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Opal fuel is a low-aromatic variety of 91 RON petrol developed by BP Australia in 2005 to combat the rising use of gasoline as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. It is subsidised by the Australian government and offered at the same price as regular unleaded 91. Opal fuel has been shown to have no significant difference in performance when compared to regular unleaded 91, and it has been specifically formulated to clean vital engine parts. However, some car enthusiasts have expressed concerns that Opal fuel may not be suitable for all vehicles, particularly those with turbo-charged engines, and may result in a decrease in performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opal fuel's impact on car performance | Opal fuel has been found to offer equivalent performance to regular unleaded 91 in both boat and car engines. |
| Effect on engine | Opal fuel has been formulated to clean the engine and break down sooty deposits that ordinary fuels can leave behind. |
| Safety | Opal fuel is safe to use in cars and boats that are compatible with regular unleaded 91. It should not be inhaled as it contains volatile substances and can have adverse health effects. |
| Cost | Opal fuel should be available at an equivalent local price to regular unleaded 91 as it is subsidised by the Australian Government. |
| Availability | Opal fuel is available in selected communities throughout Central Australia and at BP retail outlets. |
| Purpose | Opal fuel was developed to combat the rising use of gasoline as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. |
| Effectiveness | A 2010 senate report showed that the introduction of Opal fuel led to a 70% drop in petrol sniffing in 106 communities across remote and regional Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
Opal fuel is safe for most cars, boats and engines
Opal fuel is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia to combat the rising use of gasoline as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. Opal fuel is safe to use in cars and boats that are compatible with regular unleaded 91. This includes cars, petrol 4WDs, vans, and other engines. Opal fuel has been independently tested, and results show that there is no significant difference when a vehicle runs on Opal fuel compared to the same vehicle running on regular unleaded petrol. The difference in fuel economy versus regular unleaded 91 is also minor and should be no more than the variability for petrol grades and driving styles.
The reported variation of 0.3 litres per 100km is within the normal variability for petrol grades and can vary depending on car maintenance and driving styles. Opal fuel now contains advanced fuel technology that has been formulated to help break down the sooty deposits that ordinary fuels can leave behind. Ordinary fuels can leave deposits on critical parts of your engine, preventing it from working as well as it could. Opal fuel has been specifically formulated to clean your engine as you drive, helping to remove these deposits and prevent new sooty deposits from forming. Independent laboratory testing on a Toyota V6 engine showed that after 3200km, Opal fuel cleaned up to 20% of existing sooty deposits that had formed on vital engine parts such as inlet valves.
Opal fuel is supplied under the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program by the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing. It should be available at an equivalent local price to regular unleaded 91. Opal fuel is subsidised under the Australian Government's Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program, which allows it to be priced at an equivalent local rate to regular unleaded 91 octane fuel. Opal fuel meets the National Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, which provides the legislative basis for national fuel quality and fuel quality information standards for Australia. All fuels sold in Australia must comply with this legislation, and all vehicles manufactured or imported to Australia must be able to operate on these standards.
However, it is important to note that Opal fuel may not be compatible with all vehicles. Vehicles that require a premium unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 or higher should not use Opal fuel. Additionally, cars built prior to 1986 may require a lead replacement additive. Classic car enthusiasts have expressed concerns that Opal fuel may not provide optimal performance for some vehicles, particularly those with turbo-charged engines.
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It is a direct substitute for regular unleaded 91
Opal fuel is a direct substitute for regular unleaded 91. It is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed by BP Australia and launched in 2005. Opal fuel has a minimum 91 octane rating and meets all the specifications for regular unleaded 91. It can be used in cars, boats, and other engines that are compatible with unleaded 91. This includes cars, petrol 4WDs, vans, and boats. Opal fuel is safe to mix with regular unleaded 91 or higher octane fuels and can be stored in the same way.
The Australian government subsidises Opal fuel under the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program, which aims to reduce the use of gasoline as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. Opal fuel is more expensive to produce, but it does not have the same intoxicating effects as regular unleaded petrol. It contains only 5% aromatics, compared to 25% in typical unleaded petrol, resulting in fewer solvents that can cause intoxication.
Before its launch, Opal fuel underwent extensive independent testing in laboratories and in the field to assess its performance and safety. Testing showed that there is no significant difference in vehicle performance when using Opal fuel compared to regular unleaded 91. It also demonstrated that Opal fuel can effectively clean sooty deposits from engine parts, improving engine performance over time.
While Opal fuel is a suitable substitute for regular unleaded 91 in most cases, it is important to note that vehicles requiring premium unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 or higher should not use Opal fuel. Additionally, cars built before 1986 may require a lead replacement additive.
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Opal fuel is subsidised by the Australian government
Opal fuel is a variety of low-aromatic 91 RON petrol developed in 2005 by BP Australia. It was created to combat the rising use of petrol as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. Unleaded petrol typically contains 25% aromatics, such as toluene, ortho-xylene, and para-xylene, which produce the "high" that inhalant users seek. In contrast, Opal contains only 5% aromatics, making it less appealing to those who misuse petrol in this way.
