Does anybody have any experience of using shell v-power diesel in the 170 engine?

Have used it in other brands of cars on every third tank to prolong the life of the DPF and noticed smoother running but not noticed any gains in mpg or performance.

Do the VAG engines run any better on the v-power or the BP ultimate or is it a waste of money??

From my experience in my 170CR the only difference it made was how much lighter my wallet was compared to the normal fuelsave diesel.

I actually get very slightly better mpg on the regular fuelsave stuff than I did with the couple of tankfuls of V power.

No experience with Shell V-Power but have used BP Ultimate since it came on the market. It made a considerable difference on my first 1.9 TDi, but you do need at least 3 tankfulls to notice anything. The 1.9 was much smoother and quieter at tickover, tested with Db meters , in a garage and outside. Slight improvement in fuel economy but not enough to write home about, performance increase possible but I don't have a rolling road to test with.

On my last 2 MkII superbs with 2.0 170 bhp Increase in power possible. it does make the engine a little smoother and quieter, tested using Db meters in garage and outside. The 170 CR engine is very smooth but is slightly better with Ultimate, Fuel economy about 10 miles more per tankfull, brim to brim all types of driving, You do need at least 3 tankfulls to notice anything.

During all types of driving rural Cornwall, a nightmare in summer crawling traffic and holdups, motorway trips to Scotland, I have never seen the DPF light come on, except when initial turning on ignition, or had a fast tickover, fans on or hot smell, so it seems to keep the exhaust emission lower. The inside of my exhaust tailpipe is as clean now on my third Superb, always Elegance models the latest an estate, as the day I collected it from the dealer so the DPF must be working.

I always carry Millers diesel aditive in case I can't find a BP garage, I then add double dose this has the same effect as BP Ultimate, exhaust smells the same and the engine runs as smooth economy as good as Ultimate.

This will get snake oil comments but after 40 years as a Motor Vehicle Technician, now retired, this is still the only additive I would use.

I only use V-power Diesel. The car is so economic compared with my previous cars that I don't notice the extra cost and I'm sure it gets better economy as when a Skoda mechanic filled it with normal Diesel I was unable to get my normal economy out of it.

Apparently the fuel produces less soot which I think is a good thing for the DPF

I know this post is about diesel cars, but I just wanna say that I use V Power in my petrol car and find it fabulous. Trouble is its a 3hr round trip to my nearest Shell garage...so I tend to use Tesco Momentum in between visits. I rather think the shell is slightly better though.

.... V Power in my petrol car and find it fabulous.....

Hi Mike,

In what way do you find it so good?

Do you notice improved performance and if so what in particular?

I am lucky to have a Shell petrol station 2 minutes and a Tesco petrol station 5 minutes away from my home but I have been using the bog standard fuel so far, mainly because on my old (12+ years) car it seemed to perform worse with premium petrol so not felt the compulsion to put in the pricier flavour fuel.

Thanks,

Paul

Hi Mike,

In what way do you find it so good?

Do you notice improved performance and if so what in particular?

I am lucky to have a Shell petrol station 2 minutes and a Tesco petrol station 5 minutes away from my home but I have been using the bog standard fuel so far, mainly because on my old (12+ years) car it seemed to perform worse with premium petrol so not felt the compulsion to put in the pricier flavour fuel.

Thanks,

Paul

Hi, Paul.

When I collected the car it was full of standard fuel. My previous car was a V8 Jag and I was using high octane fuel in that so got used to the extra cost. Anyway, my first fill in the Superb was with high octane and I immediately felt an increase in uptake/acceleration. So as far as I'm concerned that in itself is worth the extra money. As far as economy is concerned, I've only had it for a couple of months so I have little to compare it with, but my average consumption since I've had the car (according to the cars computer) is 39.2MPG as of this morning. I'm no expert but I do believe I can expect that to slightly improve as the car ages. So all in all I'm very very happy.

Regards.

Mike.

Just to throw a spanner into the works, I normally use the std Shell Fuelsave diesel and lately I am returning an average of 45MPG, last week however I filled up with regular Tesco diesel and over the last 230 miles (1/3 tank approx) I am on an average of 51MPG!!

I have seen this a couple of times before using Tesco diesel.

Just to throw a spanner into the works, I normally use the std Shell Fuelsave diesel and lately I am returning an average of 45MPG, last week however I filled up with regular Tesco diesel and over the last 230 miles (1/3 tank approx) I am on an average of 51MPG!!

I have seen this a couple of times before using Tesco diesel.

My current car is petrol and it's not Skoda, but I can confirm that I tanked recently at Tesco and I do notice that the engine is slightly more "flexible" - lower revs without any rattle plus quieter.

Regarding high octane fuels. I remmeber that 5th Gear (unless I remmeber wrongly ) did some testing and they didn't notice any power increase in normal cars. However the increase in performance cars was something like 7-8HP...

In general I don't believe in better economy as the diffreneces in fuel consumption are so small and road conditions are so different that it's impossible to take better economy for granted

Just completed a 466 mile trip all but 20 miles where motorway. Used shell v-power actual mpg calculated through road trip app on iPhone was 53.19 mpg, not bad for a revo mapped 170 cr IMO.

Don't forget, high octane fuels apparently also have additives that are beneficial to the engine.

Just to throw a spanner into the works, I normally use the std Shell Fuelsave diesel and lately I am returning an average of 45MPG, last week however I filled up with regular Tesco diesel and over the last 230 miles (1/3 tank approx) I am on an average of 51MPG!!

