On many of the new "racks" that is true. There are small additive tanks and both the additives and gasoline blend components are mixed right at the truck loading rack. Other refiners mix the gasoline in larger tanks and load finsihed gasoline on to the truck. Not all racks are that sophistcated and many trucks have the additive put in at the beginning of the load manually. Some refiners blend "subgrade gasoline at the refinery and the ethanol is added a the terminals before the trucks are loaded. By the way, there is legislation that is in the works mandating that the ethanol content be increased from 10% to 15%. Ethanol does have a lower amount of energy per gallon and therefore the increased ethanol mandate will lower the energy in the fuel available for conversion to the mechanical energy that makes us go down the road. The use of ethanol in fuel also competes with the food chain as corn is a major component of the worlds food supply.
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Techron additive questions...
- Thread starter robinje
- Start date
slight Hi jack here.
What is the COLLECTIVE wisdom on FI cleaners. Do you use them regularly/ only when a problem occurs/which one? Or is it a sales pitch to use routinely? I have used three times in two years , each occassion after suspect fuel loads taken on board in the boon docks.
What is the COLLECTIVE wisdom on FI cleaners. Do you use them regularly/ only when a problem occurs/which one? Or is it a sales pitch to use routinely? I have used three times in two years , each occassion after suspect fuel loads taken on board in the boon docks.
pglaves
#13338
I use Chevron Brand Techron Fuel System Cleaner as part of a major service at 12K intervals. I will add some to a tank if the bike acts like it needs it too.
The problem with that logic is:
1. Lead also destroys the O2 sensor, unless you have made modifications to the system to put it into the no O2 sensor mode it will default rich. The later the model the worse it will be, not all the later FI systems can operate with the sensors.
2. Lead also shortens oil change intervals, not a lot but some.
Not needed for valve life anymore. It is a free world but only no lead for me.
Rod
Octane
A couple of comments: 1) Octane is expensive. Whether you get it by reforming molecules or by additives (i.e. TEL, tetraetyly lead or MMT), it is an extra cost. Unless your machine needs the octane, it is simply a waste of money. We have been lead-free for many, many years and as said above, lead is no longer needed in modern engines. By the way, ethanol has a blend octane of 112-120 for most hydrocarbon species in gasoline. My recommendation is to use the octane recommended by the manufacturer and physical conditions under which the machine is operated. 2) Even though ethanol does have a lower energy content that most gasoline speices, the normal variables of operating my motorcycle (riding aggressiveness, oil weight, tire pressure, wind resistance, altitude, road steepness, etc) create more fuel mileage variability that the 10% ethanol that has a slighly lower energy content. 3) There are some hydrocarbon species present in higher octane gasolines that do have a cleaning affect for fuel systems, but not every gasoline is made the same way at all refineries. Fuel cleaner additives do have a place in modern engines. Use them sparringly and regularily. Techron just happens to be a proven additive. By the way, I do not work for Chevron or texaco. We just know about our competitiors.
A couple of comments: 1) Octane is expensive. Whether you get it by reforming molecules or by additives (i.e. TEL, tetraetyly lead or MMT), it is an extra cost. Unless your machine needs the octane, it is simply a waste of money. We have been lead-free for many, many years and as said above, lead is no longer needed in modern engines. By the way, ethanol has a blend octane of 112-120 for most hydrocarbon species in gasoline. My recommendation is to use the octane recommended by the manufacturer and physical conditions under which the machine is operated. 2) Even though ethanol does have a lower energy content that most gasoline speices, the normal variables of operating my motorcycle (riding aggressiveness, oil weight, tire pressure, wind resistance, altitude, road steepness, etc) create more fuel mileage variability that the 10% ethanol that has a slighly lower energy content. 3) There are some hydrocarbon species present in higher octane gasolines that do have a cleaning affect for fuel systems, but not every gasoline is made the same way at all refineries. Fuel cleaner additives do have a place in modern engines. Use them sparringly and regularily. Techron just happens to be a proven additive. By the way, I do not work for Chevron or texaco. We just know about our competitiors.
