Tertiary amines for reducing injector nozzle fouling and modifying friction in direct injection spark ignition engines
Use of a tertiary hydrocarbyl amine with C 1 - to C 20 -hydrocarbyl residues, the overall number of carbon atoms not exceeding 30, as an additive in gasoline for reducing injector nozzle fouling and modifying friction in direct injection spark ignition engines. A fuel additive composition essentially comprising nitrogen-containing dispersants, carrier oils, the above tertiary hydrocarbyl amines and optionally further friction modifiers. A fuel composition comprising a major amount of gasoline and a minor amount of the above fuel additive composition.
1. A process, comprising:
reducing or inhibiting injector nozzle fouling of a direct injection spark ignition engine by adding a fuel additive composition comprising an effective concentration of a tertiary hydrocarbyl amine of formula (I):
to an unleaded gasoline composition, to obtain a fuel composition; and
introducing the fuel composition into the direct injection spark ignition engine,
wherein, in formula (I):
R 1 is a C 12 - to C 18 -hydrocarbyl group;
R 2 is a 2-hydroxyethyl radical; and
R 3 is a 2-hydroxyethyl radical.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel additive composition, further comprises:
(A) at least one nitrogen-containing dispersant selected from the group consisting of
(A1) a polyisobutenyl monoamine,
(A2) a polyisobutenyl polyamine,
(A3) a Mannich reaction product of a substituted phenol with an aldehyde and a mono- or a polyamine, and
(A4) a polyoxyalkylene which is terminated by a mono- or polyamino group;
(B) in case of presence of (A1), (A2) or (A3), at least one carrier oil which is substantially free of nitrogen, and which is a synthetic carrier oil or a mineral carrier oil; and
(C) optionally, at least one friction modifier.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein dispersant component (A) is a polyisobutenyl monoamine (A1) with a number average molecular weight of from 550 to 1000.
4. The process of claim 2 , wherein a weight ratio of dispersant component (A) to the hydrocarbyl amine of formula (I) ranges from 0.3:1 to 25:1.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition comprises a major amount of a liquid fuel in gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of the fuel additive composition.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein:
the dispersant (A) is present at a level of from more than 50 to 3000 ppm;
the carrier oil (B), if present, is present at a level of from 50 to 2000 ppm;
the hydrocarbyl amine of formula (I) is present at a level of from 10 to 3000 ppm; and
the friction modifier (C), if present, is present at a level of from 5 to 2000 ppm.
7. The process of claim 3 , wherein a weight ratio of dispersant component (A) to the hydrocarbyl amine of formula (I) ranges from 0.3:1 to 25:1.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tertiary hydrocarbyl amine of formula (I) is N,N-di-(2-hydroxyethyl)-oleylamine.