Polish-Lebanese scientist's new project takes off after television appearance
Since his appearance on local television stations last month, a Polish-Lebanese scientist has succeeded in convincing some gas station operators that their fuel quality could be “drastically” improved through a simple and remarkably inexpensive procedure.
Zygmunt Niewiadomski, an automotive engineering specialist, first gained credibility from station owners in the late 1990s when he developed and marketed “Special 9,” a fuel additive that became quite popular with motorists.
But today, he is offering his expertise for free as part of a small but growing campaign to change national fuel standards.
According to Niewiadomski, at least 20 gas stations across the country have begun heeding that advice: that is, a small quantity of TC-W3 two-stroke oil added to petrol reserves will drastically improve fuel economy, increase engine life, improve vehicle acceleration and decrease emissions.
He says Lebanese consumers and businesses could save more than $1 billion annually for only LL100 per year for each vehicle.
“I saw Zygmunt on TV and said, let me try it. I have nothing to loose … I trust him because I dealt with his products before,” said Jean Abboud, the owner of a Karantina Medco station.
Charbel Kik, owner of a United station at Salome roundabout, also agreed, pouring TC-W3 into his supplies with the conviction that customers would be attracted to the added-value. The recommended dosage (1 liter per 15,000) is safe, he maintained, and was approved by a chemical engineer commissioned by his company.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Bechara Milan, a mechanical engineer and owner of a Dora United station. He said the dosage would work safely for automobiles as a valve and injection cleaner, although the product was originally intended for use in outboard motorboat engines.
“Two stroke oil has been around almost as long as engines but you wouldn’t use two stroke oil in a four stroke engine … unless you know what you are doing … too much is no good, and too little would be useless,” Niewiadomski told The Daily Star last week.
Essentially, TC-W3 works by zapping through carbon deposits around engine valves which disrupt the intended fuel-oxygen mixing ratio: “It will clean up the valve surfaces, decrease turbulence on the engine and allow air and fuel to mix properly. This will make fuel burn faster and cleaner and ultimately bring the engine back to its original design specifications,” he said.
Niewiadomski claims he has stopped selling “Special 9” to make time for another project: collaborating with one of the country’s leading petrol station networks to develop a revolutionary fuel additive that would allow a vehicle to exceed design specifications.
But, in the meantime, Niewiadomski said he has fielded at least 150 calls this week, and is urging citizens to petition the government to change official fuel specifications.
According to research by The Daily Star, LIBNOR, the official Lebanese standards association, does not mandate the use of deposit-control detergents. Research also revealed that the country lacks an over-arching national science council that would keep Lebanon abreast with petroleum developments or technological breakthroughs from other parts of the world.
“No one in this country is qualified to work on gasoline additives,” said Joseph Haykal, owner of a Medco station in Furn al-Shubbak. “So at least he (Niewiadomski) is trying, and that’s what we need in Lebanon,” he added.
The use of detergents could benefit consumers but government action is not likely, said Alan Shehade, an AUB mechanical engineering professor.
“Anything that reduces deposits on the intake valves and combustion chamber would be beneficial in reducing fuel consumption and air pollution from cars,” he added.
“But even the simplest, practically zero-cost, measures to limit automobile air pollution are not taken,” he said.
Habib Battah
© The Daily Star 2003
