Costco 99 RON fuel (and other info)
Discussion
I thought some of you might find this interesting / useful. As most know, Costco now have several fuel stations and are planning to expand these to every suitable site - i.e. those with big enough car parks to accommodate a station in the corner. The first one to open (Liverpool) sold 95 RON, 97 RON and premium diesel, but since then Costco have opened several more and they have also switched fuel suppliers. Costco pumps now provide 95 RON, 99 RON and premium diesel, all of which it would seem - by process of elimination - can only be from Greenergy. That means the 99 RON is basically Tesco Momentum 99, but a lot cheaper. The station with an existing 97 RON supply (Liverpool) will, according to an email I received from Costco's fuel buyer, be switched over to 99 RON like the others in the immediate future, and the pumps rebranded accordingly.
This week we visited the new Haydock outlet and brimmed the tank with 99 RON at 107.9ppl. The closest Tesco was at 112.9 (M99) and the Shell down the road is at 122.9 (V-Power Nitro+). Granted that's 'only' a £200 a year saving for a 10k mile / 35mpg driver, but it's still better in my pocket. That £200 saving works out as the difference between getting 40mpg instead of 35mpg over a tank, for doing nothing except fill up with quality fuel somewhere else. That's hard to argue with in my book, even with a membership fee of £25 pa (which we pay anyway). You are effectively getting quality 99 RON fuel for supermarket boggo unleaded prices. Costco 95 RON is generally 2p to 3p per litre cheaper than their super (105.9ppl on the day I went).
The reason for the thread, despite others having mentioned it before, is because (1) PHers might not know Costco now do 99 RON rather than 97 RON, meaning Porche/Audi/etc engines requiring >98 RON like ours does can now take advantage; and (2) Costco's members' magazine published a three page info-mercial this week and it gives some interesting details on the fuel. For example, they order in 99 RON (and the 95, and diesel) but add in their own custom detergent and additive pack to their underground tanks during delivery. This is, apparently, to ensure consistency of high quality additives above and beyond that provided in the fuel from the distributor. They also give the same high dose of additive to every type of fuel, not just the super/premium stuff. Fair play.
Anyone so inclined can read the article here, as I've been nerdy enough to scan it into a PDF for you. If you're not bothered, or only drink from the Shell Kool-Aid tap, then fair play. However, I thought some might enjoy the read or find use in the info. Cheers.
This week we visited the new Haydock outlet and brimmed the tank with 99 RON at 107.9ppl. The closest Tesco was at 112.9 (M99) and the Shell down the road is at 122.9 (V-Power Nitro+). Granted that's 'only' a £200 a year saving for a 10k mile / 35mpg driver, but it's still better in my pocket. That £200 saving works out as the difference between getting 40mpg instead of 35mpg over a tank, for doing nothing except fill up with quality fuel somewhere else. That's hard to argue with in my book, even with a membership fee of £25 pa (which we pay anyway). You are effectively getting quality 99 RON fuel for supermarket boggo unleaded prices. Costco 95 RON is generally 2p to 3p per litre cheaper than their super (105.9ppl on the day I went).
The reason for the thread, despite others having mentioned it before, is because (1) PHers might not know Costco now do 99 RON rather than 97 RON, meaning Porche/Audi/etc engines requiring >98 RON like ours does can now take advantage; and (2) Costco's members' magazine published a three page info-mercial this week and it gives some interesting details on the fuel. For example, they order in 99 RON (and the 95, and diesel) but add in their own custom detergent and additive pack to their underground tanks during delivery. This is, apparently, to ensure consistency of high quality additives above and beyond that provided in the fuel from the distributor. They also give the same high dose of additive to every type of fuel, not just the super/premium stuff. Fair play.
Anyone so inclined can read the article here, as I've been nerdy enough to scan it into a PDF for you. If you're not bothered, or only drink from the Shell Kool-Aid tap, then fair play. However, I thought some might enjoy the read or find use in the info. Cheers.
PS: That closing customer quote about getting 'two thirds better fuel economy' from Costco diesel?! That's either a misprint, incredibly poor maths skills, or a blatant lie... That's the equivalent of getting 50mpg instead of your usual 30mpg. Yeah... right. LOL I can vouch for the quality of their fuels however, at least over the last two years. No problems to report, decent economy (in line with V-Power and M99) and it's certainly cheaper. Two thirds, however... 
rainmakerraw said:
For example, they order in 99 RON (and the 95, and diesel) but add in their own custom detergent and additive pack to their underground tanks during delivery.
So just like EVERY OTHER filling station, then. Oh, wait. No. Subtly different, in that most of them add it to the tanker at the all-brand regional distribution depot.
JTSmith said:
Do you still need a VAT number to get a costco card?
Not at all.Just check the scroll down list here: https://members.costco.co.uk/MemberSignupsUI/EnterIndividualDetails.xhtml?executive=N&originator=OLS
I'm merchant navy but they accepted it as a professional qualification with my affiliations.
JTSmith said:
Do you still need a VAT number to get a costco card?
There are different types of membership - trade requires a VAT number or other evidence of being self employed.You can have Individual Membership if you are employed in certain industry sectors, or the public sector. In addition to this, some employers offer membership as a benefit which is how I got mine. Two representatives from Costco turned up at our office and sat in a meeting room all day where we could all go and sign up for membership.
Once you have the card, nobody cares as long as you pay the renewal fee I have moved jobs twice since then, and still have the card. It's never questioned when I renew.
