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 Hold
on tight
Increasing environmental awareness coupled with rising fuel costs
have driven recent moves to increase fuel efficiency, and lie behind
changing trends in vehicle technology. And legislative changes are
setting vehicle producers some tough targets to meet, but the question
is how? Part of the answer may lie in changes to transmission technology,
specifically, CVT - continuously variable transmission. Insight
takes a look at the advances in CVT design and the importance of
speciality fluids in achieving the best friction performance for
fuel-efficient transmissions.
 Worldwide
Winter Diesel Fuel Quality Survey 2000
The Worldwide Winter Diesel Fuel Quality Survey aims to provide the
petroleum refining and distribution industry with an overview of the
quality of diesel in the marketplace, allowing them to track the international
trends. Insight takes a look at the survey technique and reports some
of the broader findings for 2000. Contact details for those looking
for further information are also given.
Driving down diesel emissions
While diesel engines are more durable and give better fuel economy
than gasoline engines, it is said that they also pollute significantly
more. However, this could be set to change in the US, where the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed tough targets to cut pollution.
A comprehensive national control programme for heavy-duty vehicles
looks set to bring diesel emissions on a par with those of light-duty
vehicles from 2007. Insight looks at the benefits of combining engine
and fuel standards into a single programme, the potential impact of
this legislation and the likely costs to the consumer.
 Getting
to know you ...
In 2000, Infineum commissioned a survey of key and prospective customers
worldwide, to find out how the Company was seen as performing after
one year of operation. Insight reports on the survey approach, what
it set out to discover and the main findings, as well as showing how
Infineum is already acting on the results with the aim of significantly
increasing the percentage of customers who are completely happy with
their supplier-customer relationship.
 The
path to global harmonisation - The personal views of Nick Scheele,
Chairman of Ford Europe
In his keynote speech at the CEC/SAE Spring Fuels and Lubricants
Meeting in June 2000, Nick Scheele emphasised the importance of
achieving regulatory harmonisation in the automotive industry if
there is to be global integration. The main points of his speech
are covered, detailing Scheele's views on the current problems and
progress towards achieving 'tested once, accepted everywhere'.
 Stefan
Korcek on speeding up development of new oil technologies
At the first joint CEC and SAE meeting in Paris in June this year,
Stefan Korcek of Ford Motor Company outlined his personal views
of the technical performance requirements and specifications for
automotive engine lubricants. How does he see oil development satisfying
technology drivers while keeping pace with engine development and
legislative changes? Larry Smith of Infineum finds out.
Asia Pacific - JASO DH-1 raises the standard
In October 2000, the Japanese Automobile Standards Organisation
announced that the latest performance category for automobile diesel
engine oils, JASO DH-1 (JASO M 355) will be introduced to the market
in April 2001. Labelling requirements for the category will begin
at the same time on a global basis. Takaharu Suzuki reports details
of this new classification specifically for four-cycle Japanese-made
diesel automobile engines.
The Americas - GF-3 is here
The goal of defining ILSAC GF-3 moved a step closer to reality with
the successful conclusion of the third ballot of ASTM Technical Subcommittee
B this September. It is now virtually a formality that ILSAC GF-3
and API SL/Energy Conserving will be accepted, with licensed products
expected on the market by mid-2001. But getting this far has proved
a monumental task, involving much hard work from the industry. Insight
takes a look at what's been involved.
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