The influence of ambient temperature on tailpipe emissions from 1985 to 1987 model year light-duty gasoline motor vehicles—II

Abstract Tailpipe emissions from gasoline fieled motor vehicles are sensitive to a number of factors including driving schedule (speed vs time), ambient temperature and fuel composition. The sensitivity of hydrocarbon (HC), aldehyde, CO, and oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) emissions to these variables was examined with 11 recent technology (1985–1987 model year) four- six- and eight-cylinder gasoline fueled motor vehicles. In excess of 200 individual HCs and 12 aldehydes were included in the detailed organic emission characterizations. Two fuels and driving schedules were used. Hydrocarbon and CO emissions increased significantly and NO x emissions, in general, increased slightly as ambient temperature decreased. Formaldehyde also increased only slightly at test temperature decreased. Paraffin and aromatic emission fractions were dependent on fuel composition with olefin fraction being less fuel sensitive. When the low temperature cold start was preceded by a 5 min engine idle, CO and HC emissions were lowered, and NO x emissions essentially unchanged.