Nitrogen, as an element, is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78% by volume of Earth’s atmosphere, according to Wikipedia. Shell is now using nitrogen in its fuel to clean gunk found in gasoline.

Shell is offering Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, containing a unique, patented cleaning system designed to seek and destroy engine “gunk” (carbon deposits) in all three grades of gasoline. The new Nitrogen Enriched cleaning system protects and cleans up gunky build-up on intake valves and fuel injectors left by lower quality gas, according to a statement from Shell.

“At Shell, our ‘Passionate Experts’ are dedicated to helping motorists get the most out of every drop of gasoline,” said Jens Mueller-Belau, fuels portfolio and category manager North America, Shell Retail. “In today’s tough economy, American drivers are concerned about protecting their vehicle since it’s one of their largest investments. We want to help protect that investment. That’s why we want them to educate consumers that there is a difference in the gasoline they choose. Using lower quality gasolines can result in gunky build-up on critical engine parts, negatively impacting engine performance. Shell gasolines help drivers say ‘No’ to gunk.”

Will nitrogen-enriched gas make a difference in your car’s performance? I may just have to fill up my tank with some to find out.

Image via fallingpixel.com.