Method of conditioning an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A method of Improving the efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel includes the steps of: a) adding to the diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition having an aqueous first disperse phase that includes a free radical initiator and a first continuous phase that includes a first hydrocarbon liquid, a first surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant, thereby producing a modified diesel fuel; and b) operating the engine, thereby combusting the modified diesel fuel. The efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel and a source of lubricating oil can also be improved by modifying the lubricating oil by the addition of a stabilized nanoparticulate composition of cerium dioxide. The efficiency of a diesel engine can also be improved by adding to the diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition that includes an aqueous disperse phase containing boric acid or a borate salt.

1 . A method of improving the efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) adding to said diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition comprising:
 i) an aqueous first disperse phase comprising a free radical initiator; and 
 ii) a first continuous phase comprising a first hydrocarbon liquid, a first surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant, thereby producing a modified diesel fuel; and 
   b) operating said engine, thereby combusting said modified diesel fuel.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said diesel fuel is selected from the group consisting of D2 diesel, low sulfur diesel, ultra low sulfur diesel, and biodiesel. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said free radical initiator is selected from the group consisting of stabilized hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first hydrocarbon liquid comprises a hydrocarbon containing about six to about twenty carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said first hydrocarbon liquid is selected from the group consisting of toluene, octane, decane, D2 diesel fuel,low sulfur diesel, ultra low sulfur diesel, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first surfactant and said co-surfactant contain only the elements C, H, and O. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said modified diesel fuel contains less than about 500 ppm water. 
     
     
         8 . A method of improving the efficiency of a diesel engine wherein said engine is provided with a source of diesel fuel and a source of lubricating oil, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) adding to said diesel fuel a reverse-micellar composition comprising:
 i) an aqueous first disperse phase comprising a free radical initiator; and 
 ii) a first continuous phase comprising a first hydrocarbon liquid, a first surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant, thereby producing a modified diesel fuel; 
   b) adding to the lubricating oil a stabilized nanoparticulate composition of cerium dioxide, thereby producing a modified lubricating oil; and   c) operating said engine, thereby combusting said modified diesel fuel in said engine and lubricating said engine using said modified lubricating oil.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said free radical initiator is selected from the group consisting of stabilized hydrogen peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said stabilized nanoparticulate composition comprises cerium dioxide nanoparticles having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 1 nm to about 15 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said stabilized nanoparticulate composition comprises cerium dioxide nanoparticles having a mean hydrodynamic diameter of about 6 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said first surfactant and said co-surfactant comprise only the elements C, H, or O. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said reverse-micellar composition includes an alcohol as a co-surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said modified diesel fuel contains less than 500 about ppm water. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said reverse-micellar composition further includes an aqueous second disperse phase. 
     
     
         16 . A method of improving the efficiency of a diesel engine provided with a source of diesel fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) adding to said diesel fuel a first reverse-micellar composition comprising:
 i) an aqueous first disperse phase comprising boric acid or a borate salt; and 
 ii) a first continuous phase comprising a first hydrocarbon liquid, a first surfactant, and optionally a co-surfactant; and 
   b) operating said engine.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said diesel fuel is selected from the group consisting of D2 diesel, low sulfur diesel, ultra low sulfur diesel, and biodiesel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said first hydrocarbon liquid comprises a hydrocarbon containing about six to about twenty carbon atoms. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said first hydrocarbon liquid is selected from the group consisting of toluene, octane, decane, D2 diesel fuel, low sulfur diesel, ultra low sulfur diesel, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof.