Decent bog standard super unleaded
Discussion
I'm looking for a decent 97 or 98 ron fuel. I've heard that BP Ultimate is really poor. All experiences welcome please!
To explain more, I live in France and the 98 really isn't 98. My car is being mapped in the UK so want it mapped on a decent 97 or 98 there, and i will then run it on 98 out here with a vp additive to make sure I've got a true 98/99 for safety sake.
So I can't have it mapped on v power or tesco 99, I don't think I could match their ron even with the vp additive added to the french "98".
Thanks!
Ben
To explain more, I live in France and the 98 really isn't 98. My car is being mapped in the UK so want it mapped on a decent 97 or 98 there, and i will then run it on 98 out here with a vp additive to make sure I've got a true 98/99 for safety sake.
So I can't have it mapped on v power or tesco 99, I don't think I could match their ron even with the vp additive added to the french "98".
Thanks!
Ben
Edited by PerformanceMINIR53 on Wednesday 14th December 11:41
I suspect France is like the UK and all brands get the same fuel from the nearest refinery just with different additives, so fuel from a Total in Calais would be different to a Total in Marseille.
My own belief, which is probably unfounded, is that you are best off buying fuel from a busy station so the fuel is 'fresh' rather than worrying about the brand name.
My own belief, which is probably unfounded, is that you are best off buying fuel from a busy station so the fuel is 'fresh' rather than worrying about the brand name.
I've read on a lot of Subaru and Mitsi forums that their cars run really badly and register a lot of knock on BP Ultimate, they switch to another 97/98 and they run better.
It's not a brand name thing, it's a "what 97 or 98" - have people used that their car runs well on. Or to put ir a different way - what non Tesco/Shell 99 have people used with good effect
It's not a brand name thing, it's a "what 97 or 98" - have people used that their car runs well on. Or to put ir a different way - what non Tesco/Shell 99 have people used with good effect
People write a load of tosh particularly on marque-specific forums and it's largely complete b
ks.
With very, very minor variations, all fuel of a certain grade is identical at the point it explodes in your cylinders. Of course the fuel companies spend huge amounts of money trying to convince you that their particular additives are better than anybody else's, and that your car will explode if you put anything other than their most expensive unicorn-blood infused magic juice into your tank. But that, also, is largely complete bks.
ks.With very, very minor variations, all fuel of a certain grade is identical at the point it explodes in your cylinders. Of course the fuel companies spend huge amounts of money trying to convince you that their particular additives are better than anybody else's, and that your car will explode if you put anything other than their most expensive unicorn-blood infused magic juice into your tank. But that, also, is largely complete b
ks.deckster said:
People write a load of tosh particularly on marque-specific forums and it's largely complete bks.
With very, very minor variations, all fuel of a certain grade is identical at the point it explodes in your cylinders. Of course the fuel companies spend huge amounts of money trying to convince you that their particular additives are better than anybody else's, and that your car will explode if you put anything other than their most expensive unicorn-blood infused magic juice into your tank. But that, also, is largely complete bks.
But,but,but ethanol….ks.With very, very minor variations, all fuel of a certain grade is identical at the point it explodes in your cylinders. Of course the fuel companies spend huge amounts of money trying to convince you that their particular additives are better than anybody else's, and that your car will explode if you put anything other than their most expensive unicorn-blood infused magic juice into your tank. But that, also, is largely complete b
ks.Koyaanisqatsi said:
PerformanceMINIR53 said:
...I've heard that BP Ultimate is really poor...
Where did you hear that exactly, and define 'poor'?For 95 octane unleaded, go to whichever supermarket is cheapest
Ignoring smaller ones, the choices are basically:
- Tesco Momentum 99. Usually the cheapest 99 - typically 7p/litre more than their 95. Probably contains 5% ethanol.
- Shell 99 V Power. Usually the most expensive 99 - typically 15-20p/litre more than their 95. Probably contain 5% ethanol.
- Esso 99. In my area is usually somewhere between Tesco and Shell price wise. Supposedly contains 0% ethanol in most parts of the UK.
- Texaco 99. Not many of these around in parts of the UK and only recently introduced a 99 which is also supposedly 0% ethanol. Price wise similar to Esso.
Then you have the more basic offerings which I have personally rarely used:
- BP 97, 5% ethanol. Typically priced like Shell.
- Sainsburys / Asda - 97, 5% ethanol. Usually cheaper, but seems an "inferior" product to me
Personally I usually go for the Esso one :-)
- Tesco Momentum 99. Usually the cheapest 99 - typically 7p/litre more than their 95. Probably contains 5% ethanol.
- Shell 99 V Power. Usually the most expensive 99 - typically 15-20p/litre more than their 95. Probably contain 5% ethanol.
- Esso 99. In my area is usually somewhere between Tesco and Shell price wise. Supposedly contains 0% ethanol in most parts of the UK.
- Texaco 99. Not many of these around in parts of the UK and only recently introduced a 99 which is also supposedly 0% ethanol. Price wise similar to Esso.
Then you have the more basic offerings which I have personally rarely used:
- BP 97, 5% ethanol. Typically priced like Shell.
