New branded diesel helps protect engines, can reduce fuel consumption in heavy duty fleets, Shell reports.

Shell Oil Products US today is testing Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel, extending the company’s “Nitrogen Enriched” advanced cleaning system to diesel.

The fuel has been proven to reduce fuel consumption in an extensive test of heavy-duty vehicles and is available on a trial basis as of the end of January. It is being offered to both commercial as well as retail customers at select points of sale in the Nashville, Tenn., Baltimore, Md., and Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va., areas. Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel will only be available to commercial customers in the Atlanta area.

Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel is an ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) with an exclusive advanced cleaning system that helps protect diesel engines against performance robbing gunk build-up on fuel injectors with continual use. Gunk build-up can impair optimal fuel flow and can result in increased fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions.

Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel also helps protect investments in both heavy duty commercial and personal light duty vehicles—cars and pickup trucks—alike by guarding against corrosion. Like the Shell-branded ULSD in the market today, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel contains lubricity agents to help prevent fuel pump and injector wear and damage. Anti-gel agents for colder winter climates will also be available where needed.

Additionally, extensive heavy-duty truck fleet trials of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel demonstrated a 4.8% reduction in fuel consumption in more severe stop-and-go city service and a 1.3% reduction in fuel consumption in less severe long-haul highway service as compared to regular ULSD.

“We are very excited about this latest opportunity to test an advanced ultra low sulfur diesel fuel,” said Jim Macias, senior fuels technology manager for Shell. “It is well-suited for the evolving cleaner-burning diesel fuel market demand because Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel is designed for use in both traditional as well as new ultra-clean diesel engines with advanced emission controls. Additionally, the exclusive ‘Nitrogen Enriched’ advanced cleaning system is also fully compatible with biodiesel blends, which positions Shell to supply a high-quality product to help fill the growing demand for renewable fuels.”

Motorists will soon notice signage and point-of-purchase materials at stations participating in the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Diesel test.