Composition and Method for Reducing Friction in Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract

A fuel composition comprising a combustible fuel, an effective friction reducing amount of at least one saturated C 5 to C 31 α-glycerol ether, and a detergent package is disclosed, as well as a method of reducing the amount of friction in an internal combustion engine by adding the fuel composition to the engine.

1 . A fuel composition comprising:
 a. a combustible fuel;   b. an effective friction reducing amount of at least one saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether; and   c. a detergent package.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the combustible fuel is selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel fuel. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is selected from the group consisting of hexyl-, octyl-, decyl-, dodecyl-, tetradecyl-, hexadecyl-, octadecyl-, eicosyl-, docosyl-, tetracosyl-glycerol ethers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is a saturated C 15  to C 25  α-glycerol ether. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the saturated C 15  to C 25  α-glycerol ether is an octadecyl-glycerol ether. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the amount of the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is in the range of from about 1 ppm to about 2000 ppm. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the amount of the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is in the range of from about 5 ppm to about 1000 ppm. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the amount of the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is in the range of from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the detergent package comprises:
 a. at least one deposit control additive; 
 b. a corrosion inhibitor; 
 c. a carrier fluid; and 
 d. a solvent. 
 
     
     
         10 . A fuel additive composition comprising:
 a. an effective friction reducing amount of at least one saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether, and   b. a detergent package.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is selected from the group consisting of hexyl-, octyl-, decyl-, dodecyl-, tetradecyl-, hexadecyl-, octadecyl-, eicosyl-, docosyl-, tetracosyl-glycerol ethers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is an octadecyl-glycerol ether. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the amount of the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is in the range of from about 1 ppm to about 2000 ppm. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the detergent package comprises:
 a. at least one deposit control additive; 
 b. a corrosion inhibitor; 
 c. a carrier fluid; and 
 d. a solvent. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing the amount of friction in an internal combustion engine comprising the step of adding to the engine a fuel composition comprising a combustible fuel, an effective friction reducing amount of at least one saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether, and a detergent package. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the combustible fuel is selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel fuel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is selected from the group consisting of hexyl-, octyl-, decyl-, dodecyl-, tetradecyl-, hexadecyl-, octadecyl-, eicosyl-, docosyl-, tetracosyl-glycerol ethers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is an octadecyl-glycerol ether. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the amount of the saturated C 5  to C 31  α-glycerol ether is in the range of from about 1 ppm to about 2000 ppm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the detergent package comprises:
 a. at least one deposit control additive; 
 b. a corrosion inhibitor; 
 c. a carrier fluid; and 
 d. a solvent.