Quality of Jamaican fuel is cause for concern

BY AL EDWARDS

Friday, March 12, 2010

THE quality of fuel Jamaican motorists put into their vehicles is a cause for concern as engines become more technically proficient. Added to that is the fact that the Jamaican market is opening up to more brands that require a higher octane level that doesn't exist here.

Last year, the Government decided to go for an ethanol blend (E10) with many motorists complaining about the adverse effect the new fuel was having on their vehicles. A high oil bill has been a severe impediment to the country's balance of payments and ways have been sought to reduce it. The decision was taken to introduces an ethanol blend.

As the motor vehicle market becomes more differentiated and engines more sophisticated, the quality of the fuel has dropped, with high sulfur levels damaging engines. Local motorists, particularly those driving premium vehicles, must be made aware that a low-octane fuel can in fact damage an engine by igniting at a slightly different time than it was designed for. A low-octane fuel -- which currently prevails in Jamaica -- causes sub-optimal performance in a high-octane engine and may actually decrease gas mileage per gallon.

Many European cars in the United States need a high-octane fuel. A BMW spokesman speaking with Caribbean Business Report said that the minimum that should go into a BMW is 93. In Europe standard fuel is 95 octane and premium is 98. In the United States standard fuel begins at 87 and premium is at 93. It must be stressed here that both territories employ different octane measurements. In Jamaica gas comes in 87 and 90. In more developed economies there is a drive toward cleaner diesel fuel. Jamaica is yet to adopt this as part of its energy policy, opting instead for the lowest and cheapest denominator.

According to Garfield Fielding of Montego Bay who specialises in repair work on BMW and Mercedes: "Technically your computer in your car will adjust the fuel ratios to compensate for a lower compression fuel. That is what most of the more renowned quality brand-makers say anyway. However, with the fuel we use in Jamaica now, you could damage your piston heads. The engine, after detecting the poor quality of fuel, should retard the timing to compensate, but this will over time do serious damage to the engine.

"The decision to go E10 in Jamaica didn't do quality cars any favours. Sure, many cars can handle E10, but ethanol is more corrosive than gas. Premium-fuel cars will have a bit of a problem with E10. High compression engines need premium fuel. If you use cheap gas the engine will probably start to give serious problems."

Audi has prided itself on technological innovations and is looking to employ cleaner diesel fuels in its cars. With 950,000,000 cars sold last year, it is making strides in the premium segment. Speaking with Caribbean Business Report from Marbella, Spain, last month, vice-president of Audi Latin America, Juergen Deforth said: "At Audi our slogan is 'Vor Sprung Durk Technik', which means ahead by technique and smart ideas. I am a little sad that as far as Jamaica is concerned we are unable to offer the latest engine technology which we offer in other countries like Europe and the United States. In the Caribbean we offer Euro 3 quality but in Europe and the United States we offer Euro 5. We cannot offer Euro 5 in Jamaica because the fuel is of such poor quality that it might destroy the highly sophisticated electronic motor management which is in the Euro 5 cars. The fuel for those cars is a lot more environmentally friendly and pollute less both in the gasoline and diesel segments. Also, the fuel for these cars performs better and the consumption is far superior. It would be helpful to make a step forward in the fuel quality in Jamaica.

"I would be very happy if in Latin American and Caribbean countries we could get better quality of gasoline and diesel fuel because that would make a big step toward environmentally friendly fuel and then we could offer the latest technology that Audi is able to provide. Usain Bolt has expressed an interest in the Audi R8, but this is a top sports car requiring the right fuel. The reason I don't like our importers selling top-range vehicles in the Caribbean is because I don't want our clients running into a problem because of the quality of the fuel which damages the engine."

He went on to say that Audi cars can take E10 but it is important that the gasoline does not have a poor base. If there is a poor base together with E10, it could prove problematic for quality engines.

However, there is an argument that the majority of cars in Jamaica are on the lower scale and so the fuel requirements are not what you would find in First World countries. Premium fuel means premium costs which most Jamaicans cannot afford. Many vehicles are deportees and older with less sophisticated engines where more often than not 87 or 90 is sufficient. It may well be a question of supply and demand, where the number of top-end vehicles leads to the appropriate fuel being a requirement. There isn't too much demand for premium vehicles where octane boosters can make up for any shortfall. The Government could pass legislation moving fuel up to 93, thus serving the requirements of the premium market and addressing quality issues, but a sticking point here is whether the retailers could make a reasonable return from it. Prices would go up and it raises the question, shouldn't premium car drivers then be prepared to pay premium prices?

