Engineering Magazines

Earlier, a test was conducted by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and it was found that FriCSo’s Surface Engineering Treatment (SET) was involving FriCSo’s product lines. According to the results, FriCSo’s technology reduces particulate matter emissions, increases engine mechanical efficiency, and reduces fuel consumption.”This test is further proof that FriCSo’s SET introduces a new era in energy efficiency and environmental protection,” said Amir Weisberg, the CEO of FriCSo, Inc. “FriCSo is setting a new standard for friction and wear reduction, and enables manufacturers to offer superior products to meet market demand, with unprecedented performance.”

FriCSo’s breakthrough SET technology reduces the friction between moving parts through a ground-breaking polymer-based machining process. SET creates an oil-retaining organic nanolayer that is chemically bonded to the metal surface. As a result, it increases surface hardness and enhances surface topography. The technology is expected to bolster the efficiency of auto parts like the brakes and, at the same time, the overall performance and functionality of the vehicle.

Technion’s Mechanical Engineering Faculty performed the tests on a 4-cylinder tractor diesel engine at its Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory. The test consisted of two runs. The first test served as the baseline. It is done without any treatment of surfaces. The second test was consequently made after replacing the engine’s main friction parts like the cylinder liners, rocker shafts, piston pins, and valves with new parts treated with FriCSo’s SET.

Technion’s test results show that using the SET treatment leads to a fuel consumption reduction of 0.4 to four percent, depending on engine RPM and load. Additionally, SET treatment resulted in a significant cut of particulate matter emissions, about 43 to 46 percent, while oil consumption was reduced by 48 percent compared with the baseline case. In addition, SET treatment led to an improvement of about two percent in the engine’s mechanical efficiency.

According to S. Sumithra, a Frost & Sullivan research analyst, “FriCSo’s solution is an innovative device, which could potentially replace existing non-environment friendly coatings in the field of automotive coatings.”

FriCSo’s surface treatment delivers coating-like performance. SET comprises one or two of the following processes: high performance polymer lapping as a single treatment, and two-step treatment involving surface texturing using vibro-grooving followed by polymer lapping. “FriCSo’s solution is an innovative device, which could potentially replace existing non-environment friendly coatings in the field of automotive coatings,” said Sumithra.

Amir Weisberg, the CEO of FriCSo, Inc., said, “FriCSo’s solution is not a coating but delivers coating-like performance at a fraction of the time, cost and maintenance required by traditional solutions. Metal parts treated with SET enjoy high wear resistance and improved energy efficiency in the engines. SET is cost effective compared to using exotic metals for metal-pairs design, DLC and other coatings and bushings, and even offers superior performance in certain applications. Being environment friendly, this technology does not produce any toxic waste and complies with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restrictions.”

Some owners keep their automobiles running like finely tuned Swiss watches. They carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner’s manual. They buy premium grade oil, order regular check-ups and rush to the repair shop when they detect any unusual noise.

However, most of us are inclined to skimp a little on maintenance and some of us never see the repair shop until the car quits. Sometimes this is due to finances but most of the time it is a matter of convenience. We need our cars to take us where we have to go and we’re reluctant to give them up even for a short period of time.

But, now that gasoline is still at astronomical prices, we need to re-think our maintenance practices. Letting some things go can cost us money in extra fuel consumption. For instance, repairing a faulty oxygen sensor can result in a 40% improvement in gas mileage. Tuning an engine can increase mileage by 4%.

You should be sure that your air filter is always clean. If your engine is fuel injected, airflow regulates the quantity of fuel that is burned. The process of mixing air and fuel is quite precise so the filter needs to be clean to ensure an efficient mixture. The air filter also protects your engine from impurities, extending the life of the engine as well as saving on gas.

It is also important to check oil regularly and change dirty oil. An engine with clean oil operates at maximum efficiency, which translates into gas savings. You should definitely use the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer. Using one weight oil in an engine designed for a different weight can lower gas mileage up to 2%.

You can also realize greater efficiency from using a high-quality multi-grade oil but if there is a price difference you need to compare the costs involved.

And when your tires are not properly inflated, your gas mileage decreases by 5%. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that millions of American cars run on tires that are not correctly inflated. Correctly inflated tires will also last longer and are safer.

The owner’s manual always states the correct pressure for the tires. If you are driving a pre-owned car with no owner’s manual, you can call a local dealer or research the information on the net.

Radial tires are supposed to improve gas mileage by 5% when driving in the city and by 7% when driving on a highway. So if you don’t already use radials, you might consider switching.

Another benefit of radial tires is that they last longer. However, you should be careful not to mix radials with conventional tires unless the owner’s manual clearly states that this procedure is acceptable for that model car.

In addition, tires need to be properly balanced. Properly balanced tires reduce road friction thereby increasing fuel efficiency.

You also need to check wheel alignment to ensure that wheels are properly aligned. Wheels that are out of alignment also cause your car to burn extra fuel.

Although the savings from each practice might be small, the overall savings is worth the extra effort.