supermarket fuel

A healthy debate on supermarket fuel.
Now I've heard from people that said fuel is not the best quality and I've also heard that it's fine and comes from the same place now after changing the injecters on my van I made my mind up to only get it from shell esso BP that type of place with the van and bike and both have ran fine and if u work it out it really isn't that much more.
Also I remember when tesco petrol first arrived near us my mt 50 ran like crap on there 4 star for some reason.
Just trying to get everyone's collective opinion on this to displace this mith or back it up I don't think I will change anyway just in case but would be good to hear everyone's experience with this.
Cheers
Mark

I think the differences between the brands is with the additives. There are only a finite number of refineries and they are not doing 'special' formulations for each brand.

I know this was a long time ago and in a different country, but doubt very much things have changed much. I used to be a telco techie looking after modems (long before the DIY types many will know).
One of the locations I used to visit was a fuel depot, all the brands were there, each having a small office in a strip (terrace style). One particularly hot day I was there, the back door was open - being a bit nosey I kept glancing at it and the guy running the office offered to take me 'on a tour'. (in those days security was paramount and no one was allowed to see 'key installations' for fear of terrorist attacks)
The tanks were shared by all the companies, they would record how much they drew. He opened a strong room in the office and let me see the additives - can't quite remember how it was added, I think it was drawn into the tanker as it was fueling up.

I recall my RD50 absolutely hated petrol from Caltex (Texaco), they had some 'space age' formula called Boron, all I can think is it didn't mix well with the 2 stroke oil.

This is one of my pet subjects, having been a fuel retailer in the past. You are right in stating that fuel all comes from the same place, indeed there are only 8 refineries in the whole of the UK. I think they are all owned by various oil companies, some wholly, others jointly with other oil companies. these refineries supply to all and sundry, in fact all you would need to set yourself up as supplier would be a licence a few tankers, and some outlets and off you go. The difference in the quality of the fuel lies in the different additives that each individual fuel company mixes into it. Most of the majors add quality ingredients to their fuel, hence the higher price supermarkets don't, its as simple as that. To give an example, we run an Aga oil fired cooker at home and buy oil (kerosene) on a regular basis. Each time we order the question is asked, do we want regular oil or one with additives, the one with additives is usually 2 to 3 pence a litre more expensive. We buy the cheaper and add our own additives. To add weight to this argument, my son who is the manager of a roadside/recovery company is for ever telling me tales of woe regarding motorists breaking down by the roadside having recently filled up at a supermarket, I hasten to add that in almost every case these breakdowns were to diesel engine vehicles only.

Cheap is good. Never had any issues with supermarket fuel. I don't believe the crap about high octane premium fuel either. Most cars nowadays have knock sensors which means high octane fuel makes zero difference to performance.

I work with the people who develop fuels.  The technical people, not the marketers.  I have seen countless evidence, with my own eyes, of how much difference the additives can make.  Astonishing differences, like inlet valves that are black with 'regular' fuel but brand new looking with boosted fuel.

I will never buy supermarket fuel.  I will only buy branded fuel.  I don't buy high octane/cetane stuff because I know that the regular branded stuff is additised to a degree, and I don't run a performance engine.  That said, when I had my BMW 130i I only used higher RON stuff as this is what the engine was optimised for (although able to run on lower RON).  The response from the engine was noticeable.

I am convinced on a technical level.  Sadly most of you lot will never see what I can see so won't always believe the benefits of better fuel (or lubricants).

Good stuff I knew there was something in it I know a lot of taxi drivers who back this up too out of interest what oil do you use I've started using millers

I have a company car / fuel card and actively seek Tesco since I'm a Clubcard tart.
Might as well get something rather than nothing.
Never had any problems but the cars (diesel) go from 0-90,000 miles and new to 3 yrs old.

I normally try and go for the cheapest fuel on the bike but end up getting a mix on the big rideouts. After 50,000 miles of mainly cheap stuff I can't say I'm convinced either way but each to their own.

To Joe Bloggs the difference (if there is any) isn't very noticeable or possibly goes unseen. If the inside of the engine is dirtier but still runs "fine" does it merit the extra saving / expense?

You'll always get different opinions on this and there doesn't appear to be one correct answer just lots of slightly different ones.

See you at the pumps

Rosco

Millers oil is very good, but so are most of the rest. With modern technology oils have come on leaps and bounds over the last 3 decade's, you wont go far wrong with any of them.

I stick to brands myself and only use others when I'm stuck.
Last issue I had with my diesel was after filling up at Tesco in Ayr and it ran like a cow 500 yards up the road, so it was likely water contamination.
(I used to use Tesco a lot due to having a maintenance contract with them.)

