Performance fuels

[boitjie]

What’s everyone’s opinion on using so called performance fuels. Do they make an appreciable difference? Are they worth it, or is it marketing hype?

[DJMC]

You mean nitromethane or methanol?

[Twinfan]

DJMC said:

You mean nitromethane or methanol?

If the OP means V-Power or Tesco Momentum, we don't run our cars on anything else.

[DJMC]

Twinfan said:

If the OP means V-Power or Tesco Momentum, we don't run our cars on anything else.

V-Power yes. Tesco... absolutely NO!!

After my wife's 6 month old BMW X1 went into limp home mode a very experienced technician (previously Porsche, Lambo, RR, Bentley, Aston) arrived. Clogged EGR valve. Tried self-clean, no good. Took the valve out. "Have you been using supermarket fuel in this?"
Yes I had. "That's your issue. Only use Shell, BP, Texaco. They are not all the same, don't you dare put Momentum in your 981."

I do believe him. And a few weeks ago I repeated this to the owner of my mower store when he delivered my new ride-on. He agreed. Even in a (£5,000) mower, do NOT use supermarket fuels!!

I haven't been near a supermarket pump in any car since!

[DoubleD]

Ive never heard of anyone having issues using momentum

[andyc11]

Tesco 99 for the last four years in my 997 GTS with no problems. Can’t notice a difference in performance over V-Power, but 1mpg on average better economy.

[RMJ891]

This is one of those topics where people will emerge with very strong opinions (such as the one above). Can’t help thinking that it cannot be true that Momentum would actively break a car...

[Twinfan]

My 981 CGTS has only ever had V-Power in it, my wife's Focus RS has had mostly V-Power but around half a dozen or so tanks of Momentum.

I ran my old Octavia vRS on V-Power or Momentum (mostly Momentum) and it never missed a beat. Switching to 95 RON fuel occasionally made a noticeable difference though, it just didn't feel like it was firing perfectly.

[aaron_2000]

My Focus never felt like it ran right on supermarket fuel, it didn't feel as high strung as it usually does when running on home brand. I run it on V-Power as I have a Shell pretty much next to my house, it seems to favour it a lot more, it feels tighter, sounds smoother and feels nicer to run through the revs when on the designer stuff.

[DJMC]

Both BMW tech and the mower man explained about refining and ethanol levels - above my head BUT very convincing that they, in the trade, knew for sure that supermarket fuels are rubbish. I am now firmly convinced. You may not be, like I wasn't, until you have a similar experience.

[DoubleD]

DJMC said:

Both BMW tech and the mower man explained about refining and ethanol levels - above my head BUT very convincing that they, in the trade, knew for sure that supermarket fuels are rubbish. I am now firmly convinced. You may not be, like I wasn't, until you have a similar experience.

I will need to find a mechanic and a man with a lawn mower so that they can explain it. Hopefully they can also explain why I have never had any problems what so ever in the past.

[Nick-ST]

Have used Tesco momentum and Shell V-power (both diesel and petrol). Never missed a beat with any of them. If I had a petrol car now I would be swayed towards momentum on the basis it's a good 5pence + cheaper per litre round my way. Yet to give the new wheels a tank of V-power diesel but I will be soon! It is pricey but has far better cleaning qualities, last time I ran a diesel long term it was all I used and never once had issues with blocking DPF or EGR's etc so worth the extra dollar IMO

[SRT Hellcat]

I always try and use Shell Vpower in all my stuff. Never used supermarket fuel. That said I was speaking with someone the other day that said that they had started to see detonation with Vpower and were adding a bit of race fuel in the tank. So perhaps it has changed. I am no expert though

[red997]

Vpower SUL exclusively in the GT3
VPower Diesel in the X5

We've got several Shell garages within a couple of miles where we live, and all the major supermarkets
The competition means Shell prices are favourable

Never had any problems on either car.

[stubbsy996]

Shell V Power for me!

[boitjie]

Thanks for all the opinions. I shall be by-passing the local supermarket and off to the local shell from the word go! It seems BP ultimate isn’t!

[Davidkn]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I had an SLK55 and had multiple issues with exhaust flaps sticking, nothing to do with fuel, common problem. Mine never had scything other then vpower.

I had a knock sensor die from using Tesco fuel once on a renaultsport, it made the news as lots of people had problems. Was the first and last time I ever used supermarket fuel in a performance car.

[DJMC]

DoubleD said:

I will need to find a mechanic and a man with a lawn mower so that they can explain it. Hopefully they can also explain why I have never had any problems what so ever in the past.

Me neither, until I had a problem.

[rkwm1]

I exclusively used vpower in my 2.0T audi for its first 2 years and circa 15k miles. I have been using tesco premium since. Car is now coming upto 13 years old and has covered around 165k miles and never missed a beat. Can't say i ever noticed any difference in performance between the 2.

Have had other cars over this period and have moved between the 2 but again can't say i noticed any difference with these cars either.

My brother used my B7 RS4 for a little while and was working around Milton Keynes back in 07/08. He use to fill up with BP102 as his company were happy to pay. With that stuff you really noticed a big difference in response and performance of the car over all other premium fuels.

[dreamcar]

I would always prefer to use branded fuels such as BP or Shell. Porsche engines are set up to run on 98 octane; you can use 95 with no damage but the knock sensor will alter the timing away from the ideal settings to compensate for lower octane fuels, performance and economy may be adversely affected.

Not all performance fuels are the same, they may come out of the same refineries but additives which keep the engine and importantly the high precision fuel injection equipment clean are added before being distributed.