Different brands of petrol - performance and mpg
Discussion
Infrequent poster here...
I'm wondering if any readers have any opinions/anecdotes on different brands off fuel, in terms of performance and more specifically in terms of mpg?
I've always tended to steer clear of supermarket petrols, unless it's for a hack or immediate choice is limited. However earlier this year I was forced to use standard Tesco unleaded in the Highlands, and I found it gave me about 10% more efficiency with no noticeable difference (better or worse) in performance. I have used it since, and consistently achieve this 10% increase. When I switch back to Shell, BP or Esso, it goes back down to "normal". This happens consistently.
As mentioned I've always tended to avoid supermarket fuels due to the reports you hear (unfounded or otherwise) about fewer additives, possible lower quality etc. And there was that scare a few years back with contaminated fuel, or whatever.
Has anyone noticed differences in performance/mpg with different brands? And with Tesco in particular?
Could this improvement in mpg actually be at the expense of something else (e.g. accelerated engine wear)?
I'm wondering if any readers have any opinions/anecdotes on different brands off fuel, in terms of performance and more specifically in terms of mpg?
I've always tended to steer clear of supermarket petrols, unless it's for a hack or immediate choice is limited. However earlier this year I was forced to use standard Tesco unleaded in the Highlands, and I found it gave me about 10% more efficiency with no noticeable difference (better or worse) in performance. I have used it since, and consistently achieve this 10% increase. When I switch back to Shell, BP or Esso, it goes back down to "normal". This happens consistently.
As mentioned I've always tended to avoid supermarket fuels due to the reports you hear (unfounded or otherwise) about fewer additives, possible lower quality etc. And there was that scare a few years back with contaminated fuel, or whatever.
Has anyone noticed differences in performance/mpg with different brands? And with Tesco in particular?
Could this improvement in mpg actually be at the expense of something else (e.g. accelerated engine wear)?
Two anecdotal stories for you...
First one involves a slightly-modified Volvo S40 T4 turbo I used to commute a 200 mile a day round trip in, 4 days a week (yep - really! But when fuel prices were a lot lower...)
The volvo was running quite a bit more boost than standard. I was also careful in warming it up and shutting it off properly. It also received many, regular oil changes with Mobil 1.
However, I couldn't justify the expense of using anything other than Sainsbury's fuel for the weekly 800 mile commute - due to the expense.
Over 4 years and 140,000 odd miles (bringing the total mileage to around 200k) I didn't experience a single engine or running fault - and the car pulled as well and as strongly the day I sold it with 200k on the clock, as it did when I bought it. All on Supermarket fuel.
Second example - my current Skoda Octavia VRS.
I had it re-mapped with a Revo map back when I bought it. The installers told me that Shell V-power was the best fuel to use. However....I cannot get away from the fact that, after two years of use, and many different tank-fulls of gas, Tesco Momentum 99 is by far the best fuel in the car.
Shell V Power always gives me a small but detectable hesitation and some flat spots in the boost - especially on a hot or humid day.
Other fuels, especially normal 95 octane stuff - is deadly....really bad. Only good enough for a fill if nothing else is available or I'm doing a long, boring journey at mediocre speeds.
But Tesco Momentum / 99 always gives me noticeably higher boost in all conditions, no flat spots, and perfect running from idle to redline. This I cannot deny.
However - like you, despite the clear running advantages - I still can't mentally get away from the fact that it's still 'Supermarket' fuel - albeit a premium product!
I hope it's looking after my engine at the same time as giving me such good performance
First one involves a slightly-modified Volvo S40 T4 turbo I used to commute a 200 mile a day round trip in, 4 days a week (yep - really! But when fuel prices were a lot lower...)
The volvo was running quite a bit more boost than standard. I was also careful in warming it up and shutting it off properly. It also received many, regular oil changes with Mobil 1.
However, I couldn't justify the expense of using anything other than Sainsbury's fuel for the weekly 800 mile commute - due to the expense.
Over 4 years and 140,000 odd miles (bringing the total mileage to around 200k) I didn't experience a single engine or running fault - and the car pulled as well and as strongly the day I sold it with 200k on the clock, as it did when I bought it. All on Supermarket fuel.
