It has been adding methane to diesel fuel with a new method that does not require changes to the fuel's delivery system, a company in Reno, Nev., has said.

It has developed a method of percolating natural gas through diesel fuel, which pulls the methane apart chemically, Advanced Refining Concepts said.

The New York Times reported on Monday that the fuel then absorbs the methane's atoms, hydrogen and carbon.

As it does so, the fuel, which is sold by volume, expands by 10 percent.

It was further noted by the newspaper that the gas has found favor among customers, who report going farther with one tank of gas and cutting down on oil changes.

Company co-founder Peter Gunnerman, said that the critical development, involves getting the methane into the fuel without the need to change any infrastructure or delivery systems.

He also said, "You can have the best fuel in the world, but the second you tell mechanics you have to change this or change that, it just doesn't get done."

The benefits of the methane-laced fuel have yet to be confirmed by a lab, but Advanced Refining Concepts is pushing ahead with plans to build 10 new processing units to create 100,000 gallons of fuel a day.

The Times further said that the main benefit is that natural gas is considerably cheaper than diesel fuel. (With Inputs from Agencies)