The GMR-GMR&D Fuels and Lubricants Department - Its History and Accomplishments

Joseph M. Colucci

doi:10.4271/2016-01-0176

This paper summarizes the history and most significant accomplishments of the GMR-GMR&D Fuels and Lubricants Department from its predecessor organization starting about 100 years ago to its demise during a reorganization in the late 1990s. It covers:

Combustion research to improve engine efficiency and reduce emissions,
Development of chemical, bench, engine, and vehicle tests to improve fuel and lubricant quality,
Development of technology to reduce vehicle emissions,
Research to understand and reduce air pollution, and
Evaluation of alternative fuels and lubricants.

In total, the above activities helped not only GM and the worldwide auto industry, but also society. They improved the operation of vehicles and the quality of the air in the United States and around the globe, favorably affecting the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

They also created the recognition of and the reputation of the Fuels and Lubricants Department as the best of its kind in the world. It was a vital part of General Motors, especially from the 1950s through the 1980s, when it was widely considered one of the best, if not the best, automotive R&D organization in the world.

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The GMR-GMR&D Fuels and Lubricants Department - Its History and Accomplishments 2016-01-0176

SAE MOBILUS