Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 01/02) - Gasoline sold in Nunavut is missing a cleansing additive, tests show.

Before meddling with the supply, however, the government will conduct tests on two snowmobiles next week.

Results from tests carried out in England and Alberta show the gas lacks a deposit-control additive that helps keep engines clean and is required by the Canadian General Standards Board.

The additive neutralizes chemicals, such as olefin and "polar materials" that can build up and impede the operation of two-stroke engines.

The Canadian General Standards Board does not have a limit on olefin, a molecule that is resists proper burning. But levels increased to 36.9 per cent from 5.4 per cent last year.

Polar materials, meanwhile, can lead to gummy deposits in the engine.

For months, hunters and mechanics in the territory have blamed bad gas for a brown gummy substance that clogs up their engines and breaks pistons. The latest results suggest their fears are warranted.

But the final proof will come when the petroleum products division of the Department of Public Works and Services conducts practical tests in Rankin Inlet next week, using two recently purchased snowmobiles.

For up to 10 days (between April 3 and 12), officials will run both machines on this year's gas. However, one machine will run on gas infused with the missing chemical and other additives.

The machines will run for 14 hours each day under normal conditions, including cold starts, towing and distance travel, with the help of a technician from the Alberta Research Council. Public Works Minister Peter Kattuk said the government won't alter the gas supply until the tests are complete.

"We cannot say anything at this time," said Kattuk. "We want to find out for ourselves by testing two machines."

Kattuk said he doesn't know why gas is missing the additive, noting that fuel is not regularly tested. "I don't really know who is responsible for making sure the additive is in the gas," he said. "NTCL is the supplier. I don't know why they didn't know, but it is required."

He added the public should continue to take precautions when travelling by snowmobile.

Deputy minister Ross Mrazek said the responsibility for making sure the additive is in Nunavut's gas lies with the NTCL. He said his department is expecting an explanation from the company shortly.

Mrazek said the government will demand more quality control from suppliers in the future. "There will be some additional rules and procedures put in place."

Terry Camsell, NTCL's director of Eastern Arctic operations, said he doesn't know why the additive was not in this year's gas supply.

"We don't have that information yet but we will sort that out at a later date," he said.

He said NTCL is working closely with the government and initiated the first round of tests. He would not say if NTCL is responsible for the absent additive. "What we're focusing on now is how to resolve the problem. We'll worry about that later after we've resolved the problem."