Patent ID: 7716972
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: C10L,F02B,F02D,F02M,F16N,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring the performance of a compression-ignition, internal combustion engine which method comprises: lubricating the engine with a crankcase lubricant, and introducing a fuel to the engine to operate the engine, characterised in that the fuel comprises greater than 50% by weight of petroleum-based, middle distillate fuel oil and/or Fischer Tropsch derived, middle distillate fuel oil and 2.5% to 25% by weight of at least one lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid, and the performance of the engine is monitored by measuring the rate of ingress of lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid from the fuel into the crankcase lubricant by infra red spectroscopic analysis of the crankcase lubricant.