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Inlet valve deposits in gasoline engines have a significant effect on engine operation with particular reference to cold starting and driveability. Present methods of quantifying these deposits by weighing them or rating them with the aid of a visual rating scale are recognized as not being reliable indices of the detrimental effect of these deposits. A valve deposit quantification system was developed that relied on the use of machine vision. Algorithms were formulated to track the silhouetted edge profile of a backlit valve from which a valve volume was determined. The valve deposit volume was calculated as the difference in volume between the valve in its clean and coked states. The system was able to detect a minimum coke deposit level of 0.06g at the 95% confidence limit, the accuracy being based on the correlation between the volume as determined by the vision system and the mass of the deposit.

A fuel blend containing 30 percent ethanol, diesel fuel and additives was tested in a diesel tractor to determine its effect on engine performance and durability. Uprating the delivery of the fuel injection pump was found to be a practical method of restoring the 11 percent power reduction caused by the lower heat content of the blend. Operation of the tractor under on-farm conditions for alternate 100 hour periods totalling 2000 hours on diesel fuel and on the blend revealed no noticeable deterioration in engine condition related to the blend.