Different grades of fuel

[phil1987]

So apologies if this topic has already recently been covered. I'm regularly hearing from people about how the fuel at somewhere like ASDA for example is a lesser grade than that at BP for example - and that hence that contributes to the price difference.

Just wondering what the PH community knowledge/opinion is on this about any differences (if any) of the grade of fuel from different suppliers?

Cheers,

Phil.

[Mr Dave]

I get better miles per gallon with petrol from bp for some reason, same octane rating and as far as I know the petrol in NI all comes from the same place.

More detergants and so on in Tesco/Asda petrol perhaps?

[shirt]

all fuels, not just petrol, have to adhere to set quality standards. as with all manufacturing processes, these standards have bands for things like octane rating [for an easy example] which will have to be 95RON +/- X%. minerals and additives also have to be withing set tolerances.

if a forecourt seller has an established, long term supply contract with a refiner, they will be able to spec. fuel more tightly and maybe even ensure certain additives go into the fuel [whatever they may be]. also if the refiner has it's own forecourt operations, they will naturally ssupply that with the A grade stuff.

if a forecourt seller plays the spot markets, it goes that they do not hold that strong a hand with regards to what they are getting and can't specify a recipe - just receiving what is available. if i were a refiner, i know i'd be selling them the lowest RON, just within tolerance stuff could get away with. quality at this level is therefore more variable.

fuel injectors are fickle things, slightly poorer quality with larger particulates = more problems over time.


ths is just my guess, though i am involved with the purchase and use of a hell of a lot of diesel and heavy fuel oil and see this kind of variance and discrepancy between contract & spot bought supplies.