Talking high-performance diesel, triple bonds, and algae with Dr. Fuels

MANILA, Philippines - “Hey, a green chick!” exclaims the man riding shotgun as I negotiate a stretch of pavement in Bagac, Bataan.

I step on the brakes as the green-colored critter trudges forward – completely oblivious to oncoming traffic. Our diesel-fed white Mercedes-Benz E250 slows and stops. Jumping off a tricycle, a worried looking kid run towards us and peers under the car. His artificially colored chick is safe. Whew.

Just a bit of an adventure with Shell Global Solutions Fuels Technology Manager for Asia/Pacific and the Middle East, Dr. Eric Holthusen who flew into Manila last week to have an intimate session with the media wherein he introduced the nature and merits of the new Shell V-Power Diesel. This Philippine STAR writer had the singular privilege of driving the amiable German through picturesque Northern Luzon as we met up with other press people and Shell officials at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar – a history-themed resort in Bataan.

The drive was meant to both showcase Shell’s new diesel product and its partnership with CATS Motors, Inc. – distributor of the Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler (along with Jeep and Dodge) brands. Our media group took a handful of V-Power Diesel-fed rides that arguably represented some of the most desired sets of wheels. Aside from the E250, CATS also lent our contingent a Chrysler 300C, Town & Country Limited, GL350 CDI, and GLK220 CDI. It is interesting to note that Mercedes-Benz has the longest history with diesel engines. Its 260 D introduced in 1936 is the first production diesel car on record.

“We’re also about fuel-efficient and eco-friendly alternatives in mobility. Both Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler are pushing for more sustainable mobility – and CATS is thrilled and proud to offer these to the market,” said Grace Enriquez, CATS Motors assistant manager for public relations.

Back to Dr. Holthusen, who also goes by the monicker “Dr. Fuels”. Having joined Shell in 1989 in his hometown of Hamburg, Germany, Dr. Hollthusen is now very comfortably based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Shell Global Solutions “provides complete solutions in technologies and management areas to the various Shell businesses worldwide.”

I asked good “Dr. Fuels” what exactly is it that he does for Shell, and he began to explain by saying that that not all fuels are the same all over the world. He and his team take time to study each market and territory to come up with fuel blends that suit the country demands – including government regulations with regards to mix parameters and composition. Yes, sounds like Dr. Fuel stuff, indeed.

Eric said that very early in his storied career, he was involved with Volkswagen in developing an efficient diesel engine for its Golf car. From there, it was off to Shell as a product development engineer. Eric holds a masters degree in Automotive Engineering from the Hamburg University of Applied Science.

Far from being confined to laboratory work, Eric found that being involved in lubricants and fuels would take him on the literal fast track to success. In the ‘90s, he was involved in the glamour and glitz of Formula 1 via fuels and lubricant development. Before stringent specifications and limitations, it was quite a “Dexter’s Lab” for Dr. Fuels and company. He spoke of developing “triple bonds” and extremely toxic concoctions – and remembers this period of his career with a smile.

But Dr. Eric Holthusen’s heart is particularly close to diesel, and it was this involvement that directly produced the V-Power Diesel that debuted in Italy in 2002, and recently made its way to some 200 gas stations in the Philippines.

“This is technology we developed ourselves,” he said at the media briefing at the Las Casas. “We are one of the few, if not the only oil company, that develops additives or performance components ourselves.”

V-Power Diesel, Eric admitted, found its beginnings in a “weird” place for a diesel product – motorsports. “One day, we got a call from Audi – one of the leading manufacturers of diesel engines. They said they wanted to race in Le Mans,” he began.

He told them they’d been racing long in Le Mans and Shell had been supporting them. “We want to race a diesel car, and we want to win,” came the clarification.

That posed a unique challenge. In the demanding, 24-hour endurance run, diesel fuel injectors would typically clog up – reducing injection volume over time which in turn would cut power drastically.

“What they (Audi) intended to use then in Le Mans were third generation common rail diesel engines,” continued Holthusen. However, the available fuels in the market those days weren’t good enough to withstand the high pressure and temperature. Thus, the precursor of today’s V-Power Diesel was conceived as race fuel for the rigors of Le Mans. Not bad at all.

Then came the next step – to pass along the product to everyday motorists and their diesel rides. “If you compare the nice diesel cars you drive today to the cars 10 years ago, there’s a lot of difference in the way they drive. There’s a lot of difference in the injection equipment – even if there’s little change in the engine itself.

It’s all about the injectors, said Eric. These fuel injectors have hair-fine nozzles that spray fuel into the combustion chambers. The problem begins with the fact that these nozzles are very vulnerable to deposits. “That’s why,” explained Holthusen, “we concentrated our development work mainly on cleaning up that area.”

What is the consequence of those deposits, anyway? Well, it’s basically stuff of diesel engine nightmares: the fuel burns incompletely, resulting in lost power and higher emissions. Even a partial blockage or contamination with deposits makes the asymmetrical, uneven spraying of these fuel injectors.

It should be of interest to everyone that Shell V-Power Diesel does not only benefit more advanced diesel engines. It actually has the capability to restore or refresh even “old school” engines like those in passenger jeepneys. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation officers led by Fuels Brand Manager Rona Rodriguez-Baes reported that despite the P2.50 premium over regular diesels, motorists are switching to the product because of the benefits.

Eric also shared that laboratory tests have shown almost instantaneous benefits even for engines that have been running long on conventional diesel. After three full tanks of V-Power Diesel, previously lost power was fully restored to the vehicles. That meant the injectors had been cleaned by the fuel.

“It’s part of our ongoing mission to help customers get the most from their fuel. Shell V-Power Diesel, with its unique formulation, is designed to help remove and prevent the build-up of such deposits, helping the car’s engine deliver its full potential. Shell V-Power Diesel is designed to continuously clean precision fuel injectors, and to help any diesel car perform at its best, providing an improved driving experience,” said Rodriguez-Baes.

Meanwhile, Dr. Fuels is very excited about the future not just of fossil fuel but alternative fuel sources and forms. Shell is at the forefront of developing sustainable fuel, he said, and any new fuel source must also have ethical considerations vis-à-vis people’s welfare. For instance, ethanol from sugarcane has to contend with the fact that agricultural land must also be made available for food sources as well. Science, and the technology it spawns, is now looking at converting agricultural waste into fuel – even as industry braniacs are scanning the horizon in search of ecologically sound ways to power our planet.

Eric shared with the Philippine STAR that a brave new effort is involving algae – yes, algae – in sating man’s need for power. We hope to pin down Dr. Fuels for a more lengthy chat on this soon.

Imagine, algae!