So this morning I'm cruising out of the driveway and the low fuel light dings on, time to refuel at the local shell station that is right down the road. A little groggy as I was on my way to work, I start pumping my 87 octane and notice all the signage at the station stating that Shell gasoline is now nitrogen enriched with all sorts of fancy colors and bubbles and hoopla. Yep bubbles.
I start to think to myself, wait a minute, nitrogen is an enert gas, it doesnt react with anything. Gasoline is pretty reactive (see video), so why would I want to add something like nitrogen to the tank? My urine contains nitrates, why don't I just pee in the gas tank and see if I get better gas mileage?
So I did a little, like 5 minutes, worth of research and here is what I came up with.
Best result from the forums:
"All major gasoline manufacturers/ marketers such Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobil, and Shell, etc have included dispersant additives in the gasolines for years. The are a class of compound known as as polyolefin polyamines. For example, Chevron Techron is a polubutene amine. Amines contain nitrogen atoms in their molecules. That or something very similar ( polypropene amine?) is the source of the nitrogen in the Shell gasoline. It's really rather comical to see how an ad agency managed to convince Shell's product technologists that it would make sense to refer to the fuel as nitrogen-enhanced on that basis. Talk about a stretch. I can imagine a lot of eyes rolling when their Averprom people thought it would be a good idea read gimmick.
Don't get me wrong, these additives are essential to help reduce and control the formation and deposition of combustion and degradation products from building up on fuel injectors and intake valves. Shell may be using a new version of their traditional additive technology, but to promote it as nitrogen-enhanced is a hoot to anyone who knows the truth." Provided by LJBaker at action.publicbroadcasting.net
Don't get me wrong, these additives are essential to help reduce and control the formation and deposition of combustion and degradation products from building up on fuel injectors and intake valves. Shell may be using a new version of their traditional additive technology, but to promote it as nitrogen-enhanced is a hoot to anyone who knows the truth." Provided by LJBaker at action.publicbroadcasting.net
In summary, they didn't add any nitrogen to their gasoline, they basically added soap that helps keep your fuel injected vehicle running better by reducing the amount of combustion byproducts that remain in the combustion chamber area. Too bad the marketing people at Shell had to target our stupidity and couldn't just come clean about what it is they are actually doing.