Second example - my current Skoda Octavia VRS.
I had it re-mapped with a Revo map back when I bought it. The installers told me that Shell V-power was the best fuel to use. However....I cannot get away from the fact that, after two years of use, and many different tank-fulls of gas, Tesco Momentum 99 is by far the best fuel in the car.
Shell V Power always gives me a small but detectable hesitation and some flat spots in the boost - especially on a hot or humid day.
Other fuels, especially normal 95 octane stuff - is deadly....really bad. Only good enough for a fill if nothing else is available or I'm doing a long, boring journey at mediocre speeds.
But Tesco Momentum / 99 always gives me noticeably higher boost in all conditions, no flat spots, and perfect running from idle to redline. This I cannot deny.
However - like you, despite the clear running advantages - I still can't mentally get away from the fact that it's still 'Supermarket' fuel - albeit a premium product!
I hope it's looking after my engine at the same time as giving me such good performance
So many variables in fuel consumption, so IMO it is hard to tell whether there is any difference.
I've used supermarket fuel almost exclusively over several hundred thousand miles and not one of my cars in that time has exploded. With the current heap, using super type stuff occasionally seems to result in a certain sense of cleaner running, however, on the downside, the engine sounds less dirty (and I mean that in a positive sense - i.e. dirty sound is better).
I've used supermarket fuel almost exclusively over several hundred thousand miles and not one of my cars in that time has exploded. With the current heap, using super type stuff occasionally seems to result in a certain sense of cleaner running, however, on the downside, the engine sounds less dirty (and I mean that in a positive sense - i.e. dirty sound is better).
AJS- said:
Doesn't most fuel come from the same few refineries regardless of brand? Can't see it making much difference myself. I always thought Murco looked a bit naff though.
all except vpower which is only made in one refinery, the rest are different combos of additives and ethanol tesco momentum 99 makes a very noticeable difference to all the turbo petrol engines i have owned, as does vpower, i use vpower where i can (2p a ltr off with vpower card) and tesco when its not about
Petrol is mainly refined in 7 places in the uk
http://www.ukpia.com/industry_information/refining...
Essar
ExxonMobil
Murco
Petroineos
Phillips 66
Total
Valero
Household names some of em eh?
Some interesting info on the site above, didn't know that most petrol was pumped around the uk, truck drivers just do the last few miles.
http://www.ukpia.com/Libraries/Download/UK_map_of_...
http://www.ukpia.com/industry_information/refining...
Essar
ExxonMobil
Murco
Petroineos
Phillips 66
Total
Valero
Household names some of em eh?
Some interesting info on the site above, didn't know that most petrol was pumped around the uk, truck drivers just do the last few miles.
http://www.ukpia.com/Libraries/Download/UK_map_of_...
I haven't used supermarket petrol since I had my Focus a few years ago and used Morrisons fuel a few times.
If I filled it up with Shell or Esso fuel, it would easily get at least 350 miles from a tankful. When I used Morrisons petrol a few times (since there was a petrol station literally next door to my flat) the car would struggle to get 300 miles from a tank.
Like I said it wasn't a one off, as I filled up with the Morrisons stuff a few times and the result was always the same. My driving style or journey style didn't change either. Just the same commute to work everyday and a few trips to the pub and back.
Might have just been the Zetec engine was sensitive to the stuff but I haven't used it since to see if it's the same in any of my other cars. Although my step-brother does seem to agree that when he fills up at Morrisons it doesn't seem to last as long.
If I filled it up with Shell or Esso fuel, it would easily get at least 350 miles from a tankful. When I used Morrisons petrol a few times (since there was a petrol station literally next door to my flat) the car would struggle to get 300 miles from a tank.
Like I said it wasn't a one off, as I filled up with the Morrisons stuff a few times and the result was always the same. My driving style or journey style didn't change either. Just the same commute to work everyday and a few trips to the pub and back.
Might have just been the Zetec engine was sensitive to the stuff but I haven't used it since to see if it's the same in any of my other cars. Although my step-brother does seem to agree that when he fills up at Morrisons it doesn't seem to last as long.
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