The Australian government subsidizes Opal fuel under the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program, administered by the Department of Health and Ageing. This subsidy keeps the price of Opal fuel equivalent to regular unleaded 91, despite its higher production cost. The subsidy is necessary to encourage its adoption, as it is more expensive to produce, requiring a $0.33/litre Federal subsidy. However, a 2006 report estimated that the social and health costs saved by reducing petrol sniffing would result in a net saving of at least $27 million per year.
The introduction of Opal fuel has been successful in reducing petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities. A 2010 senate report showed that the rollout of Opal fuel across 106 communities in remote and regional Australia led to a 70% decrease in petrol sniffing. This has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of these communities.
In addition to its benefits in reducing petrol sniffing, Opal fuel has also been shown to have comparable performance to regular unleaded 91 in both car and boat engines. Independent laboratory and field testing have confirmed that Opal fuel offers equivalent performance and fuel economy, with the added benefit of reducing sooty deposits on engine parts.
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It has been proven to clean engine deposits
Opal fuel was developed by BP Australia in 2005 to combat the rising use of gasoline as an inhalant in remote Indigenous Australian communities. It is a low-aromatic variety of 91 RON petrol, which means it has fewer aromatics that produce the "high" that inhalant users seek. While Opal fuel is more expensive to produce, requiring a federal subsidy of $0.33 per litre, it has been shown to significantly reduce petrol sniffing in the communities where it has been introduced.
One of the key benefits of Opal fuel is its ability to clean engine deposits. Independent laboratory testing has proven that Opal fuel can clean up to 20.8% (with an average of 10.6%) of existing sooty deposits on vital engine parts such as inlet valves. This helps improve the performance of your engine by removing deposits that can build up over time from using ordinary fuels. The use of ordinary fuels can leave deposits on critical parts of your engine, affecting its performance. Opal fuel has been specifically formulated to clean your engine as you drive and prevent new sooty deposits from forming.
The testing of Opal fuel was extensive and included laboratory and field testing, as well as assessments by toxicologists, to ensure its performance in cars, boats, and other engines. The tests focused on various factors, including driveability, tailpipe emissions, impact on air quality, and fuel economy. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the performance of vehicles running on Opal fuel compared to those using regular unleaded 91. In fact, cars that used Opal fuel had lower regulated exhaust emissions, demonstrating its positive impact on engine cleanliness and performance.
Opal fuel is a suitable replacement for regular unleaded 91 and can be used in cars, boats, and other engines that are compatible with this fuel grade. It delivers comparable performance and can be mixed with regular unleaded 91 or higher-octane fuels. However, vehicles that require premium unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95 or higher should not use Opal fuel. Additionally, cars built before 1986 may require a lead replacement additive when using Opal fuel.
Overall, Opal fuel has been proven to effectively clean engine deposits, improving the performance and longevity of engines. Its introduction in Australia has not only helped address the issue of petrol sniffing in Indigenous communities but also provided a cleaner and more efficient fuel option for compatible vehicles.
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Opal fuel was designed to prevent petrol sniffing
Before its launch, Opal underwent extensive independent laboratory and field testing, as well as toxicological assessments, to ensure its performance in cars, boats, and engines. The testing showed that Opal offered equivalent performance to regular unleaded 91 in both boat and car engines. It is safe to mix with regular unleaded 91 or higher-octane fuels and can be stored in the same way. Opal is also formulated to clean and prevent sooty deposits on critical engine parts, helping the engine work to its greatest potential.
Opal fuel is supplied under the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program by the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing. The Australian Government subsidizes Opal's provision, allowing it to be priced similarly to regular unleaded 91 octane fuel. A 2006 report estimated that Opal fuel would save at least $27 million per year in social and health costs associated with petrol sniffing. A 2010 senate report further demonstrated its effectiveness, showing a 70% drop in petrol sniffing in the 106 communities where Opal was introduced.
While Opal fuel has been successful in reducing petrol sniffing, some concerns have been raised about its impact on vehicle performance. Classic car enthusiasts have noted that Opal fuel may not be compatible with all vehicles, particularly those with turbo-charged or older engines, and may result in decreased performance. However, others have argued that maintaining the availability of premium unleaded fuels during the introduction of Opal can be a step in the right direction to address the petrol-sniffing issue.
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Frequently asked questions
Opal fuel is not bad for your car. It is a direct substitute for regular unleaded 91 and can be used in cars, boats and other engines. It is safe to mix with regular unleaded 91 or higher octane fuels and can be stored in the same way.
Opal fuel contains advanced fuel technology that helps break down sooty deposits that ordinary fuels can leave behind. It has been specifically formulated to clean your engine as you drive, helping to remove these deposits and prevent new sooty deposits from forming.
Opal fuel is supplied under the Petrol Sniffing Prevention Program by the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing. It is available in selected communities throughout Central Australia and has been shown to reduce petrol sniffing in these communities.
