kirbyflorida

Shell has added Nitrogen to their gasoline. I read the ads and thought ok great will try it. I do not watch my mileage that close but it is always over 19+. So I started noticing my mileage on the mid to now show 18+.

Went back to other gas and right away back to 19+.

This is not a confirmed test.

Question, if you add nitrogen, are you displacing gasoline? Seems to me this might be a way to get more volume to their gasoline at our expense and thus get worse mileage for us and bigger profits for them.

Thoughts?

pimpin-tl

What is your other gas that you use? I haven't gotten good mileage either with Shell.

Costco

Interesting.... while my car does need a tune-up, which I've unable to do because of laziness and bad weather, I've also noticed a dropoff in mileage. I've strictly used Shell though, and the dropoff started about a month ago.

I'm no chemist but I don't think the nitrogen could displace that much gasoline. Unless it was liquid nitrogen, at which point it would gradually evaporate, turning into vapors anyway.... unless there's some chemical property I don't know about that causes nitrogen to stay in liquid form when mixed with gasoline

dwboston

I posted this in the other thread, but I've been using Shell V-Power (93 octane up here in MA) almost exclusively for the past two years. I haven't noticed any mileage drop-off since they started advertising the "nitrogen-enriched" version. If anything my mileage seems to be a bit better (1-2 mpg better in the past year or so). I usually get 2-4 mpg worse in the winter due to the winter blend gas up here, but this year its only like 1-2 mpg worse.

Is it possible that people's perception of lower mpg is due more to the 10% ethanol blended in with the gas than the "nitrogen-enrichment?"

Costco

Not sure about other areas but ever since I started driving almost 5 years ago, California's always has 10% ethanol gas blended in.

kirbyflorida

We in Florida have had the blend like most states for years.
My guess is the nitrogen is attached somehow so it stays in the formula, it can't just evaporate or the claim would not be true.
I cannot believe by adding nitrogen you would get better mileage, if that was true Shell would DEFINITELY advertise that it gets better mileage.

Chas2

Shell's nitrogen enriched gasoline is formulated for better detergent action, and not gas mileage, although I suppose you could make the argument that a cleaner engine is more efficient and therefore gets better gas mileage.

Every gasoline sold in the US requires detergent additives to keep the engines clean, that is a US EPA regulation. Shell claims that its nitrogen enriched fuel cleans engines better because the nitrogen enriched molecules chemically react more readily than other additives with the carbon build up in engines. Better for today's modern direct injection engines.

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

Whether true or not, Shell's nitrogen enriched formula is supposed to exceed the minimum standards for Top Tier gasoline, recommended by Honda and Acura. The story is that gasoline additives have declined over the past years, and that Top Tier gas ensures a minimum level, higher than EPA requirements, for detergent action, meaning that over time, engines fed Top Tier gas will have fewer deposits and will run more efficiently.

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

So any mileage benefits from Shell's nitrogen enriched gas might only come after extended usage, if in fact it does clean the engine. It could also be about just establishing the habit of filling up with Shell gasoline, because, after all, we are creatures of habit.

kirbyflorida

That all makes sense but coming from the Corporate world for over 30 years, I still see it as a way to get more volume out of their gasoline, even if only 1% or less, they will make MANY millions on the increased volume.
I will not buy the product again.
Someone asked what gas I used after the Shell, I use any and all of them, I was using Shell for a while due to the location of the station.

rtr

Oh god shell is the WORST gas you could use. It will start by killing o2 sensors. The only Shell gas ttha is good is in Europe

CFoote

http://www.toptiergas.com/

JPSMAN

I think more ethanol is the culprit....that stuff certainly lowers mileage.....

Ken1997TL

Come up to Washington and fill up your tank. Your mileage will improve.

Oregon is 10% ethanol as well

TSX69

I have noticed that for months now that I have been averaging ~10% less per tank despite driving pretty much the same way/route. I use Shell 93 octane ~80% of the time bc it is the most convenient location & usually cheapest.

After some research, I assumed it was just the addition of ethanol that lowered my MPG but never even thought about it being the new type of Shell gas -- altho the timing does seem to kind of coincide.

Perhaps I will start using BP for a while & see if there is any difference ....

kirbyflorida

If it was not for the mileage computer I never would have noticed the Shell gas mileage drop, thanks Acura.

pimpin-tl

16 mpg lately here...I don't get it. I drive easy too under 3k rpms and easy throttle.

OLD_HATCH

[conspiracy theory]

You see the oil manufacturers have gotten pist at the fact the american people have stopped using as much gas and have consequently diluted (or mixed something in) the gasoline causing us to get less mpg's and buy more gas. [/conspiracy theory]


lol



not but seriously, maybe you should contact them and see what they say about it. Maybe the nitrogen enriched doesnt like higher comperssion motors?

kirbyflorida

Oh yes, we can surely trust the oil companies, they look our for us and the climate.
Drill drill drill. that is the answer.