rate. The right photo is of an intake valve used in conjunction with the same additive but at the Top Tier treat rate.
WHY DON’T AUTO COMPANIES CHANGE
THE STANDARDS OR REGULATION?
Driving change through standards or regulations is dif;-
cult, even with supporting data. Auto companies attempted
to modify the ASTM and National Conference of Weights
and Measures requirements for fuel detergency levels. A
Automakers also tried to revise the federal regulations for
fuel detergency levels, but many stakeholders vote on fuel
standards, not automakers alone.
Automakers are used to compromising during standards
development, but they were unwilling to compromise on
Figure 1 Additive Treat Rates in U.S. Regular Unleaded Gasoline
as a Function of Unwashed Gums
The auto companies that
accept and enforce the Top Tier
standard recommend in their
vehicle owners manuals the use
of Top Tier fuels to help keep
engines clean and running as
designed.
Unwashed Gummg/100mL
1996
7
5
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Average
Top Tier
Non-Top Tier
