City Council moves to reduce fuel expenses

CEBU, Philippines - In this time of surging fuel prices, the Cebu City Council urged the General Services Office to go back to the practice of using fuel enhancer and oil saver in the fuel supplied to all City-owned vehicles to reduce the fuel expenses and maintenance cost.

The Council, during last Friday’s regular session, passed a resolution to resume the use of F2020 Fuel Saver. This is a 2006 technology that helps improve the fuel in the combustion area particularly in helping the engine run smoothly, reducing in the process the high operating temperature, fuel consumption, maintenance cost, and pollutant emissions.

Councilor Nida Cabrera who sponsored the resolution said that the use of F2020 Fuel Saver in City-owned vehicles started in July 2008 but was stopped in 2009 when the City’s fuel depot temporarily shut down.

In March 2008, then mayor Tomas Osmeña enjoined all departments to implement measures that would minimize fuel consumption. Pursuant to the directive, the GSO, Department of Public Services and the Mobile Patrol Group including the councilors’ offices, conducted tests on different city vehicles using the F2020 Fuel Saver.

Significant fuel savings and reduction of harmful emissions were observed so the City adopted the technology in July of the same year.

The City initially purchased P275 liters which lasted until October. The second purchase was made in December, which Cabrera said is contrary to the recommendation of the manufacturer to use the product continuously for optimum effectivity.

The pilot tests showed that the City can save up to P16 per liter or up to 35 percent at the time when the fuel enhancer is mixed with gasoline and diesel. Engine efficiency also increases by up to 27 percent.

Aside from this, other benefits are increased mileage and better performance and it can extend the life of the engine.

It reduces the emission of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide which are emitted when the combustion of gasoline and diesel is incomplete. F2020 burns the fuel completely in the engine thus reducing the unburned fuel in the exhaust.

“In January 2011 alone, at least three price hikes were implemented by local oil companies and it is the City Government’s thrust to minimize emission of harmful gases in the environment,” Cabrera said in explaining the need to go back to the use of fuel enhancer. (FREEMAN)