Technical Paper
Design and Development of Method of Valve-Train Friction Measurement
1998-02-23
980572
The general trend in the IC engine design has been towards reduction in fuel consumption since the 1973 oil embargo. The improvement in combustion process has contributed greatly to a better fuel economy of today's engine and there are many challenges ahead on the GDI front towards the 3L/100km engine [1]. One of the biggest windows of opportunity in achieving higher engine fuel efficiency together with an acceptable emissions level is to reduce its friction. To achieve these an accurate method of assessing friction levels through the concept, design and development is paramount. Translation of friction torque to the total drive cycle's fuel consumption is carried out using Ford's in-house CAE analytical packages. A new method of directly measuring camshaft friction has been developed, which offers both exceptional accuracy and unprecedented convenience.