I can't recall if it was around the same time I had to have the high pressure diesel pump changed out, but that was £2000 kick in the stones, so worth considering.
In saying that, water contamination can happen at any station where the staff aren't keeping up with procedures I suppose.
(A Shell in Bellshill had a couple of dozen cars conked out around them about 12 years ago with the same problem.
iirc the Franchisee got the station taken off him and he lost a pile of cash.)


p.s. Shell VPower diesel is awesome stuff.
I accidentally bought a full tank of the stuff before a run up to Inverness a few years ago and the motor fairly blitzed up the A9.
(I treat the bike to a tank of the petrol version every now and then to give it a good clear out)

Does anyone know if any of the brands will give better fuel economy? I fill up at Sainsbury currently.

Yes because these optimum fuels burn more cleanly they are more efficient, therefore giving greater economy, simples. PS The shell and BP ranges are probably the best.

PPS Much better for your engine as well.

I regret not working it out at the time (Inverness and back is only half a tank and I was belting it at times to pass lorries doing 45-50 and fearties who like to sit up their a***s for two hours or more), but the pick off was good and the engine sounded great.
On normal diesel from Shell I could do about 680 miles* on a Honda Accord tankful (2.2 I-CTDi), but never worked out how far VPower would do.

*If you want to work it out for yourself.
I went from Newmains (Lanarkshire, Scotland), to Thurso, back to Newmains (around 15 hours later), slept in for a training course in Glenrothes (Brand-Rex) the next morning, so rushed out and gambled on the fuel warning light.
I got there, but barely made it to the petrol station when it was over.

My gut instinct is that a tank of Shell VPower would have gotten me further, but I'm not sure it would have been worth the extra £20.

But you do get club card points with it ....

Well there you have it lots of answers and opinions


Tell you what ... pick it out of that lot!

ellie wrote:But you do get club card points with it ....

I never bother with loyalty schemes, you're paying for the 'discounts' in other ways.

I have a an Esso fuel card for the company milk float (and a charger before anyone pipes up ) which is pretty restrictive as they are few and far between round here, only positive is they now all do club card points which keeps Mrs Snowcat happy, (except the one at the beginning of the cat & fiddle, that doesn't do points so I don't fill up there). With the bike I try and use name brand rather than supermarket but that sometimes causes a problem if you're out for a ride and the light comes on, then it's just a case of diving for the nearest pump.

My Friend has a Peugeot 407 Coupe, and unless he uses Esso High Octaine it runs like a b17ch. I mean it coughs, stalls, refuses to start, and generally has a hissy fit. Typical snobby French motor really (not the sort of problems we get with our French Renault, you know the one made by the same company, LOL.) -

Oh and to add to that, being French and all, it (the 407) also has the odd "electrical" moment where all the electrics works as they are supposed to. Then realises it's a Peugeot, and throws up error messages, and says the engine is over temp! -

Anyway, back to the fuel issue? I've never had any problems with Supermarket fuel, we put whatever is the closest when the fuel lights comes on in the car, the bike I tend to top up at the Esso or Texaco garage that is on my commute - no other reason tbh.

They must be doing something right (Peugeot/Citroen), they're still in business.
Renault is a different company...they're also still in business.

Interesting reading. I've recently filled the van with BP Ultimate diesel after using 'Anyone' diesel for the last 2500 miles.

The verdict is better consumption, more miles to the tank, better performance and quieter running.

I'm going to experiment with it a couple more times but the trip computer is telling me that it's done 80 miles further, 2 mpg more. The noise/performance is subjective but I definitely prefer it.

Now to do a proper cost comparison and see how much extra, if anything, it costs and whether it's worth it.

Got the receipts and calculator out when I got home and was totally surprised by the results!

Bear in mind I've only compared 2 tankful but here we go;

Normal Diesel was 1.339p, filled up 75.95 ltrs at £101.70 and did 472 miles. I make that 28.25 mpg, 22p per mile.

BP Ultimate was 1.449p, filled up 75.14 ltrs at £108.88 and did 556 miles. I make that 33.64 mpg, 20p per mile.

Mixed driving on both tanks, 300ish motorway miles and the remainder single carriageway A/B roads.

Works for me, I'll be filling with premium fuel whenever I can now.

Cool.
That's some nice work.

Eddie990 wrote:Got the receipts and calculator out when I got home and was totally surprised by the results!

Bear in mind I've only compared 2 tankful but here we go;

Normal Diesel was 1.339p, filled up 75.95 ltrs at £101.70 and did 472 miles. I make that 28.25 mpg, 22p per mile.

BP Ultimate was 1.449p, filled up 75.14 ltrs at £108.88 and did 556 miles. I make that 33.64 mpg, 20p per mile.

Mixed driving on both tanks, 300ish motorway miles and the remainder single carriageway A/B roads.

Works for me, I'll be filling with premium fuel whenever I can now.

Who do you work for??

Eddie Engineering Services Ltd ;-)

I am no longer a BP shareholder but if you chaps wouldn't mind buying your fuel there to prop my pension up that'd be much appreciated!

I'm pretty sure it would be the same with Shell, Esso etc. In the spirit of fair competition I'll fill up with the competitors products next time.....

Ouch, one in the undercarriage , dept . there Rosco.