Dactylonian Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Okay, just got back from the local Shell station where I noticed something new. There is a sign at the entrance that touts new "Nitrogen Enriched" gasoline. Okay, please explain to me why adding an inert gas, to a fluid that you want to combust, is good. I looked it up online and read that the ploy is "that nitrogen enhances cleaning elements in Shell gasolines partly by making them more stable at the higher temperatures at which modern engines tend to operate, so the additive can work more effectively in current engines that use technology like fuel injection." (http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=101274) There has to be an engineering-based, logical answer that is not related to mystery "cleaning elements". Maybe they used nitrogen to force more oil out of the well, and the nitrogen stayed in solution through the refining process? So, the ad wizards that came up with this one use that to their advantage. That sounds more believable than the cleaning agent deal. Anyone? Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbite3360 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I'm wondering about this too. I saw a shell commercial the other day talking about it. What other crap are they going to put in our gasoline? First Ethanol, now Nitrogen? I'm not a physicist but that doesn't sound good for my engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molal24 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I'm gonna have to agree with you guys. I've always put Shell V-Power in my car and now I think I may be going somewhere Nitrogenless....I prefer Nitrogen in my tires, not my engine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Nitrogen is also a fertilizer do I have to make a list of buildings exploded by fertilizer? It's not just an inert gas. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theflystyle Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 all ive been hearing on the radio it seems is an ad for this nitrogen gas stuff... interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 yeah i just saw a commercial today with that. they claim it helps remove the deposits (whatever they are) left behind from other (supposedly inferior) gasolines. N2 is the inert gas, so thats probably not in the gas (well besides whats normally dissolved at atmospheric temp and pressures) NO2 = nitrite NO3 = nitrate NH4NO3 = the nitrogen used in fertilizers doubt the nitrogen in the gas is any of these i'll dig a little deeper and will see if i can find a more chemistry-oriented explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJMC Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I heard this on the radio this morning. Someone get to the bottom of this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 meh. i didn't dig that deep, but this sounds like another marketing ploy. these "detergents" are already in gasoline currently, mandated a long time ago by the EPA. i guess Shell is just adding more of whatever detergent above and beyond the government's recommended/required levels. here's the wikipedia page, but i never liked using wikipedia. so, this crap is already in any brand of gas you probably already purchase...but shell just decided to add more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Nitrogen is also a fertilizer do I have to make a list of buildings exploded by fertilizer? It's not just an inert gas. Holy crap, air is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, we are all going to blow up and burn Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackhore Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Holy crap, air is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, we are all going to blow up and burn He's not a chemist, but he plays one on the internets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 meh. i didn't dig that deep, but this sounds like another marketing ploy. these "detergents" are already in gasoline currently, mandated a long time ago by the EPA. i guess Shell is just adding more of whatever detergent above and beyond the government's recommended/required levels. well, DUH!! Ever hear of Top Tier? Shell has always added more than the gov requires. That's their thing. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 naw never heard of top tier until tonite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinlsb Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 No smoking within 24,000 miles! "Belief does not make truth. Evidence makes truth. And belief does not make evidence." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brady Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Yes, Top Tier fuels really do have a benefit to your engine. All gas from the refinery is equal, but then companies like Chevron and Shell (and others) have their own additives that they mix in as well. Even in the gas industry (retail branding) everyone agrees that Chevron and Shell are the best two brands of gas you can put in your car because of the additive packs they use. Of course, you won't find any literature about that, but if you talk with someone in the know, they'll share this. Top Tier also has a lot more to it than just the additive packs. You also have to show that all of your tanks are up to a certain quality and all kinds of other stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theflystyle Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 just filled up today and saw something attached to the hose about the nitrogen thing. pretty much the same marketing as on the radio. as long as i dont have to pay more (besides shells already higher prices) then it doesnt hurt me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Get a Shell MC. 5% back My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Sunday I was dangerously low on fuel, so I stopped at a Shell station. (Mobil is my usual brand). Is this my imagination or does this stuff run better in my car than Mobil? I datalogged with this fuel last night and I see an additional 2 degrees of timing all the way across the rpm range. My KC is consistantly +6 all the time, these Shell logs show +8. I swear the car revs faster too. So I did some more research,... it seems this nitrogen thing is just a different way of carrying the detergent in the gasoline. Almost like adding water to the fuel to stabilize the passage of the detergent into "high combustion temp conditions", thus allowing more detergent to actually reach the "gunk", as Shell calls it. Has anyone tried this stuff and felt the car run better? The whole theory tells me less gas and more additives= less BTU's per gallon. But the other half of my reasoning is better detonation resistance due to the claimed high temp stability? I have yet to get MPG results with this tank, but I sure will be doing some experimenting and logging between this fuel and my normal Mobil 93. Can anyone chime in with thier own experiences with this fuel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGT_Ltd_wagon Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I haven't datalogged. But from the seat of my pants I can feel a difference I usually use Gulf or Mobil (no Shell nearby) but when I do it runs smoother and feels like it pulls harder. Next time I see you....for the swaybar install you will have to give me a 5 minute datalog course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 No problem. Bring your AP cable and laptop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Get a Shell MC. 5% back Got one baby!!! ;) I have only put Shell V-Power gas on my cars (turbo: WRX, S4 and LGT, besides A6, FX, and others) since 2000 or so.... Really happy with their quality Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naimouasta Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 on my roadtrip from PA to GA and back, i filled up (almost complete tank each time) with either sunoco (usual place i get my gas at home) and shell. on the mpg computer thing, i consistantly got 31.2mpg with the shell, and 29.Xmpg with sunoco. i was switching between the two and it was consistant each time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 on my roadtrip from PA to GA and back, i filled up (almost complete tank each time) with either sunoco (usual place i get my gas at home) and shell. on the mpg computer thing, i consistantly got 31.2mpg with the shell, and 29.Xmpg with sunoco. i was switching between the two and it was consistant each time. Sh!t!!! I can never get more than 24mpg, well I usually cruise at 75mph though :mad: Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apexi Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I can't help but think these claimed differences in performance has nothing to do with the gasoline, and instead is due to weather conditions like temperature, humidity, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naimouasta Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 my trip was all highway, and i have a 2.5i traveling between 70-80mph. the trip/mpg computer is not accurate but is precise imo so it should be able to show the differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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