cars today last longer

As a suburban family, it’s only fitting that we drive a minivan right? Well, yes my Pontiac Montana works for us and our lifestyle. From hockey tournaments to road trips, comfort, space and safety are what we need. Fuel economy is right up there, too.

I’ve always wondered what type of gas we should be using, whether we need to put in a premium gas for our vehicle or if it would make my Montana run better. So when I was invited to chat with Jim Macias, Technology Manager for NA Retail Fuels for Shell, I was curious.

This is what I learned.

Macias said that vehicle life spans are longer than they used to be – 11 years in 2011 in North America compared to 8 years in 1995. The new vehicle fleet is changing; we are seeing smaller vehicles, smaller engines and auto manufacturers will be able to get more power out of those engines and we will continue to see a lot of this going forward.

One fifth of all North American-produced engines will be turbocharged or supercharged in the next two years (IHS Automotive) and the number of direct injection engines produced in North America will triple in the next four years (J.D. Power and Associates).

There are different types of gas

What does this mean for gas and my car? He explained how gas actually makes it to the gas station. All the gasoline starts off the same; but when gas companies take the gas and add to it, that’s where the chemistry is different.

Shell has a unique chemistry with its additive technology that can differentiate it from other fuel makers. The finished gasoline can be quite different.

What are gasoline additives? Every drop of gas in Canada and the US contains cleaning agents. Federal agencies require a minimum amount of these cleaning agents; while some gas companies only meet minimal federal standards, Shell regular contains twice the cleaning agents as required by federal standards.

Because of high prices, I use regular gas. I’ve heard it’s good to put in premium gas once in a while because it’s good for the engine. I asked Mr. Macias if this was true; he said that Shell V-Power premium gasoline begins to remove the gunk immediately – about half of the deposits – and the process continues in subsequent tanks. He said that I should use the octane grade recommended in my owner’s manual . All Shell’s gasolines can remove deposits left behind by lower quality gasolines, but Shell V-Power premium gasoline removes these deposits faster due to having the highest concentration of Shell’s patented cleaning agents. Keep your car well-maintained

Deposits can build up in your engine’s intake valves and fuel injectors and can interfere with the delivery of the fuel. So if these critical engine parts are protected, your vehicle will run more smoothly.

After just 7,500 km, deposits can already start to build up in your car’s engine, but like clogged arteries, you can’t see it happening. Stay on top of it by keeping your car maintained with scheduled maintenance and repairs.

The Owner’s Manual is your friend

Macias says the owner’s manual is your friend – if it says your vehicle should use premium gasoline, you should do so. Most vehicles recommend a minimum octane grade.

Shell V-Power® is a premium gasoline

Shell V-Power® Premium Gasoline is Shell’s most advanced fuel. With five times more cleaning agents than required by federal standards, Shell VPower® Premium Gasoline cleans up gunk faster than Shell Regular grade gasoline. No other premium gasoline keeps your engine cleaner and protects fuel injectors and intake valves better than Shell VPower.

All three grades of Shell gasoline are TOP TIER certified by the top automakers.

Disclosure and Disclaimer – This blog post was facilitated by Shell Canada Limited via Glam Media Canada. While each blog author received some information from Shell’s Technology Manager of North America Retail Fuels, the opinions expressed by each author are those of the author alone and may not be shared by Shell Canada Limited or its affiliates.

FEEL THE POWER OF THE V. Shell V-Power is our best, most advanced gasoline designed to deliver optimum performance for the perfect drive. No other premium gasoline keeps your engine† cleaner. Visit shell.ca/vpower.