Quality of petrol...
Discussion
Hello,
I hear so much about the quality of petrol and how it apparently varies wildly between the 'big brand' petrol retailers and the supermarkets. Is petrol from supermarket forecourts really inferior in quality as many people so enthusiastically argue? Or is it real all from the same suppliers as so many other people would say? What's the *real* truth?
For instance, I often put Tesco Momentum 99 into my 987S because it has a higher octane rating as recommended but it's also a lot cheaper than Optimax or the other mainstream 'performance' fuels. Sometimes I use Optimax or whatever because It's more convenient. I have to say though, I keep a very careful record of my consumption and have not seen any convincing difference between any of them... Even standard 95 unleaded.
I hear so much about the quality of petrol and how it apparently varies wildly between the 'big brand' petrol retailers and the supermarkets. Is petrol from supermarket forecourts really inferior in quality as many people so enthusiastically argue? Or is it real all from the same suppliers as so many other people would say? What's the *real* truth?
For instance, I often put Tesco Momentum 99 into my 987S because it has a higher octane rating as recommended but it's also a lot cheaper than Optimax or the other mainstream 'performance' fuels. Sometimes I use Optimax or whatever because It's more convenient. I have to say though, I keep a very careful record of my consumption and have not seen any convincing difference between any of them... Even standard 95 unleaded.
There are exceptions, but almost ALL 'local' petrol comes from the nearest distribution point and nearest refinery.
Which is your nearest?
http://www.ukpia.com/industry_information/refining...
This means, if your nearest refinery is Shell at Stanlow, then ALL of the petrol in all of the supermarkets and BP and Mobil and yes Shell etc etc, is 'Shell' petrol.
It's not straightforward in say London, as most refineries supply petrol to a central distribution point, so that petrol is a mix.
End of.
Each (differently branded) tanker fills up with this petrol, and each has THAT companies DIFFERENT additives package which has magic ingredients to boost this, clean that, or save the environment, depending on the marketing that week.
The exceptions though include Tescos, who have a deal with Greenergy. Some of this petrol is imported into Thurrock and now other depots, and distributed around the UK.
http://www.greenergy.com/Infrastructure/infrastruc...
Which is your nearest?
http://www.ukpia.com/industry_information/refining...
This means, if your nearest refinery is Shell at Stanlow, then ALL of the petrol in all of the supermarkets and BP and Mobil and yes Shell etc etc, is 'Shell' petrol.
It's not straightforward in say London, as most refineries supply petrol to a central distribution point, so that petrol is a mix.
End of.
Each (differently branded) tanker fills up with this petrol, and each has THAT companies DIFFERENT additives package which has magic ingredients to boost this, clean that, or save the environment, depending on the marketing that week.
The exceptions though include Tescos, who have a deal with Greenergy. Some of this petrol is imported into Thurrock and now other depots, and distributed around the UK.
http://www.greenergy.com/Infrastructure/infrastruc...
Edited by Orangecurry on Tuesday 12th April 14:22
Orangecurry said:
Lots of people know.
When the tankers fill up at the distribution point.
But this dosen't explain why Shell had to change their recipe because of destroying Vauhall engines, or why Tesco's were forced to change their marketting blurb claiming to be as good as the big boys when they weren't. (detergents if my memory serves)When the tankers fill up at the distribution point.
K
There is no such thing as 'supermarket fuel' - didn't you read the posts above?
Where do you think they get their petrol from? Botswana and ship it to your local Sainsburys?
Perhaps they have their own refineries, y'know, behind the Bakery section down aisle 7.
And I've been running a Prodrive-mapped Impreza on Tescos African Special 99 RON for eight years and 80k miles with no problems and good mpg.
NEXTEdited by Orangecurry on Tuesday 12th April 20:29
EVO mag did a gasoline (err petrol) test a fews years back.
Briefly the findings were that buying fresh gas important. Buy from a busy station to ensure the gas is fresh. High octane grades of gas go 'off' quicker than lesser octane grades.
Supermarket gas vs. branded gas?
Testing found that some of it was very good, as good some of the branded gasolines.
But the article points that ASDA and Tesco as with other supermarkets use a variety of fuel suppliers and the quality of the gasoline can vary.
One exception is noted: Tesco's 'green' 5 percent bio-ethanol regular and super unleaded will come from the same supplier and are expected to be more consistent from fill up to fill up.
Of the branded gasolines, the test vehicle (VW GTI) did better with BP than it did with Shell gasoline.
One spokesman for one of the major fuel brands claims that 95 sold through his company filling staions is of a higher quality than that sold to the supermarkets. Primarily the difference was the quality of the additive package, and this is mainly detergents.
Other test results found some vehicles did better on other brands of gasoline.
So my take away from the article is: 1) buy from a busy station; 2) consider a branded gasoline over a supermarket gasoline for consistency's sake; 3) consider a branded gasoline over a supermarket gasoline for a richer additive package; 4) experiment. Engines in say a VW GTI vs. that of a Porsche vs. some other make respond differently to different gasolines. What works best consistently over time in a VW GTI may not work as well compared to some other gasoline in a Porsche.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
Briefly the findings were that buying fresh gas important. Buy from a busy station to ensure the gas is fresh. High octane grades of gas go 'off' quicker than lesser octane grades.
