72-10
Evaluation of Stargas
Fuel Additive
February 1972
Henry L. Gompf
Test and Evaluation Branch
Environmental Protection Agency
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Background
The Test and Evaluation Branch has received many requests to
evaluate fuel additives or treatments. One such request was
originated by the Stargas Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona.
Preliminary data supplied by the manufacturer indicated sub-
stantial decreases in hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and oxides
of nitrogen. The effect appeared to increase with mileages
up to 1000 miles, with a substantial immediate reduction.
It was decided to conduct an evaluation to verify these effects
and to establish the adequacy of the Federal Emission Test
Procedure to measure the relatively small effects of a fuel
modification of this sort.
Control Technique
Stargas is formulated to be used with unleaded gasolines. Its
qualitative analysis was not revealed by the developers. It
was mixed in approximate proportions of eight ounces to fifty
gallons of fuel. This modified fuel was used both for testing
and for mileage accumulation. The developers of Stargas predicted
an immediate effect with the treatment.
Test Program
Two vehicles were selected for use in the evaluation program;
a 1971 Ford Galaxie with a 351 CID engine and automatic trans-
mission and a 1970 Plymouth Valiant with a 225 CID engine and
automatic transmission. Both of these vehicles were predominently
run on un-lead-ed:-.fuels- prior to the evaluation, the base fuel'f'or
the 1971 Ford was American Oil's 97 octane Indolene Clear
HO III. This fuel is identical to the fuel specified for
Federal emission tests with the exception that there is no lead
in the fuel. The base fuel for the 1970 Valiant was American
Oil's 91 octane unleaded pump fuel available at stations in
the area.
Both vehicles were tested in the baseline condition on fuel
without Stargas. Then the vehicles were tested with no
mileage accumulation with Stargas. The Ford was subsequently
tested after 440 miles of Stargas useage. The Valiant was
tested after 500 miles and 1000 miles of driving with Stargas.
The testing employed on both vehicles was the 1972 Federal
Emission Test Procedure as specified in the November 10, 1970,
Federal Register. This is a cold start constant volume sampling
procedure using the LA4-S4 driving cycle. Bag samples were
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2.
analyzed using a flame ionization detector for hydrocarbons,
non-dispersive infrared analysis for carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide, and chemilumenescence for oxides of nitrogen.
The 1971 Ford was also tested using a continuous steady-state
analysis of tailpipe concentrations. The instrumentation for
this analysis consisted of non-dispersive infrared analysis
for hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitric
oxide.
Results
Tables of all emission results are presented in the Appendix
of this report. Table I, below, indicates the results measured
on the Ford Galaxie.
Table I
% Reduction from Baseline
1972 Federal Emission Test
440 miles accumulated
HC CO C£2 NOx
-471 inc. 421 -5% inc. -13% inc.
% Reduction from Baseline
Continuous Tailpipe Analysis
Idle
0 miles accumulated
HC CO NOX
-11% inc. -5% inc. -47% inc.
440 miles accumulated
-166% inc. 36% -65% inc.
30 MPH Cruise
0 miles accumulated
HC CO NOx
-8% inc. -6% inc. -151 inc.
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3.
440 miles accumulated
HC €0 NOx
-71% inc. 31%
50 MPH Cruise
0 miles accumulated
HC C0_ NOx
2% -26% inc.
440 miles accumulated
-23% inc. 21% 7%
During mileage accumulation the Ford developed a cold starting
problem requiring frequent restarts. As the results indicate
a substantial decrease in carbon monoxide was measured accomp-
anied by an increase in hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen
emissions. The extremely lean operation apparently resulted
in some misfire.
Because of the inexplicable effects detected on the Ford it was
decided to initiate testing on the 1970 Valiant. Table II,
below, indicates the results obtained on the Valiant.
Table II
% Reduction from Baseline
1972 Federal Emission Test
0 miles accumulated
HC CO C£2
-7% inc. -2% inc. -1% inc.
500 miles accumulated
1% -4% inc. -3% inc.
1000 miles accumulated
-14% inc. -44% inc. -9% inc.
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4.
No NOx data is reported on this testing due to a chemiluminescence
analyzer problem. This car also developed false start tendencies
during mileage accumulation. In addition, severe detonation
was detected during mileage accumulation and testing with
Stargas possibly due to the lower octane base fuel used. No
beneficial emission effects were measured during this testing
phase.
One additional observation was made during the evaluation
program. On several occasions fuel containing Stargas was
spilled on the hands of laboratory personnel resulting in at
least two cases in mild stinging and whitening of the skin.
This condition was releaved by flushing the hands with water.
Conclusions
1. Emission data from both vehicles became somewhat erratic
after mileage accumulation on fuel containing Stargas. It
was, therefore, not possible to accurately quantify emission
changes attributable to the additive.
2. Reductions in carbon monoxide emissions were measured on
one vehicle accompanied by increases in hydrocarbon and oxides
of nitrogen. All through emission increased on the other
vehicle.
3. Both vehicles suffered deterioration of driveability during
mileage accumulation but direct effect of Stargas was ascertained
as the cause of this phenomenon.
4. Although the data cannot accurately predict the effect of
the additive on emissions, the fact that emissions were
generally worse with the additive than without discourages
any further evaluation of Stargas.
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APPENDIX
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Stargas Evaluation
1970 Valiant 225 CID
1972 Federal Emission Tests
(all results in grams per mile)
Baseline
Test #
18-0039
18-0040
18-0043
Average
Stargas
18-0044
18-0045
Avera ere
*-»
Stargas
18-0070
18-0080
Average
Stargas
18-0089
18-0090
18-0092
18-0094
Average
91 Octane American Lead Free
Date
11/8
11/9
11/10
w/91 Octane no
11/11
11/12
w/91 Octane 500
11/30
12/1
HC
2.9
3.0
2.6
2.8
mileage
3.0
3.0
3.0
CO
41.2
38.7
40.2
40.0
accumulation
41.6
40.1
40.9
C02
347
345
352
348
355
350
352
miles accumulated?
3.1
2.1
2.6
w/91 Octane 1000 miles
12/8
12/9
12/10
12/13
3.5
3.6
2.6
3.1
3.2
50.3
32.7
41.5
accumulated
69.8
68.8
46.6
45.4
57.7
351
367
359
382
381
385
385
383
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Stargas Evaluation
1971 Ford Galaxie
Hot Steady-State Evaluation
Idle
Baseline
Stargas 0 miles
Stargas 440 miles
30 MPH
Baseline
Stargas 0 miles
Stargas 440 miles
50 MPH
Baseline
Stargas 0 miles
Stargas 440 miles
Stargas
HC
187 ppm
238
498
49 ppm
53
84
55 ppm
54
68
Evaluation
CO
.22%
.23
.14
.16%
.17
.11
.191
.24
.15
NO
247 ppm
364
407
523 ppm
604
537
2220 ppm
2220
2060
1972 Federal Emission Test (cold start)
All Results in Grams Per Mile
HC
Baseline 2.00
Stargas 440 miles 3.34
2.53
Average with Stargas 2.94
CO
24.2
19.2
14.9
17.1
C02
600
651
613
632
NOx
2.80
3.15
3.15
3.15
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