Fuels for Motor Vehicles Opel Vivaro A

Unleaded Petrol En 228

(Edition 1999-02)

Unleaded fuels, according to the following table, are offered for sale throughout the German Federal Republic and are becoming increasingly available throughout the rest of Europe.

Research octane number (RON) and engine octane number (EON) indicate the minimum knock resistance of unleaded petrol. High self-ignition temperature of the petrol corresponds to high knock resistance. The research octane number (RON) and the engine octane number (EON) are the measures of knock resistance. The EON is lower than the RON, as it is determined at a higher engine speed and with the mixture preheated to approx. 150 °C.

In order to protect catalytic exhaust systems, compounds containing phosphorous must not be added to unleaded petrol.

As of Year 2005

• the maximum permissible sulphur content for petrol is 50 ppm (parts per million).
• Leaded petrol is banned throughout the entire European Union.

Volatility Requirements (For Germany Only)

From 1st May to 30th September, summer-grade fuel (class 2) and from 1st November to 31st March, winter-grade fuel (class 6) should be employed. In the months of April and October a transitional fuel grade (mixture of summer and winter grades) is usual.

Notes on Vectra-C with Z 22 Se Engine and Z 20 Let Engine

In the event of super unleaded fuel being unavailable, it is permissible to use RON 91, provided that there is no heavy engine load or full-load operation such as mountain driving with trailer or heavy payload.

Instructions for Operation with Unleaded Petrol – En 228

All vehicles with catalytic converters must be operated with unleaded petrol. Engines adapted ex works for the use of RON 95 can also be operated using RON 98 without any restrictions. This, however, presents no advantages.

For vehicles with knock control, adaptation of the ignition system to different fuel grades can be performed via the engine control unit. Engines with knock control can be operated using RON 91 unleaded fuel for a short time if no RON 95/98 fuel is available provided there is no heavy engine load.

Petrol engines are designed for the use of sulphur-free fuel according to EN 228.

Oman and Saudi Arabia

Since July 2001, switched from leaded to unleaded fuel.

Diesel Fuel En 590

European Standard EN 590 achieved German standard status in 1999.

The most important preconditions for economical and fault-free operation of a diesel engine is clean, good quality diesel fuel.

Brand name diesel fuel is suitable for the requirements of fast-running diesel engines.

Sulphur-Free Diesel Fuel

Provided that the requirements of DIN EN 590 are met, there are advantages with sulphur-free diesel fuel in sofar as particulate emissions are concerned. There are no malfunctions, problems with seals or leaks.

As of 2005, only diesel fuel containing a maximum of 50 ppm of sulphur is permissible.

Valid for All Diesel Engines

The use of oils such as "rape seed oil" or "rape methyl ester" can lead to early wear of friction bearings in the distributor injection pump and to leaks.

Supplement:

Marine diesel fuel, heating oil and diesel fuels which are manufactured wholly or partially from vegetable matter, such as bio-diesel, RME or rape oil; aquazole and similar diesel/water emulsions must not be used.

General Requirements

Special limit values and test procedures have been specified for the following requirements:

Flash point, coke residues, ash content, water content, overall soiling, corrosion to copper, oxidation stability and sulphur content. National differences/modifications are possible.

Fuels of Biological Origin

The requirements standards EN 228 for petrol fuels and EN 590 for diesel fuels continue to be valid for Opel vehicles.

These standards permit limited constituents comprising compounds containing oxygen which can be of biological origin.

Petrol fuels may have a maximum of 5% ethanol or 15% ETBE (ethyl tertiary butyl ether) added to them.

EN 590 permits the addition of a maximum of 5% FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester), for example RME (Rape Methyl Ester) to diesel fuels.

Higher additions of biogenic components are not permissible according to these standards, i.e. fuels of this type must be specially marked and are therefore not authorised for Opel vehicles, e.g. pure FAME complying with requirements standard 14214.

Therefore, there are no changes for Opel vehicles in sofar as the requirements standards are concerned.

The addition of these components is currently already authorised, see above, but is only used to a minor extent (e.g. 5% ethanol in Stockholm/Sweden) on economic grounds.

With the planned tax exemption of biogenic components from January 2004 in Germany, the addition will become economically interesting to mineral oil companies, the proportion of fuels containing ethanol or RME will increase in the German and European market.

Petrol Fuels Complying with En 228

1. Additions of up to 15% ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)

ETBE can be produced from bioethanol in refineries.

At present up to 15% of the high octane component MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) is added to petrols in the marketplace, especial Super Plus. As for all components containing oxygen, the calorific value is reduced.

2. Additions of up to 5% ethanol from biomass

This proportion of ethanol is currently already authorised.

As a consequence of the current authorisation our vehicles are suitable for fuels of this type as a matter of principle.

Ethanol also reduces the calorific value, affects the evaporation characteristics and the vapour pressure, especially at higher temperatures.

Diesel Fuels Complying with En 590

As a consequence of the tax exemption from January 2004, increased addition of up to 5% FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester), for example rape methyl ester (RME), to fuels complying with EN 590 is to be expected in Germany. That means, in contrast to pure RME, these fuels are no longer marked separately but are labelled as diesel fuels complying with EN 590 and are therefore authorised for our vehicles.

At present, additions of this type are in the marketplace to a limited extent in France and Italy.

Service / Repair

As a consequence of the serious effect of RME on compatibility with elastomers and plastics, only approved materials may be used to avoid damage to the engine or the vehicle.

Notes on Fuel Flow Enhancers for Diesel Engines

The use of flow enhancing additives is not permissible due to possible failure of the electronic quantity adjustment device.

Note. Flow enhancers can influence the result of the emissions test (opacity value).

Diesel Fuels for Sweden

The Swedish diesel fuel class 1 is comparable with EN 590 and suitable for Opel diesel engines in arctic regions.

1

) Specified for Germany in the national appendix of this European Standard.