Fuel Quality

Fuel quality may cause driveability problems such as hesitation, lack of power, stall, no start, etc.

Certain driveability problems can be related to fuel quality. Fuel testing is limited. Therefore, all other system checks must be performed (e.g. Powertrain System, Fuel System, Ignition System, Emission System) before fuel quality is diagnosed. If these checks fail to solve the problem, gain information from the customer about when the condition occurs, when and where the fuel was purchased, and which octane level was used. Ask the customer to change fuel brands. If the symptom persists, perform the fuel system diagnosis alcohol in fuel test. If this is not conclusive, drain the tank and refill with a known good quality fuel.

Due to increasing awareness towards vehicle emissions (evaporative and exhaust) and their impact on the environment, federal regulations are limiting certain characteristics of fuel. These limitations are causing driveability problems that are extremely difficult to diagnose. In order to make a diagnosis, a basic understanding of fuel and its effects on the vehicles fuel system must be gained.

OCTANE
Octane is a measure of a fuel's ability to resist spark knock. Spark knock occurs in the combustion chamber just after the spark plug fires, when the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder does not completely burn. The remaining mixture spontaneously combusts due to temperature and pressure. This secondary explosion causes a vibration that is heard as a knock (ping). Fuel with a high octane number has a greater resistance to spark knock. This vehicle requires 91 octane ([R+M]/2 method) in order to ensure proper performance of the fuel control system. Using fuel with an octane rating lower can create spark knock, which would cause the PCM to retard ignition timing to eliminate the knock. In a case such as this, poor engine performance and reduced fuel economy could result. Also, in severe knock cases, engine damage may occur.

VOLATILITY
Volatility is a fuels ability to change from a liquid state to a vapor state. Since liquid gasoline will not burn, it must vaporize before entering the combustion chamber. The rate at which gasoline vaporizes determines the amount of evaporative emissions released from the fuel system, and therefore has made volatility an environmental concern. The federal government has lowered the maximum allowable volatility, but certain driveability conditions have resulted.

Volatility can be determined through three different tests: the Vapor-Liquid Ratio, the Distillation Curve, and the Reid Vapor Pressure Test (RVP). The Vapor-Liquid Ratio test determines what temperatures must exist to create a vapor-liquid ratio of 20. The distillation curve is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and the percentage of fuel evaporated. The fuel components that boil at relatively low temperatures (below about 90°F) are known as light ends and those that boil at about 300°F are known as heavy ends. The light ends are important for cold starting and cold weather driveability. Heavy ends provide engine power and are important for hot weather driveability. It is the proper mixture of these components that provide proper operation across a wide range of temperatures. However, the distillation curve of a gasoline usually requires laboratory testing. The Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) test measures the pressure (psi) vaporized fuel exerts within a sealed container when heated to 100°F. Volatility increases proportional to RVP. While RVP can easily be measured in the field, it may be misleading because it is possible for two fuels with the same RVP to have different distillation curves, and therefore, different driveability characteristics.

As stated, improper volatility can create several driveability problems. Low volatility can cause poor cold starts, slow warm ups, and poor overall cold weather performance. It may also cause deposits in the crankcase, combustion chambers and spark plugs. Volatility that is too high could cause high evaporative emissions and purge canister overload, vapor lock, and hot weather driveability conditions. Since volatility is dependent on temperature, different fuels are used during certain seasons of the year, thus creating problems during sudden temperature changes.

FUEL SYSTEM DEPOSITS
Fuel system deposits can cause various driveability problems. Deposits usually occur during hot soaks after key OFF. Poor fuel quality or driving patterns such as short trips followed by long cool down periods can cause injector deposits. This occurs when the fuel remaining in the injector tip evaporates and leaves deposits. Leaking injectors can increase injector deposits. Deposits on fuel injectors affect their spray pattern, which in turn could cause reduced power, unstable idle, hard starts and poor fuel economy. Intake valve deposits can also be related to fuel quality. While most fuels contain deposit inhibitors, some do not and the effectiveness of deposit inhibitors varies by manufacturer. If intake valve deposits occur, fuel may be suspected. These deposits can cause symptoms such as excessive exhaust emissions, power loss and poor fuel economy.

SULFUR CONTENT
The sulfur content in fuel is also regulated to a certain standard. Premium grades of fuel generally have a lower sulfur content than the less expensive blends. A high sulfur content can promote the formation of acidic compounds that could deteriorate engine oil and increase engine wear. It could also produce excessive exhaust emissions or a rotten egg smell from the exhaust system.