Shell Launches New Shell V-Power(R), Its Most Advanced Fuel Ever

Shell Launches New Shell V-Power(R), Its Most Advanced Fuel Ever
New Premium Gasoline Actively Cleans as Cars Are Driven, Has More Than Five
Times the Minimum Amount of Cleaning Agents Required By Government Standards



HOUSTON, June 29  /PRNewswire/ -- As they prepare to head down the road to a
beach, a barbecue or a backyard celebration, motorists traveling during the
upcoming Fourth of July weekend will be able to fill up with a new premium fuel
-- Shell V-Power.  The most advanced Shell fuel ever developed, Shell V- Power
actively cleans critical engine parts -- specifically intake valves and fuel
injectors -- as customers drive their cars.  The new gasoline goes on sale this
week at Shell stations across the country.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990716/SHELL )

Shell V-Power has more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning agents
required by government standards, according to Mark Henry, manager of fuels for
Shell Oil Products US.  Just as the exterior of a vehicle accumulates dirt and
other build-up over time, a vehicle's engine may also accumulate build-up if it
runs on low-detergent fuels.  With regular use of Shell V-Power, drivers can
clean their vehicles' intake valves and fuel injectors as they drive.

"When your drains and pipes are clogged, you use a clog remover that can clean
soap scum and food build-up so that water can move more efficiently through
them," Henry explained.  "Similarly, Shell V-Power can remove carbon deposits
left behind by low detergency gasolines so that the air and fuel can mix more
efficiently inside your vehicle's engine -- cleaning your car's engine as you
drive.  With more than 34 million Americans expected to travel by car during
the upcoming July Fourth holiday weekend, now is the perfect time to experience
the benefits of this new fuel."

Bob Weber, on-site mechanic for TheCarConnection.com, affirms that keeping a
vehicle's engine clean is important.  "Gasolines with inadequate additive
packages can leave spongy carbon deposits in the engine.  As a result, the
spongy build-up may absorb fuel, which may cause a vehicle to experience
hesitation during its warm-up period," he explained.  "To prevent carbon
build-up, drivers should use quality gasolines that are high in additives or
cleaning agents."

Shell, which enjoys a position as the No. 1 selling gasoline brand in the
United States, tested Shell V-Power prior to its introduction through
independent, third-party testing facilities and at the company's advanced
Westhollow Technology Center, a fuel testing facility in Houston.  Over the
course of more than a year, this advanced fuel formulation was exposed to
laboratory tests, engine test beds, and actual driving tests in vehicles of
various makes, models and ages.

The tests proved that Shell V-Power helps remove deposits and can protect your
engine from future carbon deposit build up.  Removing these deposits is
important because an engine will work most effectively when it has the maximum
amount of air and an exact amount of fuel to burn together.  Unfortunately,
engines that have carbon deposit build up on intake valves and fuel injectors,
may work less effectively while the engine is warming up to its normal
operating temperature.  If these deposits aren't removed, the vehicle may
experience hesitation during the engine's initial warm-up phase.

"For most consumers, a car, truck or SUV represents the second-largest -- if
not the largest -- purchase they will make during their lifetime, so it's
important to protect that investment," Henry said.  "Just as washing and waxing
a car helps keep a car clean on the outside, using a high-quality,
high-detergency fuel can keep intake valves and fuel injectors clean on the
inside."

Consumers will hear about new Shell V-Power through a $30 million national
communications campaign, including print, television, radio and Internet
advertising.  The communications campaign to support the new fuel is one of
Shell's most significant marketing investments since the company began selling
fuel in the United States nearly 100 years ago.  Shell also is supporting the
launch of the new fuel with a public relations program and other marketing
initiatives, such as direct-mail promotions and point-of-purchase displays at
all Shell stations.

In addition, Shell has created a mobile marketing tour that will visit
approximately 20 major U.S. markets, giving consumers a fun way to learn about
Shell V-Power and put a human face with the Shell brand.  As part of the
interactive tour, consumers will have the opportunity to have their picture
taken with a Shell Ferrari F1 racecar while learning more about Shell V-Power.
Consumers also will be able to find out more about the benefits of Shell V-
Power through a consumer-friendly, product-specific Web site located at
http://www.shellus.com/ .

New Shell V-Power gasoline replaces the company's existing premium-grade
offering and is currently available at Shell stations nationwide.  While other
differentiated premium fuels similar to Shell V-Power have been introduced by
Shell in more than 50 countries worldwide since 1997, this launch of Shell V-
Power in the U.S. marks the largest launch of the product to date.  For more
information on Shell gasolines, please log onto http://www.shellus.com/ or
http://www.localshell.com/ .

Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the
refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of nearly
7,200 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States.  Shell Oil
Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi
Refining, Inc., which refines and markets branded products through 11,000
stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is an
affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (NYSE:RDNYSE:SC).  For
more information, please visit http://www.shell.com/ . 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990716/SHELL

DATASOURCE: Shell Oil Products US



CONTACT:  Brooke Barrett of Fleishman-Hillard, [phone], for Shell

Oil Products US; or Media Line, [phone], or Anne Peebles,

[phone] or [phone], both of Shell Oil Products US



Web site:  http://www.shell.com/

http://www.shellus.com/

http://www.localshell.com/ 

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