Does Supermarket Fuel Produce Lower MPG?
Discussion
I use Tesco 99 or Shell 98 on my tuned engine which was mapped on Shell 98.
I chuck anything in the family smoker as it has a knock sensor and its not worth enough to worry about.
In tests Tesco's finest usually comes out well. Here is one for Anoraks like me
http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Tes...
I chuck anything in the family smoker as it has a knock sensor and its not worth enough to worry about.
In tests Tesco's finest usually comes out well. Here is one for Anoraks like me
http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Tes...
Edited by VHPD on Sunday 29th January 09:15
johnpeat said:
Tomato Sauce is cheaper in a supermarket than in your corner shop - is it tomatoier from the corner shop or are you just being snobbish (or fooled by the expensive ads/F1 sponsorship etc??)
Tomato ketchup is a bad example. We all know it has to be Heinz. Supermarket ketchup is too sugary/vinegary.Also F1 sponsorship for tomato ketchup? When!?
Re: fuel- Shell is my nearest and no more pricey than others in the area. The Mondeo gets fuelsave diesel and the Caterham gets V Power. However I have filled the Mondeo at BP in the past and I'm convinced it's smoother and less rattly on BP's boggo fuel than Shell's.
Worth noting the 528 does run smoother on Shells unleaded and seems to pick up quicker at lower speeds. That, and the MPG gains and the fact it's only ever a penny more than the supermarket down the road makes it worthwhile. I fill up there whenever I can.
Edited by sparks_E39 on Sunday 29th January 09:35
Over the past year, I've traveled home to my parents in a GTV, Mk1 MX-5 and an Almera GTi. It's a trip of about 150 miles.
When going there, I'll fill up with either BP 95RON, or similar Tescos fuel. The journey is 95% motorways, and driving most of the journey at 70-80mph, I'll use around half a tank of fuel.
Coming back though, I fill up at the local TOTAL garage, and doing the same speeds, I've gotten home having used just less than quarter of a tank, the same thing has happened in the three different cars I've used in the past.
Clearly the TOTAL fuel is much better quality than what the other garages provide, and I used to consider them one of the lower-end fuels.
When going there, I'll fill up with either BP 95RON, or similar Tescos fuel. The journey is 95% motorways, and driving most of the journey at 70-80mph, I'll use around half a tank of fuel.
Coming back though, I fill up at the local TOTAL garage, and doing the same speeds, I've gotten home having used just less than quarter of a tank, the same thing has happened in the three different cars I've used in the past.
Clearly the TOTAL fuel is much better quality than what the other garages provide, and I used to consider them one of the lower-end fuels.
Brigand said:
Over the past year, I've traveled home to my parents in a GTV, Mk1 MX-5 and an Almera GTi. It's a trip of about 150 miles.
When going there, I'll fill up with either BP 95RON, or similar Tescos fuel. The journey is 95% motorways, and driving most of the journey at 70-80mph, I'll use around half a tank of fuel.
Coming back though, I fill up at the local TOTAL garage, and doing the same speeds, I've gotten home having used just less than quarter of a tank, the same thing has happened in the three different cars I've used in the past.
Clearly the TOTAL fuel is much better quality than what the other garages provide, and I used to consider them one of the lower-end fuels.
Might want to test that more scientifically - it sounds very far fetched to me.When going there, I'll fill up with either BP 95RON, or similar Tescos fuel. The journey is 95% motorways, and driving most of the journey at 70-80mph, I'll use around half a tank of fuel.
Coming back though, I fill up at the local TOTAL garage, and doing the same speeds, I've gotten home having used just less than quarter of a tank, the same thing has happened in the three different cars I've used in the past.
Clearly the TOTAL fuel is much better quality than what the other garages provide, and I used to consider them one of the lower-end fuels.
Don't tell TOTAL though, because they'll double the price of their fuel.....
Classic Grad 98 said:
Tomato ketchup is a bad example. We all know it has to be Heinz. Supermarket ketchup is too sugary/vinegary.
Also F1 sponsorship for tomato ketchup? When!?
Re: fuel- Shell is my nearest and no more pricey than others in the area. The Mondeo gets fuelsave diesel and the Caterham gets V Power. However I have filled the Mondeo at BP in the past and I'm convinced it's smoother and less rattly on BP's boggo fuel than Shell's.
I tryed my caterham on V-Power as everyone raved about itAlso F1 sponsorship for tomato ketchup? When!?
Re: fuel- Shell is my nearest and no more pricey than others in the area. The Mondeo gets fuelsave diesel and the Caterham gets V Power. However I have filled the Mondeo at BP in the past and I'm convinced it's smoother and less rattly on BP's boggo fuel than Shell's.
