Premium fuels -They seem to make a difference or is it me?
Discussion
Hi,
I've got a Mondeo ST Tdci and have been using supermarket diesel. However, for the last two tank fulls I've used the BP Ultimate Diesel (man its's expensive!). After the first full tank I forgot that I had put it in. About 1/2 way into the tank I noticed that the car felt smoother and a bit more responsive and I thought 'oh it must be the better diesel making a difference'. This percieved smoother running also coincided with the weather getting a bit milder so I thought maybe that has made a difference.
I heard a few people with cars the same as mine and other petrol and diesel cars saying supermarket fuels making their cars running rougher.
So is it just a placebo, the weather getting milder or do these preimium fuels actually make a differnce?
Oh, and on theme of the weather getting milder, the car seems to ride bumps smoother too! I'm assuming its less crashy becuase the various suspension components such as bushes are warmer?
This could just be me too!
I've got a Mondeo ST Tdci and have been using supermarket diesel. However, for the last two tank fulls I've used the BP Ultimate Diesel (man its's expensive!). After the first full tank I forgot that I had put it in. About 1/2 way into the tank I noticed that the car felt smoother and a bit more responsive and I thought 'oh it must be the better diesel making a difference'. This percieved smoother running also coincided with the weather getting a bit milder so I thought maybe that has made a difference.
I heard a few people with cars the same as mine and other petrol and diesel cars saying supermarket fuels making their cars running rougher.
So is it just a placebo, the weather getting milder or do these preimium fuels actually make a differnce?
Oh, and on theme of the weather getting milder, the car seems to ride bumps smoother too! I'm assuming its less crashy becuase the various suspension components such as bushes are warmer?
This could just be me too!
Total Excellium or whatever it's called is NOT worth it though.
Even managed to get a refund from their "promise"
(But then I am very anal and keep all my receipts with the mileage written on them so I had proof that their fuel didn't work as well as their competitors. Free tank of fuel is a free tank of fuel
)
Even managed to get a refund from their "promise"
(But then I am very anal and keep all my receipts with the mileage written on them so I had proof that their fuel didn't work as well as their competitors. Free tank of fuel is a free tank of fuel
)speedmachine said:
Hi,
I've got a Mondeo ST Tdci and have been using supermarket diesel. However, for the last two tank fulls I've used the BP Ultimate Diesel (man its's expensive!). After the first full tank I forgot that I had put it in. About 1/2 way into the tank I noticed that the car felt smoother and a bit more responsive and I thought 'oh it must be the better diesel making a difference'. This percieved smoother running also coincided with the weather getting a bit milder so I thought maybe that has made a difference.
I heard a few people with cars the same as mine and other petrol and diesel cars saying supermarket fuels making their cars running rougher.
So is it just a placebo, the weather getting milder or do these preimium fuels actually make a differnce?
Oh, and on theme of the weather getting milder, the car seems to ride bumps smoother too! I'm assuming its less crashy becuase the various suspension components such as bushes are warmer?
This could just be me too!
I to have a Mondeo ST Tdci and I would agree. I was running it on shells best stuff but with diesel now costing £139.9/ltr for the standard stuff where I am, its just not worth it. I've got a Mondeo ST Tdci and have been using supermarket diesel. However, for the last two tank fulls I've used the BP Ultimate Diesel (man its's expensive!). After the first full tank I forgot that I had put it in. About 1/2 way into the tank I noticed that the car felt smoother and a bit more responsive and I thought 'oh it must be the better diesel making a difference'. This percieved smoother running also coincided with the weather getting a bit milder so I thought maybe that has made a difference.
I heard a few people with cars the same as mine and other petrol and diesel cars saying supermarket fuels making their cars running rougher.
So is it just a placebo, the weather getting milder or do these preimium fuels actually make a differnce?
Oh, and on theme of the weather getting milder, the car seems to ride bumps smoother too! I'm assuming its less crashy becuase the various suspension components such as bushes are warmer?
This could just be me too!
Petrol I can get my head around because I'm familiar with RON and the idea that the additives clean.
Having just got a diesel and not yet having had to fill it up, I am curious whether I should shovel in the cheapest diesel I can find, or if there's any benefit in spending more on V-Power and the likes?
