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NOT JUST FOR PERFORMANC­E CARS

Why all drivers can benefit from Shell V-Power premium fuels

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The practice of putting premium, high-octane fuels in performanc­e cars is well establishe­d, but what’s not so well known is that it’s still very much worth filling up any car with Shell V-Power.

Build-up

As you rack up the miles in your car, your engine is getting dirtier without you realising. Performanc­erobbing deposits may start to build up on critical engine components when using regular fuels. For petrol-engined cars, this means the intake valves, while for both petrol and diesel units, it’s the fuel injectors.

This is bad news. In older port-injection petrol engines, these deposits form on the back of inlet valves, acting like a sponge, soaking up fuel that would otherwise go into the engine. Injector deposit build-up is a particular issue for modern engines using direct injection, which involves placing the injector inside the combustion chamber, a harsh environmen­t that can accelerate the collection of unwanted deposits. You can think of a clogged injector like a showerhead whose water flow is compromise­d by a build-up of limescale.

Shell’s tests have shown that these deposits rob both an engine’s performanc­e and its efficiency, which is why all drivers can benefit from using Shell V-Power, whether they own a fast car or something more focused on practicali­ty and fuel economy. In addition, Shell V-Power Diesel protects your car’s EGR (exhaust gas recirculat­ion) valve – a pricey part to repair if it goes wrong.

Prevention and cure

Shell V-Power has special cleaning molecules that work on those deposits from the first tankful, with unwanted deposits removed from engine components so they can be burned away in the combustion chamber.

Exactly how long the full cleaning process takes depends on numerous factors, including engine type, how a car has been driven and for how many miles it’s been run on regular fuels. In addition to cleaning existing deposits, running a car on Shell V-Power helps avoid them building up in the first place.

New and improved

First launched in 1998, Shell V-Power has been continuall­y tweaked by Shell, with each new formulatio­n taking around five years to develop. Shell has around 150 scientists and engineers working to make each iteration of Shell V-Power better than the last.

The latest formulatio­n, launched in the UK in 2023, now cleans those critical engine parts we’ve been talking about of performanc­erobbing deposits by up to 100 per cent. Once fully cleaned, an engine will regain lost performanc­e and efficiency.

The ongoing developmen­t of Shell V-Power means the fuel keeps up with engine trends, which for today’s cars involves prevalent turbocharg­ing and downsizing and the common use of direct injection. In the process, though, Shell has managed to strike a balance with its formulatio­n to ensure the fuel is just as effective for older engines.

As before, Shell V-Power Unleaded is formulated with a higher octane level; in the UK market this is 99 RON, compared to 95 RON for regular petrol. This brings additional benefits on top of Shell V-Power’s cleaning properties, because a higher-octane fuel results in more stable combustion. Fill up with Shell V-Power today – your car deserves it.

 ?? ?? Inlet valves from engines run on regular unleaded (left) and Shell V-Power (right)
Inlet valves from engines run on regular unleaded (left) and Shell V-Power (right)
 ?? ?? Scaled-up injector models show increased fuel flow possible after Shell V-Power is used
Scaled-up injector models show increased fuel flow possible after Shell V-Power is used
 ?? ?? Many elements combine to make the fuel that goes into your car’s tank
Many elements combine to make the fuel that goes into your car’s tank

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