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The FFVs under study operates on either M85 or M0 or any mixture of the two. Nissan has been actively conducting reseach and development on flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) to explore the possibilities for long-range energy conservation and air quality improvement. The engine converted for use in these FFVs is a 1.6 liter, four-cylinder in-line powerplant, with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It employs the Nissan Variable valve timing Control System (NVCS). The fuel sensor for measuring the methanol concentration in the fuel has been improved both in terms of accuracy and durability. This paper describes the engine performance and exhaust emission levels (formaldehydes unburned methanol and HC emissions) obtained with both M85 and M0.

Cold startability is one problem common to methanol vehicles because of methanol's low volatility. This study describes two necessary conditions for cold starting at -30°C: installing a cold start injector in the intake manifold and raising the Reid Vapor Pressure to 75.5 kPa. The cold start injector atomizes fuel to a 90- μ m average diameter in the intake ports and improves the mixture distribution at a temperature as cold as -30°C. Moreover, accomplishing cold starting requires that the indicated mean effective pressure of 686 kPa and above must be sustained until fast idling is reached.

This paper describes Nissan's research and development work on flexible fuel vehicles. Nissan has been engaged in R&D activities for flexible fuel vehicles to examine the possibilities for long-range energy conservation and air quality improvements. The flexible fuel research vehicle described here employs an electrostatic type sensor to measure the methanol concentration in the fuel and the engine system has been designed to burn a wide variety of fuels from M85 to MO (gasoline). Test results obtained with this research vehicle indicate that OMHCE and NOx emissions with M85 are lower than with MO under a fresh catalyst condition. However, by the end of a 50,000 mile durability test, NOx emissions with M85 increase to the same level as with MO. The use of M85 as the fuel results in a pronounced increase in aldehyde emissions compared with MO.