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  Straits Times 19 May 07
Homemade 'petrol' helps him save money - and the earth too
A love for cars and chemistry results in a cheaper, cleaner form of fuel
By Tania Tan

VOLATILE petrol prices have never been an issue for Mr Robin Peh. In fact, fuel has never been cheaper for the factory owner.

Mr Peh, 55, feeds his own homemade 'brand of petrol'' into his Mitsubishi sedan and saves 30 per cent in fuel costs every month.

Using his knowledge of solvents, gained from producing paint thinner in his factory, Mr Peh and his younger brother, Richard, 50, struck upon the 'perfect formula' which they have been using for the past three years.

It takes the certified chemist 'about 10 minutes' to whip up the mixture, which contains about 40 per cent ethanol and 'runs just as well as normal unleaded petrol'. His concoction has been tested and approved by independent testing lab SGS Testing and Control Services Singapore.

He uses about eight different components in his self- made fuel, ranging from lubricants to petrol additives.

Fuel pumps in the United States, Australia and Brazil sell petrol that are also blended with ethanol, an alcohol. Ethanol, derived from plant sources like sugar cane and corn, burns more cleanly than petrol.

The elder Mr Peh began his 'petrol project' some 20 years ago, combining his two great loves - cars and chemistry. What started as a hobby soon became an obsession as he began experimenting with various components in different proportions.

Getting the right proportions is a matter of 'trial and error', he told The Straits Times.

Speaking in Mandarin, he added: 'It was quite difficult because there were many factors to consider.' Of greatest concern was how the mixtures would affect engine parts and the vehicle's overall performance.

Some of the hazards of feeding untested mixes into a car's core machinery include metal corrosion, added friction and stalled engines. He has tried his compositions - several hundred different versions to date - on several car makes, including Nissan, Mazda and Hyundai.

'None of them have blown up,' he said with a laugh.

As proof, he displays invoices from the routine mechanic inspections for his Mitsubishi, which show nothing out of the ordinary.

He hopes to produce his formula on a larger scale, especially with global warming making the need for cleaner petrols more urgent.

'If I can do something for the earth, why not?' he said.
links
Alpha Synovate, ITE College East team up to recycle cooking oil into biofuel
Channel NewsAsia 14 May 07

From DIY biodiesel to slick new venture
by Leong Chan Teik The Straits Times 9 Oct 06

Singapore turns to biodiesel to fight rising fuel costs
By Jessica Jaganathan Yahoo News 17 Aug 06

Entrepreneur finds way to run truck on biodiesel and plans to start selling it next month
The Straits Times 15 May 06

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