Having just got a diesel and not yet having had to fill it up, I am curious whether I should shovel in the cheapest diesel I can find, or if there's any benefit in spending more on V-Power and the likes?
V-Power diesel seems to make the Laguna (1.9 DCi) smoother and a little more responsive, if you could ever call a Laguna responsive.
However, I tend to fall into the same trap I did with our old 850 T5 (V-Power petrol this time of course)... certainly felt like it went better, reasonable that it should in a petrol turbo, so I'd just give it the beans everywhere and that would negate any MPG benefit significantly.
The Laguna is tedious and boring and in reasonably controlled conditions (as far as is possible on a lengthy London commute) I get slightly better MPG on Shell normal than I do on Sainsbury's bog standard devil's fuel, and slightly better again on V-Power. Only needs to be a few % to cover the additional cost and more difference can probably be achieved with a different driving style to be honest; that's the most likely cause of the observed V-Power difference as well I'd guess.... I don't have a rolling road and/or the time to properly measure it to find out - would have thought Shell do however, anyone seen any independent tests?
However, I tend to fall into the same trap I did with our old 850 T5 (V-Power petrol this time of course)... certainly felt like it went better, reasonable that it should in a petrol turbo, so I'd just give it the beans everywhere and that would negate any MPG benefit significantly.
The Laguna is tedious and boring and in reasonably controlled conditions (as far as is possible on a lengthy London commute) I get slightly better MPG on Shell normal than I do on Sainsbury's bog standard devil's fuel, and slightly better again on V-Power. Only needs to be a few % to cover the additional cost and more difference can probably be achieved with a different driving style to be honest; that's the most likely cause of the observed V-Power difference as well I'd guess.... I don't have a rolling road and/or the time to properly measure it to find out - would have thought Shell do however, anyone seen any independent tests?
My company has just changed fuel cards and are encouraging everyone to purchae the cheepest petrol and diesel from supermarkets on the basis that this will save money. I have wondered though if this is a false ecomony but have never seen any definitive stats to prove otherwise.
I must admit that I've not noticed any difference in either of the family runarounds (one petrol and one diesel).
I must admit that I've not noticed any difference in either of the family runarounds (one petrol and one diesel).
I think its car dependant.
Makes no odds in my wife's Toyota.
My Saab (93 lpt petrol) consistently ran at 22-24 mpg for 3 years. I switched to shell V power and the mpg shot up to 28-29. Then I made an effort to be smoother and got it to 32-35! Previous efforts at smooth driving on normal (Esso) fuel never beat 27 mpg. Worth it for me.
Makes no odds in my wife's Toyota.
My Saab (93 lpt petrol) consistently ran at 22-24 mpg for 3 years. I switched to shell V power and the mpg shot up to 28-29. Then I made an effort to be smoother and got it to 32-35! Previous efforts at smooth driving on normal (Esso) fuel never beat 27 mpg. Worth it for me.
Im running an ST220 on normal unleaded and it was average. Used BP Ultimate which made a slight improvement, but more than likely brought the engine light on, so i agree with most people on here, BP is s
t.
The Shell garage nearby has had 'sorry no v-power' on its pumps for about 2 years now.
t.The Shell garage nearby has had 'sorry no v-power' on its pumps for about 2 years now.
makes that extra price worth itI'm running V-Power in my E36 328i, and compared to normal unleaded fuel, it seems to feel smoother at low revs, and slightly more potent at high revs, but it could be in my mind; my mate has the same car and swears he can't tell any difference.
Can't comment about MPG as I pretty much hoof it everywhere anyway..
Can't comment about MPG as I pretty much hoof it everywhere anyway..
It only makes a difference to performance if your car has an ECU and the engine instrumentation (a knock sensor etc) thus allowing it to advance timing etc safely.
They also have addatives that help clean the engine etc. Any engine will benefit from these.
IIRC using higher octance fuel for engines without the above charaterictics may result in worse MPG as it actually has a lower calorific value.
-P
They also have addatives that help clean the engine etc. Any engine will benefit from these.
IIRC using higher octance fuel for engines without the above charaterictics may result in worse MPG as it actually has a lower calorific value.
-P
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