There has been quite a lot of stuff on this topic just recently. I
must admit I was 100% convinced it was just a snake oil scam until I
read the article below. I presume that the device you have been
talking about is the same or similar to the one described below
although it is a *lot* cheaper here...
This device is based on the leaching of tin into the fuel to act as a
Tetra Ethyl Lead substitute. The tin is purported to both improve
combustion control and lubricate valve seats etc. There appears to be
supporting evidence for this in the article below.
Perhaps some chemists on the list might comment?
This is from the newsletter of the "Association of Motoring Clubs
Inc", and sources some stuff from "Manufaturing Engineering News"
Oct/Nov 95 and Dec 95/Jan 96.
"Teterin to Market and make Fuelstar Catalyst"
[...]
Newcastle-based Teterin Engineering has become sole NSW distributor of
the unit and is about to begin manufacturing it. Teterin says the
Fuelstar system enables pre-1986 engines designed for leaded petrol to
run on unleaded fuel and can cut toxic emmisions by 50%. Substantial
fuel savings are also claimed.
[...]
"Across the board we saw emissions of oxides of nitrogen and carbon
monoxide cut by half" he said. "Deisal soot was cut by about the same
amount and fuel consumption improved by 6 - 18%"
[...]
Produced in 14 models to suit varying sizes and fuel types - petrol
deisal and LPG - the Fuelstar cartridge with its tin-filled metallic
cones is fitted in-line on the fuel supply system so that the tin is
leached into the fuel. There it acts like the tetra ethyl lead that is
gradually being eliminated from petrol today. The leached tin acts as
a catalyst on the fuel, changing its combustion characteristics and
providing a lubricating effect on the valve surfaces. Retail prices
for the unit start at A$249 for a 4 cylinder engine. (approx US$189)
The unit comes with a 5 year warranty and is claimed to have a life of
1.5 million km (approx 940,000 miles) with no maintenance or topping
up after fitment.
TRACK RECORD
Tin has been used to improve the quality of petrol for 70 years and is
generally regarded as having better catalytic and lubricating
qualities than TEL. Its use was extended in WWII when shortages of
lead meant that the octane rating of fuel in occupied Europe varied
dramatically and made it almost impossible to run the high compression
engines of fighter planes, tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
WILL NOT BLEND
Tin was substituted for lead to control detonation by increasing the
temperature at the moment of ignition and then retarding the rate of
combustion - as well as lubricating the valve seats. The reason TEL
rather than tin is used in fuel manufacture is that tin will not
remain in suspension when blended with petrol, which means that it
cannot be added at the time of blendimg and refining.
Here are extracts from the paper which is titled "Emmisions of Benzene
from pre-1986 cars running on unleaded petrol"
In an independent test conducted by Australian Micro Analytical
Laboratories in Melbourne during July/August 95, the effect of the
fuelstar conditioner on reduing these (benzene, toluene, xylene)
compounds was measured. In hundreds of exhaust gas analyses it has
been shown that the efefct of the catalyst is to reduce unburned fuel
(hydrocarbons) and partly burnt fuel (carbon monoxide). The extent of
the reduction usually ranges from significant to dramatic.
[MG: in the poaper versiuon there are graphs (histograms), I'll
provide very approx tabular results (I'm eyeballing it)]
Reduction in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
[data is miligrams/cubic meter]
Leaded Unleaded Fuelstar (unleaded)
Benzene 45 55 25
Toluene 50 85 25
Xylene 65 95 15
Other 285 390 50
For the BTX test the car was a 1981 Series 3 jaguar XJ6. the test
procedure involved measuring the emmisions of BTX and other VOCs using
leaded petrol, and then repeating it using unleaded petrol. The
fuelstar catalyst cannister was then fitted, run in for the prescribed
1000 km, and test repeated using unleaded petrol. Three samples were
taken on each of the three test phases, with the results as graphed
(MG: tabulated). Clearly the test reveals that (MG: VOCs) are
substantially reduced by fitment of the fuelstar fuel catalyst. Unlike
conventional catalytic converters, the fuelstar operates immediately
from start-up and its life expectancy exceeds the life of the engine.
An independent test by the Safety in Mines Testing and Research
Station (a division of Queensland's Minerals and Energy Dept) in '93
produced the reductions in CO and NOx shown below. The tests were done
on a 93 Mitsubishi Magna at 3000 rpm. The improvment in combustion is
sufficient to enable engines designed for leaded petrol to operate
perfectly on unleaded petrol.
Reductions in CO
Without Fuelstar 0.01%
With Fuelstar 0.001%
Reductions in NOx
Without Fuelstar 1300 ppm
With Fuelstar 60 ppm
_______________________________________________________________________
Mike Gigante
3D interactive graphics, Virtual Reality, british sports cars, and wine
http://mega.cgl.rmit.edu.au/~mg/ mg@mega.cgl.rmit.edu.au
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