Summary of Engironment Canada's ERMD

Summary of Environment Canada's ERMD

(Note: if you would like to view the full report prepared by Environment Canada, please e-mail us.)

This is a report of the evaluation testing conducted by Environment Canada's ERMD on a diesel fuel additive and a lubricating oil additive for heavy-duty diesel engines. The two after-market products were provided by Pathfinder® Lubricants Ltd. of Coe Hill, Ontario.

The purpose of the testing was to evaluate the beneficial effect on pollutant emissions by the additives. The basis of comparison was the exhaust emission results obtained with the test diesel engine in a baseline configuration (OEM fuel and lubricating oil).

A program was arranged with a series of test engine configurations - baseline fuel and oil, fuel additive and baseline oil, baseline fuel and oil additive, and finally both fuel and oil additives applied. The emission testing of each configuration consisted of three 'hot start' transient tests that conformed to U.S. EPA emission test protocol for heavy duty engines.

Comparison of the emission results by means of a statistical analysis revealed significant differences (Student 't' test 95% confidence level) between the initial baseline and the additive configurations. The most favourable comparison was found with both additives in place for the test engine's operation. In this test confirmation. the exhaust mass emissions of CO. NOx. THC. and particulates were reduced bv 6.95%. 7.06%. 26.72%. and 8.47% respectively.

The proprietary chemistry of the additives does not allow for any explanation as to the observed results. However, the Pathfinder states that these products are a 100% petroleum derivative and that they cause "a further increase in compression beyond what is excepted as the norm."

Testing of these products was done under 'ideal conditions' in a certified laboratory on a secure, well-tuned engine over a short time frame. The statistically significant results obtained are particular to the test engine and should not be taken out of the test program's context.

#97-320 DD SERIES 60 TEST CONFIGURATION	DATE	POWER [BHP]	EPA - HD ENGINE TRANSIENT EMISSION TEST
#97-320 DD SERIES 60 TEST CONFIGURATION	DATE	POWER [BHP]
BASELINE - INITIAL	9 Dec 97	61.9	1.62	549.4	8.90	0.33	0.295
	9 Dec 97	62.2	1.64	555.6	8.84	0.31	0.280
	9 Dec 97	64.0	1.52	545.4	8.81	0.32	0.274
Average		62.7	1.59	550.1	8.85	0.32	0.283
Standard Deviation		1.168	0.061	5.132	0.044	0.010	0.011

FUEL ADDITIVE	9 Dec 97	59.4	1.52	556.5	8.75	0.35	0.272
	9 Dec 97	62.6	1.51	549.4	8.38	0.38	0.254
	9 Dec 97	63.0	1.47	545.0	8.32	0.35	0.263
Average		61.7	1.50	550.3	8.49	0.36	0.263
Standard Deviation		1.990	0.029	5.806	0.234	0.018	0.009
% Difference		-1.62%	-6.00%	0.03%	-4.12%	14.53%	-7.10%
Variance of comparison,		2.663	0.002	30.025	0.028	0.000	0.000
t Distribution (n=4)		0.763	2.461	-0.036	2.649	-3.897	2.434
Statistically significant (95% confidence)?		No	No	No	No	Yes	No

OIL ADDITIVE	10 Dec 97	64.0	1.50	539.5	8.40	0.24	0.282
	10 Dec 97	60.8	1.50	536.6	8.46	0.27	0.266
	10 Dec 97	63.6	1.51	532.6	8.35	0.23	0.256
Average		62.8	1.51	536.2	8.40	0.25	0.268
Standard Deviation		1.731	0.006	3.482	0.052	0.021	0.013
% Difference		0.21%	-5.56%	-2.53%	-5.08%	-22.33%	-5.30%
Variance of comparison,		2.180	0.002	19.229	0.002	0.000	0.000
t Distribution (n=4)		-0.108	2.507	3.888	11.455	5.249	1.515
Statistically significant (95% confidence)?		No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

OIL & FUEL ADDITIVE	11 Dec 97	61.6	1.48	550.8	8.13	0.22	0.265
	11 Dec 97	63.1	1.46	542.5	8.31	0.22	0.253
	11 Dec 97	64.1	1.51	543.4	8.24	0.26	0.259
Average		62.9	1.48	545.6	8.23	0.23	0.259
Standard Deviation		1.260	0.028	4.534	0.091	0.023	0.006
% Difference		0.43%	-6.95%	-0.83%	-7.06%	-26.72%	-8.47%
Variance of comparison,		1.475	0.002	23.447	0.005	0.000	0.000
t Distribution (n=4)		-0.269	2.857	1.151	10.710	5.795	3.336
Statistically significant (95% confidence)?		No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes