO gpm
1.16
1.64
1.68
1.71
1.93
1.73
1.96
1.25
NO ppm
1056. 6
926.2
619.3
548.8
NO gpm
3.14
3.30
1.86
2.56
Fuel kg
1.360
1.400
1.600
1.645
Fuel kg
1.360
1.400
1.600
1.645
1.400
1.505
1.610
1.690
Fuel kg
1.540
1.425
1.575
1.565
Fuel kg
1.540
. 1.425
1.57S
1.565
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1972 FTP
Without device
With device
1968 FTP
Without device
With device
9 Cycle CVS
Without device
With device
1972 FTP
Without device
With device
1968 FTP
Without device
With device
9 Cycle
Without device
With device
12.21
13.10
6.66
6.36
116.48
137.25
96.60
91. OZ
2.99
2.94
2.04
2.23
1.685
1.820
1.790
1.695
1962 Chevrolet Biscayne
(stock carburetor)
HC ppra
662.5
361.4
396.7
HC gpm
14.24
8.50
8.78
8.96
8.84
5.96
5.90
CO %
3.96
2.39
2.61
CO gpm
122.33
82.48
101.04
132.41
128.96
106.81
99.57
NO ppm
475.7
391.2
550.4
NO gpm
2.30
2.15
2.34
2.83
2.38
1.80
2.04
Fuel kg
1.630
1.760
1.710
Fuel kg
1.630
1.760
1.710
1.900
1.815
1.950
1.760
1962 Chevrolet Biscayne
(lean limit carburetor)
HC ppm
508.1
546.8
322.4
229.4
HC gpm
i 8.40
9.08
3.46
5.81
CO %
1.91
2.02
1.43
1.41
CO gpm
53.02
54.28
38.02
53.99
NO ppm
866.4
740.7
479.3
670.9
NO gpm
2.92
2.bl
1.36
2.76
Fuel kg
1.755
1.500
1.63S
Fuel kg
1.755
1.500
1.635
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1972 FTP
Without device
With device
1968 FTP
Without device
With device
9 Cycle CVS
Without device
With device
1972 FTP
Without device
With device
5.99
6.49
4.41
5.57
60.05
62.90
53.21
71.24
2.47
2.70
2.56
2.73
1.630
1.660
1.800
— _ - - _
Ford Device
1963 Ford
HC ppm
922.7
954.5
316.7
317.9
HC gpm
13.07
13.06
8.08
7.91
12.21
13.10
5.63
5.04
Galaxie
CO |
3.81
3.42
2.26
2.13
CO gpm
87.77
78.83
96.95
84.81
116.48
137.23
92.07
92.98
NO ppm
1056.6
926.2
416.6
439.1
NO gpm
3.14
3.30
2.22
2.11
2.99
2.94
2.46
2.50
Fuel kg
1.540
1.425
1.900
1.860
Fuel kg
1.540
1.425
1.900
1.86U
1.685
1.820
_»-, — _-
1.860
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