Peter Wang of BMW Richmond, Virginia said: "BMW engines are designed to run at a high compression ratio and so the quality of fuel cannot be understated. It is important to follow the fuel recommendations in your manual. If the manual says it needs premium, then it needs premium. Most German luxury cars fall into this category. The engines are designed for higher octane and if you continue to use lower grade fuel it will slowly damage the engine. The least amount that's necessary to prevent detonation on most vehicles is 87 octane regular grade unleaded gasoline. But on higher compression engines or turbocharged engines the engine may require a minimum of 91 or 93 octane fuel. Detonation occurs when the octane rating of the fuel isn't high enough to handle the heat and pressure.

There are countries that suffer from poor fuel quality and vehicles there all too often tend to exhibit faulty Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), engine overheating, and too much compression due to a build-up of carbon deposits in the combustion chambers.

"One way to prevent all this is to use a higher octane fuel. Poor fuel content goes hard on pistons, head gaskets and bearings and leads to engine damage."

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COMMENTS (11)

NA NA
7/10/2010

This article is totally true. Most high end vehicles require high octane fuel. Infact some JDM vehicles also require premium fuel. the low octane fuel in the country is the main reason why GDI owners are complaining. This engine require high octane fuel and they are very ECO friendly while producing high power ONLY when high octane fuel is used. High octane fuel SHOULD be introduced to Jamaica and persons are willing to spend a bit more on their fuel than to repair their teir vehicles.

Mister Green
3/13/2010

This article is a bit mis-leading, I don't think more than 1% of the vehicles are high end. I could be wrong, Motor vehicle registration would probably have the statistics. what's the point of going to more expensive fuels if majority of the cars don't really need? We are using ethanol as a replacement for MBTE which can poison drinking water, is the article suggesting we go back to that?

Elaine Brown
3/13/2010

The Observer should not allow free ads, it undermines your revenues

Sean H.
3/12/2010

Fuel additives are the wrong choice.
The fuel is poor quality and that is what needs to be addressed.
It is not very smart to think that every time i buy gas for $$$$ i must also spend more $ to make it OK for my car.
I can understand fuel stabilizers for cars that are parked for extended periods or even a once in a while octane booster to cure that odd tank of 'bad gas'. I can't appreciate the need for this Star Tron stuff (whether it works or not) because EVERY TANKFUL is BAD GAS !!!
Let me explain it to you this way:
If you eat, say, patties and every time you eat them you get diarrhea - the solution is not to take some pill whenever you eat ... you must demand good patties.

Grace Chin Loy-Orelue
3/12/2010

We have the solution to the issues listed above. Star Tron E10 Fuel Additive. It is available locally (my main distributor is Tropical Battery, Rory's Texaco, Shell Stations and Cool Oasis stations) and you will see the difference almost immediately. Enzymes contained in Star Tron® can in fact "repair" poor fuel, reduce an engine's octane demand, disperse water and break down sludge and other deposits. Star Tron®’s enzyme formula may well be the most cost effective fuel remediation technology in the world.
Grace Chin Loy-Orelue
J & G Imports
Agent for Star Tron

Sean H.
3/12/2010

I warned y'all long time, even before E10, about the poor fuel quality, its effects on cars AND the environment.
The high end diesels are the ones that will suffer most because of the high sulphur fuel that we have here. These diesels require ULTRA LOW SULPHUR fuel. I understand that the quality of our diesel is the reason why some manufacturers will not allow dealers to sell certain (diesel) models here.
BTW:
The article says
"Audi has prided itself on technological innovations and is looking to employ cleaner diesel fuels in its cars. With 950 MILLION cars sold last year, it is making strides in the premium segment."
950,000,000 Audis last year alone? The editor/proof readers were asleep !

Justin Gould
3/12/2010

There is a new additive called Star Tron (blue bottle) available at Tropical Battery and several other places in JA that can "repair" poor fuel and reduce an engine's octane demand. It really works.

Care Beee
3/12/2010

There goes my Audi... :(
guess i'm stuck driving a mazda forever

Fabian Campbell
3/12/2010

It base on supply and demand. Jamaica vehicle fleet is at a relaitively low end in terms of premiumity. Contrary to popular believe there is not many premium gasoline vehicle here relatiively to par fuel vehicle, hence it would be uneconomical to produce highly octane fuel to use in vehicle that required 87-90 octane.

Herbert Henry
3/12/2010

Motorists and other interest groups need to lobby the government to provide suitable quality fuel; if not, use other methods to demand a suitable response.

Jay Brown
3/12/2010

Sub standard product selling at a very high price.
Is the consumer being ripped off?

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Quality of Jamaican fuel is cause for concern