Supermarket fuel inferior quality says Telegraph. Really?
Discussion
Fifth gear did a test a while ago and they agree that they are inferior. Not by much but they are non the less.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WTaBngvsPrc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WTaBngvsPrc
kambites said:
I suspect modern fuel injectors are designed do deal with much poorer quality fuel than anything you can buy in the UK without clogging up. 
Long timelines though cars may last 15 years or more, and doesn't need to be as dramatic as clogging to reduce efficiency of fueling system. I wish I'd paid more attention to the numerous additives my friends in the know were discussing. The shelf life is also a consideration I believe, quality dips over time but some have a preserving action from additives. Not such a big problem in Tesco where they shift thousands of litres a day, but smaller turn over vendors you could end up with tank being full of lower quality fuel.
Don't get me wrong though. I run boggo 95 RON on my cars unless it is specifically designed for otherwise. Even my motorcycle which is obviously in a higher state of tune than most car engines, so I agree it's not something I worry about. But it really isn't "just the same", and big petrochemical companies are unlikely to budget millions in R&D for no observable benefit.
KTF said:
I believe its something like they stop off at the first 'tap' and the tanker gets filled up with the base product.
Then they go to the second tap and the additives are added.
Then the two are mixed as the tanker drives along to its destination.
Theres an additive injection system that doses it in at the loading arm.Then they go to the second tap and the additives are added.
Then the two are mixed as the tanker drives along to its destination.
Never had an issue.
Sometimes I wonder how people can tell but that OP picture of the comment from the paper, they selling that can of "additive" every fourth? Did they see them coming or is that a genuine requirement?
During the fuel strikes you could see all brands coming out the gates of refineries, even if it was an Esso refinery. What they put in after that is another thing.
Sometimes I wonder how people can tell but that OP picture of the comment from the paper, they selling that can of "additive" every fourth? Did they see them coming or is that a genuine requirement?
During the fuel strikes you could see all brands coming out the gates of refineries, even if it was an Esso refinery. What they put in after that is another thing.
I used to think it was no different, petrol is just petrol but was doing a long commute in the Saab I had at the time, if I went to Tescos I got 27 mpg average, if I went to Shell, I got 29, I was surpried but I repeated it numerous times and it did seem to be very predictable, Only time I have had a problem after filling up was another Saab, the missus (luckily) was being lazy and just put twenty quid in (cant understand that, if you are there and have gone to the effort, just fill the bloody thing), anyway, the car went mental engine check light on, car was stuttering under acceleration and just generally felt rough, filled it to the brim with Shell and it settled down, back to normal.
It isnt that I wont buy supermarket petrol but I do tend to gravitate to normal filling stations.
It isnt that I wont buy supermarket petrol but I do tend to gravitate to normal filling stations.
It's the additives and detergents I thought making the biggest difference. Petrol still has to be hydrocarbons of certain length!
I think of it like washing up liquid. Try using Tesco value liquid (or worse the stuff in the tea room at the hospital where I work), compared to Fairy liquid.
Still detergent, still cleans but one is much better!
Another anecdote, like the quality of the restaurant can be judged by the state of the toilets, I tend to avoid tatty fuel stations as I wonder how well the pumps and tanks are maintained!!
I think of it like washing up liquid. Try using Tesco value liquid (or worse the stuff in the tea room at the hospital where I work), compared to Fairy liquid.
Still detergent, still cleans but one is much better!
Another anecdote, like the quality of the restaurant can be judged by the state of the toilets, I tend to avoid tatty fuel stations as I wonder how well the pumps and tanks are maintained!!
t in my mower. An extra penny or two is nothing for a good product with all the gunk in it to look after my motors. DannyScene said:
xRIEx said:
Different fuel companies put different cocktails of additives into the tankers after filling up at the refinery.
ETA - Don't most cars have a fast idle on cold start? Is it just the case that 1500rpm is too high? I'm sure mine will initially do about 1200 or so on cold days.
My Celica revs itself up to around 1600rpm on a cold morningETA - Don't most cars have a fast idle on cold start? Is it just the case that 1500rpm is too high? I'm sure mine will initially do about 1200 or so on cold days.
kambites said:
madbadger said:
We put some supermarket and branded fuel through our mass spectrometer to have a look.
100.0% the same.
Well that's fairly conclusive then. 100.0% the same.
The average motorist can barely tell whether their tyres have any air in them. Shell and BP would be much better served by investing their money in marketing to imply a small benefit to their fuel, rather than chemists to actually create such a benefit which would probably go unnoticed.
The Wookie said:
I know the fuel is supposed to be all the same but a few tanks of Tesco fuel in a row will put my Evora into limp mode after a long run. Repeated this 3 or 4 times but never once had it using branded fuel.
Dealer says no issue with the car and that they're just sensitive
That's bizarre. I ran my Evora pretty much exclusively on Sainsburys petrol and had no problems.Dealer says no issue with the car and that they're just sensitive
madbadger said:
We put some supermarket and branded fuel through our mass spectrometer to have a look.
100.0% the same.
Having said that I gladly pay an extra 1p a liter to not have to mingle with the locals at the nearby ASDA and try to navigate through the worst designed petrol station in the world.
Can you say which brand?100.0% the same.
Having said that I gladly pay an extra 1p a liter to not have to mingle with the locals at the nearby ASDA and try to navigate through the worst designed petrol station in the world.
Esso for instance should be the same as Tesco - both Greenergy. I could be slightly off on that. I'd be more interested in say Shell or BP.
trashbat said:
madbadger said:
We put some supermarket and branded fuel through our mass spectrometer to have a look.
100.0% the same.
Having said that I gladly pay an extra 1p a liter to not have to mingle with the locals at the nearby ASDA and try to navigate through the worst designed petrol station in the world.
Can you say which brand?100.0% the same.
Having said that I gladly pay an extra 1p a liter to not have to mingle with the locals at the nearby ASDA and try to navigate through the worst designed petrol station in the world.
Esso for instance should be the same as Tesco - both Greenergy. I could be slightly off on that. I'd be more interested in say Shell or BP.
I'll see if I can find out.
However I don't expect actual facts will get in the way of 'my car definitely feels different'.
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