Nitrogen Enriched Fuel by Shell

[trikkonceptz]

I saw this at a couple of pumps near my house so I had to research it see what it was exactly ..


We've made a great product even better!

The experts at Shell have found a way to destroy gunk with all three grades of Shell gasoline! Every drop of Shell gasoline contains a NEW Nitrogen Enriched cleaning system that seeks and destroys engine gunk in both conventional and modern engines. There's nothing else like it!

What makes NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines even better?
A unique, patented, improved formula exclusive to Shell designed to seek and destroy engine gunk.
Acts as a barrier to help keep your engine clean and protect it from performance-robbing gunk even better than before.
Helps protect and clean critical engine parts in all three grades of Shell gasoline with the most advanced Shell technology ever.
Helps improve engine performance as you drive.
Has been extensively tested, clocking more than a half-million miles in various engines and vehicles, covering a wide range of conventional, modern turbo-charged, direct fuel- injected and hybrid engines.

[McTimson]

I wondered about this when I saw commercials for it. Does anyone know if it actually does any good?

[hummingbird]

An additive-like action that really works? Or just a reputed brand snake oil - for the discerning?

[MetroMPG]

If the nitrogen/gasoline doesn't do anything for the engine, you can always fill your tires with it!

Or that might be something else...

[trikkonceptz]

please correct me because I am probably wrong, but in every commercial I can remember they always show sludge build up on the top of the valve.

How can a fuel additive clean that if the combustion and fuel is delivered on the other side of the valve and is supposedly sealed off from the other side?

I would think that an oil additive would help cure sludge.

Again, I'm probably wrong but thats why I have you guys ...

[skyl4rk]

Of course it works, Nitrogen is an inert gas! Why do you think they call it Nitro?!?

[Colo66]

Last year, many car dealers were filling tires up with nitrogen. They were charging $20.00 per tire for this. What was the benefit? Making the dealers a profit at the expense of ignorant people. You can buy a cylinder 60 inches tall for $15.00 that will fill at least 200 225 75R15 tires! This started with NASCAR as they put nitrogen in their race car tires to control tire pressure increases when the tires get hot in a race. Aircraft uses nitrogen to control expansion of tire pressure at altitudes. PEOPLE........NITROGEN IS INERT!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means it doesn't react with anything. IT WON'T BURN, IT WON'T CLEAN ANYTHING!!!!!!!! I have a news flash for you....THE ATMOSPHERE IS MADE UP WITH 78% OF THE STUFF!!!! So...78% of the air that your engine, lungs, tires, basket balls and the like, take in is already at 78%. What percentage does SHELL add (if any)? I bet no one knows. They fill potato chip bags with the stuff to prevent spoilage....yep....inert! Fill a bag with oxygen and it will spoil fast! Don't take my word for it, prove it to yourself. Just go to a welding supply store with a book of matches. Strike a match, let it burn for a second, then blow it out. Have the salesman turn a stream of oxygen on the ember and it will magically REIGNITE with vigor! Try the same experiment with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, or even helium and the match will stop smoldering as fast as sticking it in water! You guessed it....INERT! DOES NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION! So....will someone PLEASE explain to me how this is good for power in your engine, how it will clean? PEOPLE, WAKE UP and save your money!

[hummingbird]

Hi Colo66, welcome to ecomodding! Interesting to jump in the fray with such a vigorous first post

Nitrogen = Inert is not fully correct. It is LESS reactive, but not entirely inert - only the 'noble gases' - Helium, Neon, Argon, Crypton, Xenon, Radon are inert (ref. highschool chemistry).

Still I do not understand how Nitrogen from the fuel will start cleanup like a janitor on steroids, whereas the air Nitrogen will look on as a cool bystander.... I share that part of your comment! It smells, and not very good...

[trikkonceptz]

Agreed with points so far, now enlighten me on how fuel can clean the side of a valve that has no exposure to it? Many gas companies use the claim that they clean sludge, so how if the sludge build up is on the other side of the valve?

[JMags]

Because most cars on the road are port injected. The fuel is sprayed above the valve into the intake runner. Some of it does "wash" on the back of the valve.