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This paper presents the results of an on-road evaluation of in-cylinder ceramic thermal barrier coating GPX″-4M and turbocharger clearance control coating. Engelhard Corporation carried out the testing as a part of a pre-production product development and evaluation process. Contained in the paper are the results of a three-year long experiment conducted on an Engelhard's truck. Discussed in the paper are in-service performance and durability of Engelhard's coating. The experimental fuel usage data underwent substantial statistical treatment and analysis. In combination with the unique test conditions this allowed credible conclusions regarding the truck fuel economy. It was clearly demonstrated that the truck equipped with in-cylinder GPX coated components used 1.4% less fuel than a standard truck for the same amount of work performed over a 16-month period. This fuel saving is associated with the engine rebuild.

Base metal oxide diesel oxidation catalyst technology having low sulfate making tendencies was evaluated using the ECE R-49 Test procedure on medium and heavy duty diesel engines and found to achieve substantial reduction of particulate, gas phase HC and CO emissions. Although the engines met the current European standards, further reduction in these emissions for vehicles operated in congested urban areas, such as buses, would have a positive impact on general air quality. A study of varying fuel sulfur levels (110-770 ppm S) showed that the catalyst was effective for control of sulfate-make such that overall particulate removal in the test was not compromised. However, it was found that lower fuel sulfur levels (< 550 ppm S) gave the best results for the ECE R-49 test which places emphasis on test modes yielding the highest exhaust temperatures.

Diesel engines are coming under stricter requirements to reduce emissions. particularly those of particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Recently, the U. S. EPA put into place staged requirements for heavy duty diesel engines in urban bus applications which are aimed at ultimately bringing pre-1994 engines into particulate emissions compliance with 1994 heavy duty on-road truck standards (0. 1 g/bhp-hr TPM). This reflects the need to control emissions in crowded urban environments. Zirconia based ceramic combustion management coatings, although originally developed for adiabatic or low heat rejection engines to boost thermal efficiency, have also been shown to contribute to the reduction in diesel emissions. Heavy duty transient testing of rebuilt 2-stroke MUI diesel bus engines equipped with stabilized zirconia based coatings applied by thermal spray process have shown significant reduction in exhaust opacity relative to a baseline, uncoated engine.