Fuel oil compositions

Abstract

Oils having improved lubricity and low temperature properties and additives for use therein.

1 . A fuel oil composition comprising, or obtainable by admixing, a major amount of a fuel oil and minor amounts of: 
 (I) one or more compounds having at least one aromatic ring system, wherein at least one ring system bears, as substituents, 
 (a) one or more hydroxyl groups or derivatives thereof or both; and  
 (b) one or more ester groups of the formula  
                     
  where R 1  represents a hydrocarbyl group having at least one hydroxyl group or a derivative thereof or both;  
   (II) one or more aromatic condensates other than those defined in (I) or one or more ethylene polymers or both; and    (III) optionally, one or more oil-soluble polar nitrogen compounds.    
     
     
         2 . An additive composition comprising, or obtainable by admixing, (I), (II) and optionally (III) as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . An additive concentrate comprising, or obtainable by admixing, either (I), (II) and optionally (III) as defined in  claim 1  or the additive composition of  claim 2 , and a compatible solvent therefor.  
     
     
         4 . The fuel oil composition of  claim 1 , obtainable by admixing a fuel oil and either the additive composition of  claim 2  or the additive concentrate of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         5 . The composition or concentrate of any one of the preceding claims wherein the aromatic ring system of the compound (I) is a single, six-membered ring.  
     
     
         6 . The composition or concentrate of  claim 5  wherein the compound (I) comprises a single benzene ring bearing 
 (i) one hydroxyl group (a), and  
 (ii) one ester group (b).  
 
     
     
         7 . The composition or concentrate of any one of the preceding claims wherein R 1  represents a hydroxyl-substituted alkyl substituent.  
     
     
         8 . The composition or concentrate of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one aromatic condensate is present and is preferably a condensate of formaldehyde and phenol or a substituted phenol.  
     
     
         9 . The composition or concentrate of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one ethylene polymer is present and is preferably an ethylene unsaturated ester copolymer.  
     
     
         10 . The composition or concentrate of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one compound (III) is present and wherein the or each such compound is a nitrogen compound carrying one or more substituents of the formula >NR 13 , wherein R 13  represents a hydrocarbyl group containing 8 to 40 carbon atoms, optionally in the form of a salt thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel oil composition comprising, or obtainable by admixing, a major amount of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range and minor amounts of (I) as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  5 ,  6  or  7 , and optionally and one or more gasoline co-additives selected from anti-knock agents, lead scavengers, detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, metal deactivators and carburetor or fuel injector detergents.  
     
     
         12 . An additive composition comprising, or obtainable by admixing, (I) as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  5 ,  6  or  7 , and optionally one or more gasoline co-additives selected from anti-knock agents, lead scavengers, detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, metal deactivators and carburetor or fuel injector detergents.  
     
     
         13 . A concentrate comprising, or obtainable by admixing, either the additive composition claimed in  claim 12  or (I) as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  5 ,  6  or  7 , and one or more gasoline co-additives selected from anti-knock agents, lead scavengers, detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, metal deactivators and carburetor or fuel injector detergents, and a compatible solvent therefor.  
     
     
         14 . The use of (I) as defined in any one of claims  1 ,  5 ,  6  or  7  and optionally one or more gasoline co-additives selected from anti-knock agents, lead scavengers, detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, metal deactivators and carburetor or fuel injector detergents for improving the friction of a fuel composition comprising a major amount of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range