Fuel composition and its use

Abstract

A fuel composition is provided that contains a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of and (b) a minor amount of alpha-terpinene. Embodiments of the fuel composition increase the sensitivity of the fuel without significantly altering the octane number. Fuel sensitivity is increased by increasing the delta between RON and MON.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A gasoline composition comprising (a) a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and (b) a minor amount of alpha-terpinene. 
     
     
         2 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         3 . The gasoline composition of  claim 2  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in an amount from about 0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         4 . The gasoline composition of  claim 3  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in an amount from about 0.5% by weight to about 3% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         5 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  having an Octane Index defined as (RON+MON)/2 of at least about 80. 
     
     
         6 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one gasoline additive. 
     
     
         7 . The gasoline composition of  claim 6  wherein the at least one gasoline additive comprises a detergent additive. 
     
     
         8 . The gasoline composition of  claim 7  wherein the detergent additive has a treat rate in a range of from about 0.007 weight percent to about 0.76 weight percent based on the final fuel composition. 
     
     
         9 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range comprises a saturated hydrocarbon content ranging from about 40% to about 80% by volume, an olefinic hydrocarbon content from 0% to about 30% by volume and an aromatic hydrocarbon content from about 10% to about 60% by volume. 
     
     
         10 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range is present in an amount of at least 50% v/v. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a spark ignition engine comprising: (a) providing to said engine a gasoline composition containing (i) a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and (ii) a minor amount of alpha-terpinene, and (b) burning said gasoline composition in said engine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in the gasoline composition an amount from about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in an amount from about 0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the alpha-terpinene is present in an amount from about 0.5% by weight to about 3% by weight base on the total weight of the gasoline composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gasoline composition has an average octane number (RON+MON)/2 of at least about 80. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the gasoline composition further comprises at least one gasoline additive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least one gasoline additive comprises a detergent additive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the detergent additive has a treat rate in a range of from about 0.007 weight percent to about 0.76 weight percent based on the final fuel composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range comprises a saturated hydrocarbon content ranging from about 40% to about 80% by volume, an olefinic hydrocarbon content from 0% to about 30% by volume and an aromatic hydrocarbon content from about 10% to about 60% by volume. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range is present in an amount of at least 50% v/v.