Petrol additives increase

petrol Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic c ...

's octane rating or act as corrosion inhibitors or lubricants, thus allowing the use of higher

compression ratio The compression ratio is the ratio between the volume of the cylinder and combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine at their maximum and minimum values. A fundamental specification for such engines, it is measured two ways: the stat ...

s for greater efficiency and power. Types of additives include metal deactivators, corrosion inhibitors, oxygenates and

antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricants ...

s. Some additives are harmful and are regulated or banned in some countries.

Additives

* Oxygenates ** Alcohols: *** Methanol (MeOH) ***

Ethanol Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a h ...

(EtOH); see also

common ethanol fuel mixtures Several common ethanol fuel mixtures are in use around the world. The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose, and used only in autom ...

***

Isopropyl alcohol Isopropyl alcohol (IUPAC name propan-2-ol and also called isopropanol or 2-propanol) is a colorless, flammable organic compound with a pungent alcoholic odor. As an isopropyl group linked to a hydroxyl group (chemical formula ) it is the simp ...

(IPA) *** ''n''-butanol (BuOH) *** Gasoline grade ''t''-butanol (GTBA) **

Ether In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula , where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups. Ethers can again b ...

s: *** Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), now outlawed in many states of the U.S. for road use because of water contamination. *** Tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) *** Tertiary hexyl methyl ether (THEME) ***

Ethyl tertiary butyl ether Ethyl ''tertiary''-butyl ether (ETBE), also known as ethyl ''tert''-butyl ether, is commonly used as an oxygenate gasoline additive in the production of gasoline from crude oil. ETBE offers equal or greater air quality benefits than ethanol, ...

(ETBE) *** Tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) *** Diisopropyl ether (DIPE) *

Antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricants ...

s, stabilizers ** Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) ** 2,4-Dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol ** 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP) ** p-Phenylenediamine ** N,N'-Di-2-butyl-1,4-phenylenediamine **

Ethylenediamine Ethylenediamine (abbreviated as en when a ligand) is the organic compound with the formula C2H4(NH2)2. This colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor is a basic amine. It is a widely used building block in chemical synthesis, with approximately ...

Detergent A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleansing properties when in dilute solutions. There are a large variety of detergents, a common family being the alkylbenzene sulfonates, which are soap-like compounds that are m ...

s; see also Top Tier Detergent Gasoline **

Amine In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent su ...

s aka "nitrogen enriched" *** Polybuteneamine (PBA) *** Polyetheramine (PEA); see also Techron *** Polyisobutyleneamine (PIBA) * Antiknock agents ** Tetraethyllead (TEL), now

banned A ban is a formal or informal prohibition of something. Bans are formed for the prohibition of activities within a certain political territory. Some bans in commerce are referred to as embargoes. ''Ban'' is also used as a verb similar in meaning ...

almost everywhere for causing brain damage. **

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT or MCMT) is an organomanganese compound with the formula (C5H4CH3)Mn(CO)3. Initially marketed as a supplement for use in leaded gasoline, MMT was later used in unleaded gasoline to increase the o ...

(MMT) is a neurotoxic substance and is fatal if swallowed/inhaled and causes manganism. **

Ferrocene Ferrocene is an organometallic compound with the formula . The molecule is a complex consisting of two cyclopentadienyl rings bound to a central iron atom. It is an orange solid with a camphor-like odor, that sublimes above room temperature, ...

** Dimethyl methylphosphonate **

Toluene Toluene (), also known as toluol (), is a substituted aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid with the smell associated with paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) ...

** Isooctane ** Triptane * Lead scavengers (for leaded gasoline) ** Tricresyl phosphate (TCP) (also an AW additive and EP additive) ** 1,2-Dibromoethane **

1,2-Dichloroethane The chemical compound 1,2-dichloroethane, commonly known as ethylene dichloride (EDC), is a chlorinated hydrocarbon. It is a colourless liquid with a chloroform-like odour. The most common use of 1,2-dichloroethane is in the production of vin ...

* Fuel dyes, most common: ** Solvent Red 24 ** Solvent Red 26 ** Solvent Yellow 124 ** Solvent Blue 35 * Fuel additives in general **

and other flammable hydrocarbons have been used extensively as starting fluid for many difficult-to-start engines, especially

diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-ca ...

s **

Nitromethane Nitromethane, sometimes shortened to simply "nitro", is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as i ...

, or "nitro", is a high-performance racing fuel **

Acetone Acetone (2-propanone or dimethyl ketone), is an organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest and smallest ketone (). It is a colorless, highly volatile and flammable liquid with a characteristic pungent odour. Acetone is miscible wi ...

is a

vaporization Vaporization (or vaporisation) of an element or compound is a phase transition from the liquid phase to vapor. There are two types of vaporization: evaporation and boiling. Evaporation is a surface phenomenon, whereas boiling is a bulk phenomenon. ...

additive, mainly used with methanol racing fuel **

Butyl rubber Butyl rubber, sometimes just called "butyl", is a synthetic rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene. The abbreviation IIR stands for isobutylene isoprene rubber. Polyisobutylene, also known as "PIB" or polyisobutene, (C4H8)n, is the ...

(as polyisobutylene succinimide,

detergent A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with cleansing properties when in dilute solutions. There are a large variety of detergents, a common family being the alkylbenzene sulfonates, which are soap-like compounds that are m ...

to prevent fouling of diesel

fuel injector Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All com ...

s) ** Ferrous picrate is used in Diesel fuel to increase fuel conversion efficiency and reduce emissions.

Racing formulations

can increase the

cetane number Cetane number (cetane rating) is an indicator of the combustion speed of diesel fuel and compression needed for ignition. It plays a similar role for diesel as octane rating does for gasoline. The CN is an important factor in determining the qu ...

of diesel fuel, improving its combustion properties *

Nitrous oxide Nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide or dinitrogen monoxide), commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous, or nos, is a chemical compound, an oxide of nitrogen with the formula . At room temperature, it is a colourless non-flammable gas, and has ...

, or simply '' nitrous'', is an

oxidizer An oxidizing agent (also known as an oxidant, oxidizer, electron recipient, or electron acceptor) is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or " accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or ). In other words, an oxid ...

used in many forms of

motorsports Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of tw ...

such as drag racing and

street racing Street racing is typically an unsanctioned and illegal form of auto racing that occurs on a public road. Racing in the streets is considered an ancient hazard, as horse racing occurred on streets for centuries, and street racing in automobiles is ...

Legislation

United States

Fuel additives in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

are regulated unde
section 211
of the Clean Air Act (as amended in January 1995). The

Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale f ...

(EPA) requires the registration of all fuel additives which are commercially distributed for use in highway motor vehicles in the

, and may require testing and ban harmful additives. The EPA also regularly reviews the health and net economic benefits of Clean Air Act policies.
Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act: a set of scientific reviews conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in compliance with the act. The act also requires deposit control additives (DCAs) be added to all petrol. This type of additive is a

additive that acts as a cleansing agent in small passages in the

carburetor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meter ...

s. This in turn serves to ensure a consistent air and fuel mixture that will contribute to better gas mileage.

References

* ARRC Auto Repair Reference Center. Point 5 Technologies. Accessed via EbscoHost on November 27, 2009
EPA: List of Registered Gasoline AdditivesUnder 40 CFR Part 79
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gasoline Additive Petroleum products Chemistry-related lists

Additives

Racing formulations

Legislation

United States

See also

References