Modern Radiotracing Tools for the Development of Engines, Lubricants, and After Treatment Systems

Modern I.C. engines have to comply with strict environmental regulations, including a significant reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. This implies improvement of the internal combustion (I.C.) process, reduction of frictions, development of complex after treatment systems, and a reduction of oil consumption. New technical challenges are also associated to fuel dilution problems in diesel and super-ethanol engines, or to wear problems due to fuel dilution and soot loading in the lubricant, clogging and poisoning of after treatment system. Therefore, researchers and engineers need new tools to better understand and solve those new problems. In this paper, we describe the latest technologies available for engine and lubricant testing. The paper focuses on radionuclide techniques that are now increasingly used in Europe for realtime monitoring of engine wear, oil consumption, oil aeration, fuel dilution, and poisoning/clogging of after treatment systems. These technologies offer very high sensitivities and allow reducing significantly test durations. The paper presents the latest developments of radiotracer techniques applied to the development of engines, lubricants, and after treatment systems.