Florida Center for Automotive Research

On-Road Vechicle Testing

For modern vehicles, manufacturers must strive to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize pollutant emissions. To achieve these goals, engines must operate at higher engine compression ratios, higher cylinder temperatures, higher cylinder pressures, with higher cylinder loads and stresses. Therefore, the development of add-on engine modifications, advanced lubricants, fuel additives that will improve engine performance and lead to significant reductions in fuel consumption is of paramount importance.

To measure the fuel economy improvement from add-on engine components and fuel additives, three typical test procedures are utilized:

1.  Engine dynamometer testing addressing loads and operating conditions associated with normal engine operating conditions.
2.  Controlled track testing.
3.  Actual driving of the vehicle under normal operating conditions.

All of FCAR testing procedures are compliant with current industry standards. These standards include the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure J-1321, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Internal Combustion Engines Performance Test Code PTC-17 standard. The test standards emphasize the utilization of proper measuring techniques and repeatability.