The origin of tin-antimony pellets

When tin-antimony alloy is placed in the fuel tank of a petrol or diesel vehicle, it causes the fuel to act as a self-cleaner as it combusts. Removing existing deposits and keeping the engine permanently clean. And because tin-antimony doesn't break down, dissolve or wear away in fuel, it never needs to be replaced or topped up. And goes on working for as long as it's in the fuel tank, keeping the engine permanently clean and efficient. 

Tin-antimony alloy was developed by Russian scientists in 1941, for use in the fuel tanks of Hurricane and Yak fighter planes* operating out of Murmansk during WW2. Low temperature waxing in the local aviation fuel, was causing crystalline deposits to clog carburettors leading to engines cutting out and mid-air stalling. The planes were restricted to 16,000 ft until a solution could be found. When tin-antimony pellets were added to the fuel tanks, the problems were solved, and the fighters were able to operate over and above their usual ceiling of 20,000 ft with exactly the same fuel.

Eliminating carbon deposits for the last 60-years

Tin-antimony alloy was first used commercially in South Africa during the 1960s, to keep emissions low from underground vehicles belonging to Anglo-American Mining. It was then used by SAF Marine, in their container ships to cut black smoke, prevent fuel wastage and extend service intervals. Over the next 30-years, as independent tests and studies repeatedly confirmed the alloys unique ability, its use and popularity steadily increased. Following the results of the Philadelphia Coca Cola Company's fleet trials in 1998, the US military conducted 14-months testing at Camp Pendleton and the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center. 

In 2003, the Senate Committee on Armed Services announced the results to Congress with the recommendation that Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, take immediate steps for the application of fuel catalyst technology.** Since then the use of tin-antimony alloy has exploded worldwide. And today fuel catalysts are used by private and commercial vehicle owners in every imaginable make, model, type and age of petrol and diesel vehicle. 

The effectiveness of tin-antimony alloy

The significant improvements reported by FTC customers, are only ever the result of carbon deposit removal. Fuel catalysts cannot produce before & after results in a new or clean engine (where there is no carbon to remove). In a brand-new vehicle, or one with a clean engine, tin-antimony alloy stops deposits from forming. Which simply means performance, economy and emissions all remain virtually the same as a brand-new engine. 

For the last 60-years, the effectiveness of tin-antimony has been repeatedly measured and observed using industry-standard before & after emissions results. The same way liquid fuel additives are tested. But whilst a single proprietary clean-up test in a static engine, has always been sufficient for the fuel additive companies to claim their chemicals restore lost fuel economy, performance and emissions, special interests insist an equal standard doesn't apply to fuel catalysts! 

In addition to independent before & after emissions tests and Department for Transport approved MOT test certification, FTC has also been independently tested by acknowledged industry leaders Emissions Analytics Ltd, using the advanced real-world portable emission measurement system - PEMS.

Problems, pollution and profits

The reason we don't notice carbon deposits gradually building up in modern vehicles, is because the engine control unit (ECU) hides the problems by retarding the ignition timing to prevent overheating, pinking and knock. This has a negative impact on combustion efficiency and engine performance, increasing fuel consumption and excess exhaust emissions. Leading to the fuel-heavy soot deposits that block EGR valves, clog DPF filters and ruin the CAT. Removing carbon deposits reduces the engines operating temperature, prevents pinking and knock. And allows the ECU to progressively reset/re advance the ignition timing.

The motor industry's Worldwide Fuel Charter clearly states, even the use of high-quality fuel leads to deposit formation, affecting vehicle performance and increasing engine-out emissions. The Handbook of Air Pollution from Internal Combustion Engines and the Society of Automotive Engineers confirm, carbon deposits affect all petrol and diesel engines, causing reduced power, reduced fuel economy and increased exhaust emissions. Which is why carbon deposits are the root cause of the excess traffic pollution that ruins the air quality for hundreds of millions of people in towns and cities worldwide.

Tin-antimony alloy keeps engines permanently clean and efficient - that's why the manufacturers don't use it

When the American motor industry realised tin-antimony alloy kept engines permanently clean, they were very worried. No deposits meant greatly reduced engine wear. Putting a big dent in the profits from spares, repairs and annual engine de-cokes. But for the fuel additive companies, with dispenser cans on every fuel pump, tin-antimony pellets spelt complete disaster. So they started a smear campaign. And motoring's biggest lie was born.

Along with the snake oil slurs and stories of exploding engines, the plausible sounding 'if they were that good the manufacturers would fit them' was circulated through main dealers and garage networks. Over the last 80-years, motoring's biggest lie has been repeatedly used so many times, especially in the UK, many have come to believe it. With misleading press, straw man tests and red herring reviews, helping to hide the truth of this extraordinarily simple alloy.

*The WW2 campaign, code named 'Operation Benedict' is recorded in Hurricanes Over Murmansk by John Golley  ISBN 1840372982 and in Force Benedict by Hurricane fighter Eric Carter  ISBN 1444785141 - who details the wartime use of the pellets and their subsequent post-war development. Pages 129-131, 256-257

**107^th Congress  2^nd Session  House of Representatives  Report 107-436  Pages 292-293