Supermarket gas vs. branded gas?
Testing found that some of it was very good, as good some of the branded gasolines.
But the article points that ASDA and Tesco as with other supermarkets use a variety of fuel suppliers and the quality of the gasoline can vary.
One exception is noted: Tesco's 'green' 5 percent bio-ethanol regular and super unleaded will come from the same supplier and are expected to be more consistent from fill up to fill up.
Of the branded gasolines, the test vehicle (VW GTI) did better with BP than it did with Shell gasoline.
One spokesman for one of the major fuel brands claims that 95 sold through his company filling staions is of a higher quality than that sold to the supermarkets. Primarily the difference was the quality of the additive package, and this is mainly detergents.
Other test results found some vehicles did better on other brands of gasoline.
So my take away from the article is: 1) buy from a busy station; 2) consider a branded gasoline over a supermarket gasoline for consistency's sake; 3) consider a branded gasoline over a supermarket gasoline for a richer additive package; 4) experiment. Engines in say a VW GTI vs. that of a Porsche vs. some other make respond differently to different gasolines. What works best consistently over time in a VW GTI may not work as well compared to some other gasoline in a Porsche.
Sincerely,
Rockster.
A customer of ours had his Cayman S end up very sickly after a full tank of BP Ultimate from a M-Way services - after a bit of head scratching we took the diesel out of the tank and put some petrol in instead.............
Official line from the fuel station was an underground tank had split allowing fuels to mix (Surely that would need two tanks to split ?! but hey, what do I know.... (surprisingly little about fuel station underground tanks at any rate)
(Why couldn't they say the bloke in the tanker had just got his signs wrong???!?!)
Official line from the fuel station was an underground tank had split allowing fuels to mix (Surely that would need two tanks to split ?! but hey, what do I know.... (surprisingly little about fuel station underground tanks at any rate)
(Why couldn't they say the bloke in the tanker had just got his signs wrong???!?!)
I recently had my car mapped at Nine Excellence. During testing, and despite always filling up on Vpower, it was clear that the fuel in my tank was poor quality. Tank was refilled at NE's local Shell with 'new' Vpower and problem solved.
As above, you cant be sure that you are getting the fuel that you are paying for.
I always use Vpower as have been brainwashed by their marketing that tells me its better for my engine.
As above, you cant be sure that you are getting the fuel that you are paying for.
I always use Vpower as have been brainwashed by their marketing that tells me its better for my engine.
I recently had my car mapped at Nine Excellence. During testing, and despite always filling up on Vpower, it was clear that the fuel in my tank was poor quality. Tank was refilled at NE's local Shell with 'new' Vpower and problem solved.
As above, you cant be sure that you are getting the fuel that you are paying for.
I always use Vpower as have been brainwashed by their marketing that tells me its better for my engine.
As above, you cant be sure that you are getting the fuel that you are paying for.
I always use Vpower as have been brainwashed by their marketing that tells me its better for my engine.
Stanlow, near Ellesmere port. Currently up for sale, that could bugger up V-Power supplies if that goes 
[quote=Orangecurry]
There is no such thing as 'supermarket fuel' - didn't you read the posts above?
Where do you think they get their petrol from? Botswana and ship it to your local Sainsburys?
Perhaps they have their own refineries, y'know, behind the Bakery section down aisle 7.
And I've been running a Prodrive-mapped Impreza on Tescos African Special 99 RON for eight years and 80k miles with no problems and good mpg.
NEXT
Really? So what's this all about then? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_UK_petrol_contam...
Try putting your baseball cap on the right way 'round before reading - it might help.
There is no such thing as 'supermarket fuel' - didn't you read the posts above?
Where do you think they get their petrol from? Botswana and ship it to your local Sainsburys?
Perhaps they have their own refineries, y'know, behind the Bakery section down aisle 7.
And I've been running a Prodrive-mapped Impreza on Tescos African Special 99 RON for eight years and 80k miles with no problems and good mpg.
NEXTReally? So what's this all about then? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_UK_petrol_contam...
Try putting your baseball cap on the right way 'round before reading - it might help.
sticks090460 said:
Orangecurry said:
There is no such thing as 'supermarket fuel' - didn't you read the posts above?
Where do you think they get their petrol from? Botswana and ship it to your local Sainsburys?
Perhaps they have their own refineries, y'know, behind the Bakery section down aisle 7.
And I've been running a Prodrive-mapped Impreza on Tescos African Special 99 RON for eight years and 80k miles with no problems and good mpg.
NEXTTry putting your baseball cap on the right way 'round before reading - it might help.
I've run a Mondeo diesel for 320,000 miles on BP.
Still on two of the original injectors, which are supposed to last 100,000 miles.
When the first of the other two went, the independent diesel specialist was surprised to hear it had lasted nearly 200,000 and told me I had been running on BP.
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