Fuel quailty

[mt308]

This is I guess mainly aimed at UK owners.

Any thoughts on the quality of the fuel available from the different retailers?

I've always gone for Shell V-Power which is 98RON, or occasionally BP Ultimate which is 97RON.

Today I filled up my family car (Seat Leon Cupra 280) at Tesco and noticed their premium fuel is 99RON and is about 10p a litre less than the local Shell. Given my mileage 10p a litre is really neither here nor there, especially considering the cost of the engine, but I wonder if anyone has a view on whether supermarket fuels are poorer quality than the heavily marketed Shell/BP offerings, or if they are actually as good as anything else?

Thanks
Mark

[Steve_D]

I expect all the fuel tankers pull up at the same fill station in the refinery.

Steve

[Storer]

A friend of mine, who owns a busy garage, would not touch supermarket fuel. He thinks the quality is way below that of the main fuel companies. Diesel is more of an issue than petrol in his opinion. He has seen many fuel system issues with cars that only use supermarket fuel. Pumps are a common failure.

I think it pays to think about supermarket fuel in the same way you would their other own brand products. Cheap because they cut corners and are not as good as top brands!

I avoid supermarket fuel even in my oldest car.

I have just acquired a couple of fuel cards so should get similar prices to the supermarkets for the good stuff.

Paul

[F.C.]

On the whole supermarket "premium" will be the same as branded premium, I have a friend at BP who can verify s/market tankers fill at their depot.

The main problem is the additive packs that are added to Branded "super" grades (V power etc.) can be significantly different.
So the supermarket stuff advertised as 99 Octane is 99 octane but is boosted with more ethanol to achieve that rating.
Shell V power doesn't achieve its octane rating by adding ethanol, instead it has a "secret" recipe additive that has various detergents and octane boosting ingredients.

I'd say if your car is mapped for and runs on 97 octane then you should be ok on s/market brand.
There is little point running 98-99 Octane for a boost in outright performance, there is an argument for the additives in branded super grade making you engine run "cleaner".

Diesel, apparently is a different story, something to do with particle filters blocking up in urban driving but for motorway work is fine?

[V8Dom]

i use shell optimax

bp no good as doesnt pull the numbers on dyno.......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQghB4asSnI

tescos is used by alot of the race boys BUT supermarket fuel doesnt have the additive, hence being cheaper

for everyday car do not use supermarket fuel, its cheap because they buy bottom 25% of the barrel with all the water and sediment