It went slower
As the octane goes up the calorific value goes down
So unless you have an engine that can adapt to different octane numbers you are pissing money up the wall
The big brands buy crude from various sources at different grades and crack in refineries to produce the petrol we see in the stations. As it it is a natural product with inherent inconstant it will variable be graded to certain criteria. It is funny how mineral oil is rated lower than synthetic whereas petrol is judged to be the opposite on the eyes on consumers were synthetic fuel would be the king maker if the price was right.
The refineries produce the same end product for various sources, similar grades without additives to combat the natural inconsistency. /to me the whole argument is pretty stupid as inessence you pay for the formulation.
Weather the refineries produce fuel for other companies is possible as other industries do.
The refineries produce the same end product for various sources, similar grades without additives to combat the natural inconsistency. /to me the whole argument is pretty stupid as inessence you pay for the formulation.
Weather the refineries produce fuel for other companies is possible as other industries do.
TVR 500 ran beautifully on Optimax and Optimax only. The difference to other fuels was like night & day. We still use Optimax. On a BM 740, I thought it was slightly better mpg on Optimax, on BM 650, I have not noticed any difference on MPG, but does feel crisper on acceleration.
A couple of years ago, I filled both cars (330i and 740i) up at our local BP, and headed off on a 240 mile jounrney. Got a call from SWMBO saying her car felt funny. The MPG on mine had dropped from 28 to 20 and it was gutless. I rang the BP garage to ask if anyone else had reported an issue, they said no. The following week, it was closed for new tanks....
About 3 months later, I had my 740i in for a service and it showed a fueling fault on both banks............bad petrol!
A couple of years ago, I filled both cars (330i and 740i) up at our local BP, and headed off on a 240 mile jounrney. Got a call from SWMBO saying her car felt funny. The MPG on mine had dropped from 28 to 20 and it was gutless. I rang the BP garage to ask if anyone else had reported an issue, they said no. The following week, it was closed for new tanks....
About 3 months later, I had my 740i in for a service and it showed a fueling fault on both banks............bad petrol!
The Spruce goose said:
The big brands buy crude from various sources at different grades and crack in refineries to produce the petrol we see in the stations. As it it is a natural product with inherent inconstant it will variable be graded to certain criteria. It is funny how mineral oil is rated lower than synthetic whereas petrol is judged to be the opposite on the eyes on consumers were synthetic fuel would be the king maker if the price was right.
The refineries produce the same end product for various sources, similar grades without additives to combat the natural inconsistency. /to me the whole argument is pretty stupid as inessence you pay for the formulation.
Weather the refineries produce fuel for other companies is possible as other industries do.
I know someone who works for one of the biggest refineries in the country and he says fuel tankers fill up alongside each other for Shell, Tesco, BP, Asda, Morrisons, etc.The refineries produce the same end product for various sources, similar grades without additives to combat the natural inconsistency. /to me the whole argument is pretty stupid as inessence you pay for the formulation.
Weather the refineries produce fuel for other companies is possible as other industries do.
Toaster Pilot said:
Might want to test that more scientifically - it sounds very far fetched to me.
Well, as far fetched as it sounds, that's my observation over a year of traveling the same route in three different cars.I can't think of any scientific reasons for this, other than perhaps the route home seems to be more uphill, (Kent - Oxfordshire) which would mean it is more downhill coming back.
Who knows, but it is what it is.
Brigand said:
Well, as far fetched as it sounds, that's my observation over a year of traveling the same route in three different cars.
I can't think of any scientific reasons for this, other than perhaps the route home seems to be more uphill, (Kent - Oxfordshire) which would mean it is more downhill coming back.
Who knows, but it is what it is.
Could you actually measure the quantities of fuel used the next time you do it?I can't think of any scientific reasons for this, other than perhaps the route home seems to be more uphill, (Kent - Oxfordshire) which would mean it is more downhill coming back.
Who knows, but it is what it is.
It's pretty staggering if you can do the same journey on half the amount of fuel.
I expect geography plays a part though, as you say
balders118 said:
I get better economy from morrisons than any other fuel. By 2/3mpg on average. I've got the spreadsheet to prove it. This is over 20,000 miles worth of driving, so not just a couple of tanks.
How do you explain that lovers of Shell? I actually get about 5mpg worse on Vpower.
How do you explain that lovers of Shell? I actually get about 5mpg worse on Vpower.
Never tried VPower (in a Kia Picanto?
) but the Fuelsave stuff is poor.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff