Abstract: Method for determining the performance of a motor vehicle consumable, including engine lubricant, fuel and tires in a motor vehicle having an engine with at least one fuel injection valve, a lubricating system and a CANbus network having at least three network nodes, each operably connected to a computer. The method includes operating the vehicle while supplying the engine with fuel through a fuel injection valve and lubricating the engine with the engine lubricant. A first CANbus network node transmits to the computer a signal indicative of the engine fuelling rate based upon the opening time of a fuel injection valve. One or more second CANbus network nodes transmit signals to the computer indicative of one or more variables indicative of the power output of the engine, and one or more third CANbus network nodes transmit signals to the computer indicative of the vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of a compression-ignition, internal combustion engine which method comprises lubricating the engine with a crankcase lubricant, and introducing a fuel to the engine to operate the engine characterized in that the fuel comprises greater than 50% by weight of petroleum-based, middle distillate fuel oil and/or a Fischer Tropsch derived middle distillate fuel oil and 2.5% to 25% by weight of at least one lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid, and the performance of the engine is monitored by measuring the rate of ingress of lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid from the fuel into the crankcase lubricant by infra red spectroscopic analysis of the crankcase lubricant.

Abstract: A method for determining the performance of at least one motor vehicle consumable selected from the group consisting of engine lubricant, fuel and tyres, in a motor vehicle having an engine with at least one fuel injection valve, a lubricating system and a CANbus network comprising at least three network nodes, each operably connected to a computer, which method comprises: operating the vehicle whilst supplying the engine with the fuel through at least one fuel injection valve and lubricating the engine with the engine lubricant characterised in that: a first CANbus network node transmits to the computer, a signal indicative of the engine fuelling rate based upon the opening time of at least one of the fuel injection valves; one or more second CANbus network nodes transmit one or more signals to the computer indicative of one or more variables indicative of the power output of the engine; one or more third CANbus network nodes transmit one or more signals to the computer indicative of the vehicle operating co

Abstract: A method for monitoring the performance of a compression-ignition, internal combustion engine which method comprises lubricating the engine with a crankcase lubricant, and introducing a fuel to the engine to operate the engine characterised in that the fuel comprises greater than 50% by weight of petroleum-based, middle distillate fuel oil and/or a Fischer Tropsch derived middle distillate fuel oil and 2.5% to 25% by weight of at least one lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid, and the performance of the engine is monitored by measuring the rate of ingress of lower alkyl ester of a fatty acid from the fuel into the crankcase lubricant by infra red spectroscopic analysis of the crankcase lubricant.