Is it a gimmick?

If it's not perhaps the new DFI cars should run on it exclusively...

http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa...en_030209.html

 

IMO I would think that if just the addition of nitrogen would help eliminate harmful engine build up they would have put it in ALL gasoline a long time ago. I feel like it may be nothing much more than a marketing thing.

 

Here's an excerpt from the link:

Nitrogen is a key element of the active cleaning molecule in the new fuel, making it significantly more stable at higher temperatures common in modern engines, such as direct fuel-injection gasoline engines. The increased stability ensures that the molecule can work under much tougher engine conditions by resisting thermal breakdown better than conventional cleaning additives.

 

They have been putting "nitrogen" in gasoline for years - all gasoline contains detergent that typically use poly(oxyalkylene) amide-amines - in fact, these additives are mandated by law. What Shell is doing is increasing the amount of the amide containing detergent by approximately 5 fold. Is this a marketing gimick? Not exactly because more detergent MIGHT benefit the gunk problem. Is the terminology "nitrogen enriched gasoline" a marketing gimick? Absolutely, because the detergent molecule that happens to contain a nitrogen atom has been used for years in gasoline - just at a lower concentration.

Bottom line - Please don't think that Shell is enriching the gasoline with nitrogen molecules (N2) or with nitrous oxide. There's nothing chemically new here - just a change in levels of additive. BTW, these additives can be corrosive to plastic and polymers so the detergent effect may reduce gunk, but the solvent nature of these additives may cause other issues.

 

Also, it would of course have NO effect on any gunk accumulation on the port side of the intake valve - that's the point, there's no gas there.

 

More info on Shells' new fuel:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4824-Tampa...iched-Gasoline

There is also a website for all top tier fuels, it explains what parts are cleaned and how:

http://www.toptiergas.com/deposit_control.html

 

[quote=500;2340669]More info on Shells' new fuel:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4824-Tampa-Sports-Car-Examiner~y2009m3d22-Nitrogen-Enriched-Gasoline

The writer in that article stated:

"Mixing that detergent with nitrogen, the cleansing agent does not burn off. Nitrogen is an inert gas that doesn't burn, which is how the life of detergent is extended."

My comment: If you don't understand the science, don't write about it