The Contribution of Engine Oil to Diesel Exhaust Particulate Emissions

Abstract

A radioactive tracer technique was developed to determine the contribution of oil from an engine sump to exhaust particulates collected on a filter. The technique was applied to particulate emissions produced by an automotive diesel engine which was operated on an engine dynamometer over a range of steady-state conditions. Results indicated that from 1.5 to 25 mass percent of particulate matter, depending on speed and load, consisted of material from engine oil. The oil contribution to particulate matter's extractable organic portion varied from 16-80%. The greatest contribution from oil was generally observed at high test speeds.