Fuel additive

Abstract

A composition and method for improving the performance, and thus, also the fuel economy, of an internal combustion engine by introducing a fuel additive into the engine's fuel supply to enhance fuel lubricity. The composition can feature a mixture of esters, glycol ether, and a solvent. The mixture of esters can include adipate esters, azelate esters, dodecanedioate esters, sebacate esters, or phthalate esters. Esters that may be used to create the composition can include a mixture of two or more adipate esters such as, for example, an adipic acid ester, a glutaric acid ester, and a succinic acid ester. The composition can further feature a smoke suppressant that can be an organometallic soap. The organometallic soap can be an iron salt of a fatty acid such as, for example, ferrocene. The composition can be used as a combustion modifier fuel additive and as a lubricating oil.

1 . A composition for improving engine performance comprising:
 a mixture of esters;   glycol ether; and   a solvent.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of esters comprises at least two esters selected from the group consisting of: adipate esters, azelate esters, dodecanedioate esters, sebacate esters, and phthalate esters. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of esters comprises at least two adipate esters. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two adipate esters comprises an adipic acid ester, a glutaric acid ester, and a succinic acid ester. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of esters comprises dimethyl adipate, dimethyl gluctorate, and dimethyl succinate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a smoke suppressant, wherein the smoke suppressant comprises an organometallic soap. 
     
     
         7 . A composition for improving the combustion efficiency of an internal combustion engine in combusting hydrocarbon fuels, the composition comprising:
 a hydrocarbon fuel and a combustion modifier, the combustion modifier comprising an organometallic soap.   
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap is selected from the group consisting of: cerium-2-ethylhexanoate, cerium octoate, cerium stearate, cerium naphthenate, cerium salicylate, cerium carbonate, cerium ammoniate, cerium ureate, cerium nitrate, ferric octoate, ferric-2-ethylhexanoate, ferric stearate, ferric naphthenate, ferric salicylate, ferric carbonate, diborylated ferrocene, n-butyl ferrocene, 1,1′-dimethyl ferrocene, benzoyl ferrocene, iron (III) oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), iron (II, III) oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of: cerium octoate, cerium ammoniate, cerium ureate, and cerium-2-ethylhexanoate. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap comprises diborylated ferrocene. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap comprises the reaction product of 1,1′-bis(ethenyl-4-pyridyl)-ferrocene and -1,1′-binaphthol. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap comprises a mixture of diborylated ferrocene and a compound selected from the group consisting of: cerium-2-ethylhexanoate and cerium octoate. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the organometallic soap comprises a mixture of diborylated ferrocene and a compound selected from the group consisting of: cerium ammoniate and cerium ureate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydrocarbon fuel. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the smoke suppressant comprises an iron salt. 
     
     
         16 . A composition for improving the combustion efficiency of an internal combustion engine in combusting hydrocarbon fuels, the composition comprising:
 a hydrocarbon fuel, a hydrocarbon carrier, and a combustion modifier, the combustion modifier comprising the reaction product of 1,1′-bis(ethenyl-4-pyridyl)-ferrocene and -1,1′-binaphthol.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the hydrocarbon carrier comprises a compound selected from among one or more of the group consisting of: biphenyl, naphthol, beta naphthol, naphthol-2, beta-binaphthol, dicyclopentadiene, beta-binaphthol, dicyclopentadiene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrocarbon carrier comprises beta-binaphthol. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrocarbon carrier comprises dicyclopentadiene. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising the step of:
 introducing into an internal combustion engine a hydrocarbon fuel and a fuel additive, the fuel additive comprising:
 a mixture of esters; 
 glycol ether; and 
 a solvent. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mixture of esters comprises at least two adipate esters, and wherein the at least two adipate esters comprises at least two of the following: an adipic acid ester, a glutaric acid ester, or a succinic acid ester. 
     
     
         22 . A method of reducing friction between moving parts comprising:
 lubricating the at least two parts that are in frictional contact with a lubricant, the lubricant comprising: a mixture of esters, glycol ether, and a solvent.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least two parts comprise metal parts. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the metal parts comprise parts of an internal combustion engine.