Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
FUEL is an important catalyst not only because it runs the vehicle, but mainly for the type and octane that are specifically formulated to produce the desired combustion.
But very few petroleum trademarks have the formulation to act as cleaning agent and prevent engines from losing its needed performance. One of them is the “Shell V-Power Nitro +” premium performance fuels.
“In our thrust to continue bringing exciting drives on the road, we at Shell believe that maintenance and performance go hand in hand. Through the Shell V-Power Nitro+ “Stay Ahead” campaign, we aim to help motorists win against the double threats of gunk and corrosion, which hinder their vehicles from performing at its best,” Pilipinas Shell Vice President for Retail Anthony Lawrence Yam said.
To prove how maintenance and performance work together, Pilipinas Shell recently invited select members of the media for the “Win On All Terrains” event. Partnering with Ford Philippines, the group drove from Bonifacio Global City all the way to Clark, Pampanga. And to test the V-Power Nitro + Gasoline, Diesel and Racing fuels, the activity was designed for a three-leg crusade involving different terrains. Three media teams were formed for the task of determining the winner at the end of the day.
Teamed up with fellow scribes Mikka Fernandez-David and Ferdz Vinzon, we boarded the Ford Focus Titanium variant for the initial stretch. First stop was at Shell gas station in Balintawak, were we filled up with Shell V-Power Nitro + Gasoline. The lay over greeted us with the riddle challenge to test our wits. We then continued traversing Edsa all the way to North Luzon Expressway and made another stop at Shell station in Tabang. There, the group of motoring journalists played another game involving mechanical parts identification. Afterward, we navigated Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway until we reached Clark International Speedway, where another contest was waiting for us. The group reconvened and were briefed on the next hurdle, which highlighted the Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel. We were set to navigate the lahar landscape with unpredictable sandy terrain representing the off-road experiment.
Waiting for us were three Ford Ranger 4×4 Wildtraks that were put to the test in an extreme environment. This writer took the wheel and traversed the quarry land all the way to the targeted destination. The objective was to complete the route, gather points through pit stops and, most important, not to stall, that would result to points deduction. Soon after, rain poured and the sand started to soften making it more difficult for the tires, while water splashed from hollow rivers made it even worse, giving almost zero visibility to drive. We completed the task and made it back, while another group unfortunately got wedged, yet made it back safely.
After enjoying sumptuous local cuisines, we headed back to the headquarters for a presentation. This time, Malaysia-based Shell Fuel Scientist Mae Cayetano-Ascan explained the harmful contaminant associated with diesel engines. “Gunk is sponge-like in nature and can absorb some of the fuel that has been injected in the engine thereby affecting the responsiveness of your vehicle. This is why Shell V-Power Nitro + fuels are formulated with powerful cleaning agents that prevent and remove performance-robbing engine deposits,” Ascan said. In a compelling demonstration, one valve contaminated with gunk burned longer than the clean one proving the theory. Next demonstration was about corrosion. Holding an engine piston as specimen, Ascan explained how the V-Power Nitro + Racing fuel transforms into a protective layer against corrosion.
After the off-road ordeal, we tested our driving skills inside the race circuit. Excitement rose when we found out that the iconic Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT Premium would be the test car. The trial was facilitated and copiloted by no other than renowned race driver George Ramirez. Faced with obstacles, plastic pylons representing guides for braking and apexes, the groups were all excited to get their hands on the Mustang. And when the author boarded the pony, the signal to launch prompted a wide-open throttle delivering that neck-breaking acceleration. In fact, the mesmerizing engine roar created a diversion—in a good way—while listening to George’s instructions. After completing the lap, the anxious feeling for another round was evident among us. Nevertheless, it was a rewarding experience for everyone.
We returned to Manila and reached the final destination just in time for dinner. After tallying the scores from different challenges, our team garnered the most number of points and were declared the winners. After all, the victory is what we needed after that long and tiring, yet exciting day.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino