Fuels and lubes expansion at Prodrive

Citation

(2003), "Fuels and lubes expansion at Prodrive", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 55 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2003.01855aab.003

Fuels and lubes expansion at Prodrive

Fuels and lubes expansion at Prodrive

Keywords: Fuels, Lubricants, Prodrive

Prodrive’s fuels and lubricants test operation is to move to the company’s main site in Milton Keynes, from September 2002. The move will see Mark Hawthorne become fuel and lubricants business area manager and will put all Prodrive’s engine test facilities and expertise under one roof.

Prodrive is an active member of the Coordinating European Council for the Development of Performance Tests for Transportation Fuels, Lubricants and Other Fluids (CEC). As an independent test laboratory, the company works with representatives from engine, oil and additive manufacturers to develop and enhance test methods for the evaluation of fuel, lubricant and additive technologies.

“Fuels and lubricant testing is an increasingly important area for Prodrive,” comments Hawthorne. “This move will allow us to both work more closely with the other Test Technology teams at Prodrive and benefit from the extensive test facilities already available at the Tanners Drive site.”

In 1998, engine manufacturers throughout the world collaborated to produce a Worldwide Fuels Charter, with the intention of minimising variations in fuels. As a direct result of the Charter, there has been a move away from regional testing as companies develop the first worldwide test methods, which can take up to 2 years to develop. The introduction of the first worldwide test 2003 will greatly enhance the broad range of standard and bespoke test types offered by Prodrive to clients.

“The facilities available to us ensure we can produce both high quality and extremely repeatable results,” concludes Hawthorne. “In some tests as little as 5mg of deposit are collected from the intake valves of an engine after 60h of running. We can quickly and accurately analyse this for our clients, allowing them to assess and modify their products as necessary.”

For more information contact Ben Sayer, Corporate Marketing Manager at Prodrive. Tel: +44 1295754320; E-mail: bsayer@prodrive.com