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Exhaust emissions from cars using reformulated gasoline (RFG) that meets European 2005 regulations for gasoline quality were compared to the emissions from cars using gasoline that meets European 2000 regulations (EU2000). Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Tertiary Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME) were used as oxygenates in the reformulated gasoline. The EU2000 gasoline contained no oxygen. Regulated, particulate and PAH exhaust emissions were measured at 22°C for 7 cars and at -7°C for 5 cars using the European MVEG cycle for year 2000 (ECE+EUDC). One of the cars was equipped with a lean burn engine, one with a direct injection engine and one was a carburetor equipped car without a catalytic converter. All other cars were equipped with multi point port fuel injection and a catalytic converter. Mutagenic activity of particulate mass was evaluated using the Ames test.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of TAME and heavier ethers on reformulated gasoline. The research work focused on the comparison of Californian Phase 2 gasoline (CARB), current Finnish reformulated gasoline containing MTBE (RFG1), or MTBE+TAME+heavier ethers (RFG2) with non-oxygenated Eurograde gasoline (EN228). Significant reductions in exhaust emissions were achieved with all reformulated fuels when compared to the Eurograde fuel. For instance, benzene emissions were reduced as much as 40 to 50 % for all cars at two temperatures and the emissions of total toxics were reduced by 14 to 45 % depending on vehicle type and temperature. The lowest 1,3-butadiene emissions were achieved with CARB gasoline. The amount of PAH compounds in the particulate matter from the non-catalyst vehicle was lower with the reformulated fuels than with the Eurograde fuel.

This paper presents the results of a gasoline reformulation project carried out in Finland during 1993. The project focused on the impact of gasoline sulfur and benzene content on exhaust emissions. Twelve 1990 - 1993 model vehicles were tested using two fuel sulfur levels, 500 and 100 ppm, and two benzene levels, 1 wt.% and 3 wt.%. Another subject of investigation was evaporative emissins during refuelling. When the sulfur content of the fuel was reduced from 500 to 100 ppm, the regulated exhaust emissions from catalyst cars decreased at test temperatures 22°C as follows: carbon monoxide CO 14%, total hydrocarbons THC 7% and nitrogen oxides NOx 9%. At test temperatures -7°C the reduction of sulfur content gave smaller benefits expressed in percentages, but the absolute changes (g/km) were at the same level as at +22°C.