It makes little sense to have a state-of-the-art fuel management software without good product for your customers. Motorists in Africa are said to have access to the lowest quality fuel and other petroleum products. This is ironic because a significant percentage of Africa’s finest oil is exported. Since Kenya is not a fully-fledged oil-producing country, it must also import African-grade fuel from oil-producing countries. So, what fuel brands do Kenyan motorists prefer and why?
Let’s use two popular petrol station brands in Kenya as case studies. Total and Shell continue to dominate the Kenyan Petroleum market with their quality product and services, not to mention unimpeachable brand awareness. Here are the fuels you can buy at these stations:
Total Excellium
Total once branded this fuel as their premium petrol. However, Excellium has now become the go-to fuel for most Total customers. This fuel’s main selling point is the detergent additives are designed to improve your engine’s health. How do additives do this? The simple answer is to get rid of carbon in your engine. Carbon build-up in the engine clogs it up, which affects performance and longevity.
In Kenya, vehicles with carbureted engines respond better to Excellium fuel. That is mainly because these cars have a higher carbon build-up in the engine. The fuel injection method also determines how the vehicle responds to Excellium fuel. For instance, cars that use port injection have the fuel channelled toward the back of the intake valve. That washes out the carbon and detergent additives out of the valve. On the other hand, direct injections mean the fuel is channelled directly into the combustion chamber. The problem with this method is that the valves do not come into contact with the additives for proper cleaning.
Shell V-Power
Shell considers V-Power its premium fuel. This fuel has numerous benefits to motor vehicle engines. First, the fuel also has cleansing additives to ensure an engine performs optimally. Second, V-Power has a higher-octane rating of 95 RON compared to regular fuel, whose rating is typically 93 RON. In light of this, Shell V-Power is ideal for high-compression engines. Supercharged or turbo engines also work great with V-Power fuel. If you have neither of these engines, you are better off sticking with Excellium.
Shell Fuel Save
Shell Fuel Save has lubricating additives to mitigate energy loss in the engine. Since it is Shell’s regular-priced fuel, it is budget-friendly. This fuel-saving option works best for vehicles with a fuel-injected engine that is electronically timed. For engines with variable timing, Shell Fuel save works best if the other components are functioning properly. If you are visiting Kenyan petrol stations for the first time, Shell Fuel Save is your best option for a lean budget.
FAQs
- What difficulties do motorists face in the petroleum market?
Unfortunately, some station operators mix V-Power and regular-priced fuel to gain bigger profit margins. This affects your engine negatively over time. The best solution is to find a trustworthy petrol station for your refills. Motor vehicle experts recommend using Excellium as much as possible.
