Portugal's National Authority for the Fuel Market is heading a campaign to persuade s drivers that the new cheap fuel now on sale is perfectly OK to use and that additives in more expensive fuels make no difference to engine wear or fuel consumption.
The Authority message is that "the question of additives is a commercial one," and that even if they were needed, car manufacturers would demand their inclusion in fuels.
"All fuels sold in Portugal respect the European standard of quality, which is the most stringent standard in the world," according to the public body that manages the national oil reserves and monitors the fuel market.
The Minister of Energy, Moreira da Silva is launching an awareness campaign to be launched next week to combat the fuel company association’s claim of market manipulation and restraint of trade and that fuel with additives leads to better consumption figures and longer engine life.
To the National Authority for the Fuel Market led by Paulo Carmona, "the question of additives is a commercial matter" "if additives were needed, the car makers would require their inclusion in the European fuel standard."
The awareness campaign is in response to those who say the simple fuels, which since April 17 have been on sale in all national petrol stations, are of a lower quality.
Consumer Protection Association DECO also has claimed that fuels with additives are no different to fuels without additives when it comes to consumption and wear and tear on engines.
"There's nothing to fear about the quality of low cost fuels," argues the association, based on tests conducted in December 2012.
At the time, four equal vehicles travel the same route daily for a total of 12,000 kilometers using four diesel types. The result showed no discernible difference in the accumulation of deposits or wear and tear on the engine.
"There are no differences between fuels except in their price," according to Victor Machado from DECO which then complained to ASAE that fuel companies were misleading the public in their advertising.
Last week, Moreira da Silva said in Parliament that the introduction of low cost fuels represents a potential annual saving of €200 million at current consumption levels.
The consumer is able to do his or her own research with many reports available on the internet that contradict the DECO analysis and the government's claims.
