SHELL Global Solutions fuel scientist Mae Ascan demonstrates the incredible properties of the company’s new fuel.
In Our desire for faster but environmentally friendly transports, automakers have come up with more powerful yet fuel-efficient engines. Fuel makers, on the other hand, have contributed, too, phasing out the lead content and raised the octane rating of their gasoline products (or in the case of diesel, nearly eliminated sulfur content or utilized non-petroleum sources including new and used vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled restaurant grease).
However, global petroleum giant Shell believed these efforts are still not good enough noting that the current requirements for detergent—the additives that protect against build-up of deposits in vital engine parts—do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.
Over time, such deposits—called engine gunk—could cause stalling, rough idling, lowered acceleration and other unnecessary problems in the vehicle.
While current standards require a certain level of detergents in fuel, Shell decided a better formulation is still needed to really produce a fuel that engines will truly appreciate.
Better, higher grade
Shell V-Power brand manager Pia Que-Ang, Pilipinas Shell retail marketing manager Arlene Manalo, Shell Global Solutions fuel scientist May Ascan, East of Shell retail vice president Cesar Romero and Pilipinas Shell vice president for communications Roberto Kanapi
Last week, Pilipinas Shell launched a better and higher-grade version of its V-Power line of fuels called V-Power Nitro+. As the name implies, these new products are enriched with nitrogen, a critical element needed by the active cleaning molecule of the fuel (nitrogen makes the molecule and the rest of the cleaning system more thermally stable and thus, more effective despite the increased temperature and pressure present inside the engine).
The new Shell V-Power Nitro+ has three variants: V-Power Nitro+ Racing (replacing V-Power), V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline (replacing Super Premium), and V-Power Nitro+ Diesel (replacing V-Power Diesel).
The V-Power Nitro+ Racing is Shell’s the top-of-the-line gasoline designed to deliver higher performance benefits in octane-responsive engines.
The V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline, on the other hand, is enriched with friction modifiers, which are designed to improve performance and to act instantly on the cylinders, regarded as the heart of the engine (friction modifiers are developed to reduce friction in critical engine areas, helping the engine to deliver more power).
Completing the line is the new V-Power+ Diesel, which contains powerful detergent technology developed to help prevent and clean up power-robbing diesel injector deposits. It is also formulated to protect engines against corrosion.
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell informed that the octane ratings for the gasoline products have been retained: V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline is still at 93 and the V-Power Nitro+ Racing still at 97. As for the emissions standard, Pilipinas Shell says that the V-Power Nitro+ line is still Euro 2.
Moreover, while these fuels are much better and more powerful than the ones they replaced, Pilipinas Shell informed that there will be no price difference.
The Philippines is one of the first in the world to have the new line of premium Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuel which, according to Pilipinas Shell, is almost identical in performance to the race fuel that the company developed for Scuderia Ferrari racing team.
For over 60 years Shell has been a partner of Ferrari, which has powered 12 World Championship Drivers’ titles and 10 Formula One World Constructors’ titles.
120 fuel scientists
“We have around 120 passionate fuels scientists and specialists across the globe working on the fuels innovation, development and implementation to meet the evolving needs of customers and their cars,” explained Mae Ascan, fuel scientist from Shell Global Solutions.
She added that the same friction modifiers in race fuels they develop for Formula 1 cars were also used in the new Shell V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline.
“Our close working relationship with Ferrari provides us with an environment to test new fuels in extreme conditions. This gives us a better understanding of what will deliver improved power and performance,” she said.