72-19
EVALUATION OF ECCONO-NEEDLES
April 1972
Henry LI Gompf
Test and Evaluation Branch
Environmental Protection Agency
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Background
Canco Incorporated of San Rafael, California, 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
screwing 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 t.he instructions, enables mere
precise settings of lean idle mixture.
Test Program
Three vehicles from the EPA test fleet were selected for
installation of Eccono-Needles:
1962 Chevrolet Biscayne 283 CID
1963 Ford Galaxie 289 CID
1970 Plymouth Valiant 225 CID
All three vehicles were equipped 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 Procedure for 1972 model year vehicles.
Fuel consumption was quantitatively evaluated during the testing.
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-2-
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
% Reduction from Baseline
1962 Chevrolet 1963 Ford 1970 Plymoutl
Normal set/Lean idle Normal set/Lean idle Normal set/Lean id'.
HC --- 7% 7% 2%* 5%* . 0%
CO --- 301 10% 5% 19%* 33%
C02 --- 9%* 2%* 0% 3% 1%*.
NOx --- 14%* 18%* 5%* 4% 2%*
*Increase
Fuel consumption calculations for the three vehicles
indicated the following results:
Fuel Consumption/Change from Baseline
1962 Chevrolet 1963 Ford 1970 Plymouth
Nuijiicii set/Lean idle Normal set/Lean id'le Normal s'et/Lean Tdl
42** !%*** !%*** 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-Needles on fuel
economy can be made.
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1972 Federal Test Procedure
All Results in Grams Per Mile
1962 Chevrolet-283 CID
Date
Basel
3
3
3
-17-
-16-
-15-
HC
CO
ine
7
7
7
2
2
2
Average
Eccono
4
4
4
4
-6-7
-10-
-8-7
-7-7
Ave
2
7
2
2
r
-Needles
2
age
5
6
6
5
.30
.3
.1
.9
54
67
47
42
.5
.9
.2
.4
co2
515
532
525
524
NOx
.8
.7
.9
.8
3.
3.
4.
3.
8
9
1
9
(low idle CO)
5
5
5
*
5
.4
.4
.6
.5
19
36
28
34
29
.8
.2
.4
.26
.6
540
585
541
609
569
.9
.5
.6
.9
.5
4.
4.
*
4.
4.
5
8
1
5
I Reduction
From Rasfil ine
30*
9?; increase; 14?: increase
Baseline fuel consumption 14.7
Eccono-Needles fuel consumption 14.1 mpg
*Error in sampling
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1972 Federal Test Procedure
All Results in Grams Per Mile
1963 Ford-289 CID
Date
Baseline
2-2-72
2-3-72
2-4-72
2-5-72
2-28-72
HC
8.9
7.3
8.0
7.4
9.2
CO
116.1
124.2
119.7
105.9
130.5
co2
508.1
522.5
529.1
523.4
519.6
NOx
4.1
4.0
3.9
4.2
4.0
Average
8.2
119.3
520.5
4.0
Eccono-Needles (followed recommended installation)
2-29-72
3-1-72
3-2-72
3-3-72
A ^ r a ₯ n rro
% Reduction
from Baseline
Eccono-Needles
3-17-72
3-22-72
Average
7.1
8.0
7.5
7.8
7 . 6
7%
(lean
8.3
8.5
8.4
104.
111.
103.
102.
106.
10%
idle CO)
112.
113.
112.
6
8
7
3
9
7
0
9
537
528
523
535
531
2%
498
546
522
.7
.3
.8
.3
3
increase
.5
.5
.5
4
4
5
5
A
3
4
4
.4
.3
.0
.0
7
4
18% increase
.7
.6
.2
% Reduction
from Baseline
2% increase 5% 0%
Baseline fuel consumption
Eccono (normal set) fuel consumption
Eccono (lean idle) fuel consumption
5% increase
12.3 mpg
12.4 mpg
12.4 mpg
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1972 Federal Test Procedure
All Results in Grams Per Mile
1963 Ford-289 CID
Date
Baseline
2-2-72
2-3-72
2-4-72
2-5-72
2-28-72
HC
8.9
7.3
8.0
7.4
9.2
CO
116.1
124.2
119.7
105.9
130.5
co2
508.1
522.5
529.1
523.4
519.6
NOx
4.1
4.0
3.9
4.2
4.0
Average
8.2
119.3
520.5
4.0
Eccono-Needles (followed recommended installation)
2-29-72
3-1-72
3-2-72
3-3-72
A -\r o> -v* o fr i
7.1
8.0
7.5
7.8
104.6
111.8
103.7
102.3
537.7
528.3
523.8
535.3
4.4
4.3
5.0
5.0
1 £>
n f. n
C T1
% Reduction
from Baseline
7%
10%
Eccono-Needles (lean idle CO)
3-17-72 8.3 112.7
3-22-72 8.5 113.0
Average 8.4 112.9
% Reduction
from Baseline 2% increase 5%
2% increase 18% increase
498.5
546.5
522.5
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 mp g
12.4 mp g
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