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Do
the recently-launched branded fuels have what their advertising copy claims?
We give you the full story on the vitamin-enhanced fuels.
According to Darwin, everything evolves, and that applies to automobile
engines as well. Although Mr D probably hadn’t the faintest idea
what fuel metering and fuel delivery was, his theories apply very specifically
to these systems, too. Carburettors are extinct and Multi-Point Fuel Injection
(MPFi) has taken over the world and controls the mills of all modern cars.
This technology has been around for a while, but stricter emission laws
have brought it into India earlier than expected.
However, this changeover wasn’t totally smooth. The problem is that
whilst carburettors could stomach low-quality fuel, MPFI systems couldn’t.
Fuel injection systems are more finicky and tend to clog up over time
when served bad stuff. Bad fuel doesn’t necessarily mean it is adulterated.
Even the fuel coming straight from the refineries can pose a problem for
certain engines. The main culprit here are unwanted deposits the fuel
leaves in the engine.
MPFi systems accurately spray fine droplets of fuel into the engine for
optimum combustion. Because of narrow fuel passages, fuel injectors are
highly sensitive to the smallest of particles and any deposits in areas
where the fuel is metered and atomised. In a new vehicle all the fuel
delivery components — valves, ports etc — are clean, and fuel
flows freely. Over time, however, carbon particles start forming clots
and linings in certain areas, impeding the fuel flow to the engine, much
like cholesterol deposits clog up blood vessels.
These deposits, commonly known as ‘gum’, are due to the oxidation
of fuel that results in the gumming process. Gum deposits and other rubbish
like carbon particles can play havoc with your engine. They can alter
the spray pattern and reduce flow. Intake valves and ports, which operate
at higher temperatures, are more prone to gumming and here it blocks not
only fuel flow, but air flow as well. Interestingly, city-bound vehicles,
ones that are used only for short distances, are more at risk.
So the key to keeping your engine in good shape is ensure that these deadly
gum deposits are not allowed to form and that is where fuel additives
come in. These additives which have a strong cleansing effect can effectively
remove these deposits, and prevent the formation of new ones. Fuel additives
have been around for a while now and certain car manufacturers like Opel
and Daewoo recommend their use. Chances are that many of you have come
across a pump attendant trying to peddle a bottle of the stuff while you’re
tanking up.
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| Additives
in new fuels prevent 'gumming' and keep engines clean. |
That’s
where Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation
(BPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) have capitalised, introducing
fuels, which already contain additives. With startling lack of originality,
HPCL has called its fuel ‘Power’, and BPCL’s offering
is called ‘Speed’ while IOC has branded its new fuel ‘Premium’.
All these fuels are essentially one and the same and based on regular
unleaded fuel but with those vital additives already pre-mixed. These
new fuels with additives promise to keep the engine free of carbon deposits
and hence running optimally. The fact that high-end carmakers like Opel
in India insist on using additives just takes the case further for these
new fuels that are set to replace the odd bottle of additive stored in
the boot. At Rs 1.25 more per litre for these new fuels, they are priced
comparatively to the cost of a bottle that would treat the same given
amount of unleaded fuel. The advantage, of course, is that this is more
practical, less messy and the additive is mixed more accurately into the
fuel.
Speed, Power and Premium are all in the market now, available at select
pumps in select towns and subsequently throughout the country. However,
there are some facts you should know. Do not expect miracles — extremely
clogged injectors will still require a mechanic’s intervention and
so will other highly blocked passages. Carburetted cars will not respond
as well to these fuels as MPFi ones will, and neither are these fuels
critical to carb-cars. If your car is new and deposit-free, you will feel
no difference as both the fuels just keep the engine running at its full
potential and will not increase power. However, using them regularly will
keep the fuel system deposit-free. Lastly, these fuels are not a substitute
for higher octane (93) fuel and will not help high performance engines
that are mainly found in imported cars.
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October
2002