Gasoline compositions

Abstract

A gasoline composition is provided containing a major amount of a gasoline suitable for use in a spark-ignition engine, 1 to 15% v of ethyl levulinate, and 20 to 2000 ppmw of a nitrogen-containing detergent containing a hydrocarbyl group having a number average molecular weight in the range 750 to 6000.

1 . A gasoline composition comprising a major amount of a gasoline suitable for use in a spark ignition engine, 1 to 15% v of ethyl levulinate, and 20 to 2000 ppmw of a nitrogen-containing detergent containing a hydrocarbyl group having a number average molecular weight in the range 750 to 6000.  
     
     
         2 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein ethyl levulinate is present in an amount of 1.5 to 12% v.  
     
     
         3 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein ethyl levulinate is present in an amount of 2 to 10% v.  
     
     
         4 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein ethyl levulinate is present in an amount of 3 to 8% v.  
     
     
         5 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein ethyl levulinate is present in an amount of 4 to 6% v.  
     
     
         6 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen-containing detergent is present in an amount of 50 to 1500 ppmw.  
     
     
         7 . The gasoline composition of  claim 5  wherein the nitrogen-containing detergent is present in an amount of 50 to 500 ppmw.  
     
     
         8 . The gasoline composition of  claim 1  wherein the nitrogen-containing detergent is a hydrocarbyl amine of formula R 1 -NH 2 , wherein R 1  represents a group R 2  or a group R 2 -CH 2 — and R 2  is a hydrocarbyl group having a number average molecular weight in the range 950 to 1350.  
     
     
         9 . The gasoline composition of  claim 8  wherein ethyl levulinate is present in an amount of 3 to 8% v.  
     
     
         10 . The gasoline composition of  claim 9  wherein the nitrogen-containing detergent is present in an amount of 50 to 1500 ppmw.  
     
     
         11 . A process for the preparation of a gasoline composition comprising bringing into admixture a gasoline suitable for use in a spark-ignition engine, 1 to 15% v of ethyl levulinate and 20 to 2000 ppmw nitrogen-containing detergent containing a hydrocarbyl group having a number average molecular weight in the range of 750 to 6000.  
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a spark-ignition engine, which comprises bringing into the combustion chambers of said engine a gasoline composition of  claim 10.