I have seen this a couple of times before using Tesco diesel.

Interesting how the use of Shell V-Power gets debated periodically on pretty much all forums; there is a similar thread on the Yeti forum at present.

I've used Shell V-Power (neè Optimax) for as long as it has been around; initially the petrol version in my Fabia, then V-Power diesel in my Octavia vRS TDI PD170 (mapped to 210bhp) and currently in my Yeti CR140 (mapped to 185bhp).

I did some back to back testing with Shell regular, Shell V-Power and BP Ulitmate over 750 miles (2 tank fulls) per fuel in my Octavia vRS and concluded that as well as feeling more sprightly, V-Power gave 2mpg better; so I've continued to use it (PS> I also add Millers EcoBoost neè Diesel Plus). I use Tesco Momentum 99 in my wife's Roomster as I don't have a Shell station close to home.

Interesting to hear of your mpg improvement using Tesco Diesel; but were there perhaps other factors at play over the 1/3rd tank - 230 miles i.e. driven gently?

Nevertheless, in the name of science and as I like the petrol, I will try a tank or two of Tesco Diesel to see what results I get.

I know a Shell Tanker driver and from what he said to me even though the pump says Shell V Power its not always that in the tank at the station so is it worth paying the extra for something that you may not even be getting as visually and from the smell of the two diesels there is no difference, i use Texaco normal Diesel and manage to get an average of 49mpg around town and between 57 & 62mpg on a run which i'm more than happy with.

Having loked after fuel pumps and taken delivery of fuel hundreds of times, if a tanker driver or the fuel depot supply incorrect fuel to the customers storage tanks they are in big trouble. Fuel can be tested at any time and if the incorrect fuel is found the penalties are large. No fuel station or depot will knowingly suppy incorrect fuel bvecause of this.

I use BP Ultimate diesel, if unable to obtain I use a branded fuel. I also have noted that BP Ultimate and BP normal diesel have distinct differences in exhaust smell.

This subject will never be resolved, evryone and every vehicle is different, no two engines will give absolutely the same results. Load, weather, driving style and road conditions will never be exacftly the same.

I was a Motor vehicle Technician for over 40 years, I did my tests with measured ammounts of fuel, and exhaust readings, on the same road in all weather conditions and traffic conditions the results could vary hugely.

I would be most interested how members obtain their readings, on the forum many quote the in car computer for their figures, most are very inacurate but they can be altered with vcds but will most likely not be perfect. Brim to brim is as accurate as the general motorist will obtain.

I have been informed that the Diesel in Germany is of a better standard than the UK, not having driven in Germany I do not know if this is correct, although the VAG engines are designed for German fuels. In the UK if you check on the fuels you will find that their is quite a tolerance in each grade, i.e. a minimum and a maximum % for each B.S grading, fuel X might be the minimum, fuel Y might be the maximum, fuels might be the same at the depot, it all depends on the additives added before the fuel gets to the station, the fact that you will hear that all the fuel must be the same because it came from the same depot is false.

I never buy a vehicle for fuel economy, if I did I would not have a Superb Elegance Combi, I buy for comfort, safety and reliability.

Well I have been using discount fuel (superarkets) for as long as it has been available and I would rather keep the money.

Now on 320 miles and still have an average of 51MPG, will be interesting to see if the next tankful brings the same results again, the driving has been the same as normal nothing has changed, well OK I am using my lights, and heated screen more, but that should have the opposite effect!

Fifth Gear did a sort of controlled survey tonight and apart from one small point the consecus was "keep your money" as you need instruments and a lab to tell the diference.

I use v power all the time and with the points card it works out no more expensive because of the money off voucher I get. Gona fill up today and have a voucher for 6 quid!

I've used vpower diesel the last 2 fill ups. I have actually noticed a decrease in Mpg. Probably because I have been using more right foot trying to gauge if it is any quicker??

I can't understand why people are paying more for the fuel and expecting free mpg??

If you want better Mpg then drive slower, don't buy more expensive fuel.

I have read this topic from the start and my understanding is that all the fuels are almost the same. I also have no proof but suspect that supermarket fuel is the same as main brand. I did watch 5th gear and it only commented on petrol not derv. The RON value of petrol is no indication of quality just how big the bang is at combustion.

I've used vpower diesel the last 2 fill ups. I have actually noticed a decrease in Mpg. Probably because I have been using more right foot trying to gauge if it is any quicker??

I can't understand why people are paying more for the fuel and expecting free mpg??

If you want better Mpg then drive slower, don't buy more expensive fuel.

I have read this topic from the start and my understanding is that all the fuels are almost the same. I also have no proof but suspect that supermarket fuel is the same as main brand. I did watch 5th gear and it only commented on petrol not derv. The RON value of petrol is no indication of quality just how big the bang is at combustion.

Was there no comment regarding the additives that are in high octane fuel?

No. It was all about Bhp gains. The highest gain was 3-4 bhp on a 235bhp tsi golf.

No. It was all about Bhp gains. The highest gain was 3-4 bhp on a 235bhp tsi golf.

Cheers, Mate.

All these so called super fuels have been proven to be a con, it was on watchdog earlier on in the year

i think you will find the biggest gain is this type of fuel is that it keeps your engine and fuel system clean thats what the which report said .any other benefits you might get are a bonus.i used shell in my old diesel mondeo which has now covered 150,000 miles and has only had new injecters fitted in that time i used to use shell v power every 4th fill

bill