I've read in newspaper motoring pages that low quality fuel can damage the fuel pump and it is best to only use a premium product. does this mean you have to use something like BP Ultimate?

I had assumed that standard diesel from shell/esso/bp would be ok, that BP ultimate / shell v-power diesel was unnecessary and that supermarket diesel was best avoided.

Have i got this right? :confused:

cheers

T

All diesel at the pumps should conform to a standard (BS EN390?) so I'd have no worries using something that met this. Used Tesco in all my diesels and never had any probs

Remember that the supermarkets don't have their own refineries so they'll get the fuel from one of the big players anyway....

Chris

I

I had assumed that standard diesel from shell/esso/bp would be ok, that BP ultimate / shell v-power diesel was unnecessary and that supermarket diesel was best avoided.

Have i got this right? :confused:

cheers

T

Who do you think makes the fuel supermarkets sell?

fuels fuel rally. i know they say with stuff like ultimate you can get more power and such but it all depends if you can justify the cost. the way i think of it is. if its just a normal day reg fuel fine but if its a long motorway treck kind of day then go for the premium

I used BP Ultimate for 5 consecutive fill ups in my Fabia vRS and the fuel consumption increased by 10%. I then tried it in a Polo 1.4 TDi with the same effect. WTF?

Shell diesel extra and Sainsbury's have always been ok for my Fabia Vrs.

All diesel at the pumps should conform to a standard (BS EN390?) so I'd have no worries using something that met this. Used Tesco in all my diesels and never had any probs

Remember that the supermarkets don't have their own refineries so they'll get the fuel from one of the big players anyway....

Chris

I work for a Refinery and at the end of the day, as long as a batch of diesel (or any fuel) meets a standard then that is what will be used. A supplier isn't gonna add extra stuff in unnecessarily which is going to cost them more money. I'm not involved with diesel making (I'm with the petrol section which smells nicer) and its the same with both, a batch is mixed up, tested in the lab, if it meets the uk standard then it gets loaded into a ship or whatever.

But I will add that whenever I fill up with Tesco's I feel that the car isnt running as smoothly!

I used BP Ultimate for 5 consecutive fill ups in my Fabia vRS and the fuel consumption increased by 10%. I then tried it in a Polo 1.4 TDi with the same effect. WTF?

I've noticed the same pattern in mine and I've also noticed what seems like a 10% hike in hp but quantifying the benefit isn't so easy. certainly feels different.

On a different note do you know what engine the new Fabia RS is likely to have? The sales guy at my local Skoda garage didn't know but he put his money on the 1.4 petrol turbo currently used in the golf. If he's right then it's off my options list as i'm a diesel addict.

There isnt any information on the new vRS, many rumour threads allready on here though.

I would say there definately wil lbe a diesel after the sucesss of the Fabia 1 vRS and they may add a petrol variant.

Who do you think makes the fuel supermarkets sell?

I think that you will find that Tesco tanker in all their stock of fuels from mainland Europe. One thing to consider is that ALL UK fuel refiners currently share stock and for logistical reasons will always source their fuels from the local refinery. Also remember that as far as I know, the BS or any other specs refer only to the raw fuel and that there is currently no attempt to standardise what is needed to to added to the petrol or diesel to make it fit for use in modern engines. These additives are only added to the tanker loads at the refinery to the individual oil retailers tankers from their own stored stock of "special brew". Currently I know of someone that is happy to use a certain supermarket's fuel in his TVR and VW Golf while admitting neither car run properly after the second tank fill - so he reverts to the main suppiers fuel for a few tank-fulls before repeating this exercise! Jap cars seem to be immune from this problems - but generally European cars are not. I remember one dealer workshop manager I talked to a few years ago had to confess that the opening of a local supermarket meant a huge hike in engine work including that sixties chore of de-coking! If the supermarket chains want to sell fuels then why do they not just offer money-off their on-site "big name" filling station?

And so the great debate begins once more!

I'm lucky in that my local shell garages are as cheap as tesco. I use shell for my vrs and know that it's not costing me any extra anyway!

I'm lucky in that my local shell garages are as cheap as tesco. I use shell for my vrs and know that it's not costing me any extra anyway!

Well that depends if they're cloning your credit card!

Chris

Well that depends if they're cloning your credit card!

Chris

Do you know something about my local shell garage that i don't?

I've read in newspaper motoring pages that low quality fuel can damage the fuel pump

If you are worried about this then you could always, as many do on Brisky with their diesels, use Millers Diesel Sport 4.

Lubricates pump, injectors, cleans, quietens engine down, improves mpg (or performance - i.e. you use the extra performance you will not get a mpg gain), reduces smoke.

Have used this on all my diesles for the last 18 to 20 years and the difference is noticeable - and every diesel I had used to sail through Emissions with flying colours.

Do a search for 'Millers Diesel' - plenty of threads (older, now being phased out version was Diesel PowerPlus - now supplanted with Diesel Sport 4)

500ml bottles work out at around

Do you know something about my local shell garage that i don't?

Shell garages were well known for card cloning a few months back and even withdrew their Chip 'n' Pin system.

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED19%20Jul%202007%2020%3A12%3A32%3A603

No idea if it affects the one in Soton, but something to be aware of!

Chris