- Sainsburys / Asda - 97, 5% ethanol. Usually cheaper, but seems an "inferior" product to me
Personally I usually go for the Esso one :-)
Edited by HasToBeV8 on Wednesday 14th December 13:03
PerformanceMINIR53 said:
So I can't have it mapped on v power or tesco 99, I don't think I could match their ron even with the vp additive added to the french "98".
I would just use supermarket super unleaded then? Surely you're going to have be conservative because if you return to France and can't get the octane high enough, won't you have to return to the UK to get the mapping adjusted again?HasToBeV8 said:
Ignoring smaller ones, the choices are basically:
- Tesco Momentum 99. Usually the cheapest 99 - typically 7p/litre more than their 95. Probably contains 5% ethanol.
- Shell 99 V Power. Usually the most expensive 99 - typically 15-20p/litre more than their 95. Probably contain 5% ethanol.
- Esso 99. In my area is usually somewhere between Tesco and Shell price wise. Supposedly contains 0% ethanol in most parts of the UK.
- Texaco 99. Not many of these around in parts of the UK and only recently introduced a 99 which is also supposedly 0% ethanol. Price wise similar to Esso.
Then you have the more basic offerings which I have personally rarely used:
- BP 98, 5% ethanol. Typically priced like Shell.
- Sainsburys / Asda - 97, 5% ethanol. Usually cheaper, but seems an "inferior" product to me
Personally I usually go for the Esso one :-)
BP is 97. Nobody is going to blend to 98 just for one customer. Ethanol injection can then get a 97 blend stock up to 99 if you’re limited in your high octane bulk tankage. - Tesco Momentum 99. Usually the cheapest 99 - typically 7p/litre more than their 95. Probably contains 5% ethanol.
- Shell 99 V Power. Usually the most expensive 99 - typically 15-20p/litre more than their 95. Probably contain 5% ethanol.
- Esso 99. In my area is usually somewhere between Tesco and Shell price wise. Supposedly contains 0% ethanol in most parts of the UK.
- Texaco 99. Not many of these around in parts of the UK and only recently introduced a 99 which is also supposedly 0% ethanol. Price wise similar to Esso.
Then you have the more basic offerings which I have personally rarely used:
- BP 98, 5% ethanol. Typically priced like Shell.
- Sainsburys / Asda - 97, 5% ethanol. Usually cheaper, but seems an "inferior" product to me
Personally I usually go for the Esso one :-)
Yes, hence why I'm looking for a decent bog standard uk 97 or 98 ron super to map the car on and am on here asking people what 97 or 98 (not 99) that they have had good experiences with...
I am certain that with french 98 and vp racing octanium I can reach a similar level to UK 97/98 and thus the map will be fine.
I am certain that with french 98 and vp racing octanium I can reach a similar level to UK 97/98 and thus the map will be fine.
PerformanceMINIR53 said:
Yes, hence why I'm looking for a decent bog standard uk 97 or 98 ron super to map the car on and am on here asking people what 97 or 98 (not 99) that they have had good experiences with...
I am certain that with french 98 and vp racing octanium I can reach a similar level to UK 97/98 and thus the map will be fine.
It’s all basically the same. If you want 97, BP, Sainsburies, some Morrisons. I am certain that with french 98 and vp racing octanium I can reach a similar level to UK 97/98 and thus the map will be fine.
Shell seems to be the premium fuel of choice for anyone I know but I've also heard a lot of positives around Kirkland fuel from Costco. Their marketing garb says Kirkland products are designed to be the best on the market when they make them. How true that is, I have no idea but it seems to go alright in everything I've put it in.
PerformanceMINIR53 said:
You see you say that, vut I've heard that BP is pants and not really 97, and that sainsbury is actually 99!
The handful of people in the industry on pistonheads aren’t going to reveal sensitive information about blends, and in any case it could vary by geography anyway. So all you know for sure is that it meets the relevant British standard as advertised. But higher octane fuel is more expensive to produce and therefore purchase wholesale. So, broadly, imagine you’re Mr Sainsbury - why would you purchase a 99 instead of a 97, if you didn’t have to?
If BP claims 97, it’ll be 97. Companies of that size aren’t going to expose themselves to claims of mis-selling.
Edited by Jawls on Wednesday 14th December 13:28
When I worked in an automotive engineering, our fuel chemist said Shell were the best fuels. I trusted her testing. I always used Shell V-power unleaded in my E36 petrol I6, it could adjust from 91 RON to 98 RON, the extra cost was worth it for the extra smoothness and mpg improvement.
For my 335d BP, Ultimate was the best (it has a higher cetane value than standard diesel). However BP stations that sell it are few and far between, and it is unrewardingly expensive. Between Tesco and Shell standard diesel, the Shell is better (and supermarket diesel seems to be dearer now, not sure why).
For my 335d BP, Ultimate was the best (it has a higher cetane value than standard diesel). However BP stations that sell it are few and far between, and it is unrewardingly expensive. Between Tesco and Shell standard diesel, the Shell is better (and supermarket diesel seems to be dearer now, not sure why).
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