My personal view is that most of the deals on offer do not warrant the exclusivity or security. There is the odd bargain, and it's handy for buying in bulk for parties or events, but a lot of stuff isn't really any cheaper than the major supermarkets or online retailers like Amazon.
In terms of food, the fresh meat is excellent quality though.
Limpet said:
JTSmith said:
Do you still need a VAT number to get a costco card?
There are different types of membership - trade requires a VAT number or other evidence of being self employed.You can have Individual Membership if you are employed in certain industry sectors, or the public sector. In addition to this, some employers offer membership as a benefit which is how I got mine. Two representatives from Costco turned up at our office and sat in a meeting room all day where we could all go and sign up for membership.
Once you have the card, nobody cares as long as you pay the renewal fee I have moved jobs twice since then, and still have the card. It's never questioned when I renew.
My personal view is that most of the deals on offer do not warrant the exclusivity or security. There is the odd bargain, and it's handy for buying in bulk for parties or events, but a lot of stuff isn't really any cheaper than the major supermarkets or online retailers like Amazon.
In terms of food, the fresh meat is excellent quality though.
TooMany2cvs said:
So just like EVERY OTHER filling station, then. Oh, wait. No. Subtly different, in that most of them add it to the tanker at the all-brand regional distribution depot.
I realise you like to be contrary, but did you actually read the article? A simple 'thanks for taking an hour of your time to scan this in, edit it and share it with the community' would have sufficed. 
To the guy who said Sheffield also supply 97 RON, I didn't know that. Either way Costco's fuel buyer did tell me via email that existing 97 sites are being switched to 99 very soon, in line with the other (newer) sites. As I said, if you're going (or close) anyway and can get decent 99 for cheap, you may as well.
rainmakerraw said:
I realise you like to be contrary, but did you actually read the article?
Yes, thanks. It's a pile of advertorial guff that uses a lot of words to say nothing very much, beyond "We now have filling stations, too". Even you admit that the "testimonial" in it is complete b
ks.We're (Chester) getting one of these apparently. 
Be great for my older Merc diesel (C270CDi) - I've tried all the fuels and it makes absolutely no difference to MPG or noise or performance so it generally runs on Sainsburys City Diesel.
However my missus has an EU6 EA288 engined VW Tiguan and the emissions control stuff on that car terrifies me so it's always been run on Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel in the hope that it'll stave off things like one of the two egr systems clogging up etc.
The uplift in cost feels like a complete rip-off though - I'm unclear if Costco diesel will be a suitable alternative to the super special Shell stuff?
Be great for my older Merc diesel (C270CDi) - I've tried all the fuels and it makes absolutely no difference to MPG or noise or performance so it generally runs on Sainsburys City Diesel.
However my missus has an EU6 EA288 engined VW Tiguan and the emissions control stuff on that car terrifies me so it's always been run on Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel in the hope that it'll stave off things like one of the two egr systems clogging up etc.
The uplift in cost feels like a complete rip-off though - I'm unclear if Costco diesel will be a suitable alternative to the super special Shell stuff?
TooMany2cvs said:
Yes, thanks. It's a pile of advertorial guff that uses a lot of words to say nothing very much, beyond "We now have filling stations, too". Even you admit that the "testimonial" in it is complete bks.
Which is why I described it as an 'info-mercial', but I still think you've missed the point. A third player in the UK fuel market (albeit a members-only one) now supplies 99 RON fuel. They also happen to be up to 15ppl cheaper than the rest. That's certainly worth raising an eyebrow over, especially when they also add a full additive pack to their cheap 95 RON and basic diesel (which apparently most don't). Since Greenergy simply supply pre-specced fuel, I can't see them having an arrangement to supply base fuel minus additives just so Costco can additise it themselves, which would mean that Costco fuel actually has more additives than the equivalent Momentum 99. Either way, at the price it's definitely worth a visit and the point of the thread was to inform those who didn't know it existed.ks.Sheepshanks said:
We're (Chester) getting one of these apparently.
Be great for my older Merc diesel (C270CDi) - I've tried all the fuels and it makes absolutely no difference to MPG or noise or performance so it generally runs on Sainsburys City Diesel.
However my missus has an EU6 EA288 engined VW Tiguan and the emissions control stuff on that car terrifies me so it's always been run on Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel in the hope that it'll stave off things like one of the two egr systems clogging up etc.
The uplift in cost feels like a complete rip-off though - I'm unclear if Costco diesel will be a suitable alternative to the super special Shell stuff?
The local taxi drivers seem to rate it. They only sell one grade of diesel, which is premium (i.e. highly addetised). Don't forget though that Shell V-Power contains PERL GTL (lower calorific value than diesel, but cleaner), and BP Ultimate uses HVO instead of RME biodiesel. HVO is cleaner than RME and doesn't varnish the engine components the same way. Personally I have found Costco diesel spot on but you pays yer money...Be great for my older Merc diesel (C270CDi) - I've tried all the fuels and it makes absolutely no difference to MPG or noise or performance so it generally runs on Sainsburys City Diesel.
However my missus has an EU6 EA288 engined VW Tiguan and the emissions control stuff on that car terrifies me so it's always been run on Shell V-Power Nitro+ Diesel in the hope that it'll stave off things like one of the two egr systems clogging up etc.
The uplift in cost feels like a complete rip-off though - I'm unclear if Costco diesel will be a suitable alternative to the super special Shell stuff?
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