Fuel. Branded vs Supermarket ?
Has anyone got any strong opinions on the merits or otherwise of using branded fuel, ie. Shell/Esso over supermarket fuel. Do you get more mpg using branded, is it better for your engine ? I tend to look for the cheapest option but is this a false economy
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I always fill with supmarket fuel and both our cars seem to run OK on them. I believe even the supmarket fuels have some additives. Certainly there seems to be some difference between them. Our X Trail starts a lot easier from cold, in sub zero conditions, when its tank is full of Sainsburys diesel rather than Tesco.
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My son works for a National company that uses many vans which do a high mileage. They have been issued instructions, following advice from van manufacturers, not to use supermarket diesel fuel based on several instances of engine and injector failures.
There are few supplying depots of fuel but apparently the supermarkets keep their prices low by reducing the additives.
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I had to smile when I read the bumf on a certain make of premium fuel which basically said it was all down to "molecules" (aren't we all?
) and they really couldn't say that the improvements they said would happen would happen to everyone., eg certain high performance cars might benefit but then again some might not.As others have suggested elsewhere. You could also get more mileage by driving in a way that reduces fuel consumption. So cheap fuel + economical driving = more mileage.
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+1👍🏻
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+ 3
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Yawn. Hasn't this subject been discussed to death already
. For my twopeneth, I have been using supermarket fuel for years and years and years and years etc (must be over 300k miles); no complaints: no DPF or injector problems. If the Esso offer is cheaper that Tesco then Esso it is. But I do not care!!!Our resident expert Jasper, agrees no difference.
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I have run my vehicle on normal Diesel and VPower Diesel ( several tanks each) and also supermarket Diesel with no noticeable difference at all with fuel economy or performance so for me it is supermarket fuel.
The biggest improvement was after having an engine re-map at the back end of last year. So far driving normally has given between 12 & 15% improvement in fuel economy around town. Be interesting to see what the difference is with the van on the back when we are away in March
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The biggest improvement was after having an engine re-map at the back end of last year. So far driving normally has given between 12 & 15% improvement in fuel economy around town. Be interesting to see what the difference is with the van on the back when we are away in March
I had my car remapped 2 years ago and fuel saving when towing is about 50 miles per tank of diesel
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I had my car remapped 2 years ago and fuel saving when towing is about 50 miles per tank of diesel,
O, just wondering if re-mapping invalidates one's car's warranty?
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Directly nothing - but the original post is about the benefits of either branded fuel Vs Supermarket fuels in terms of economy etc. In my experience there was no benefit. However, if better fuel economy and better performance (no not just going faster before anyone asks!) then I have found that remapping has worked better in terms of performance in the low end and mid-range along with improved fuel economy - exactly what I asked them to do.
In terms of mapping for the local climate, whilst there is an element of truth in that (global regions), it is more about manufacturers deliberately 'strangling' engines during mapping. Many vehicles are fitted with the same engines but come in variants with higher power and of course significantly higher prices -this is achieved via mapping.
There is lots available to read on line regarding remapping and it is done regularly on all types of vehicle including commercial and agricultural
I did not have the remap until the Warranty expired
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My car was re-chipped so I can return it to spec at any time. I don't know about warranty so but I would check before hand. However, my car was way out of warranty, don't forget to let your insurance company know.
Wasn't there a thread on the subject before where Chemical Jasper (?) a Petroleum Engineer told us the differences between Supermarket and other fuels
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We run both our diesel cars on BP premium fuel for two tank fulls prior to their MOTs, otherwise it is where we travel that posts a reasonable price when a refill is needed or cost effective.
For many years until last year when annoyingly it closed its fuel station, this was predominantly the Shell at our normally used Waitrose supermarket.
Maybe I have got it completely wrong, and the more enhanced additives do absolutely no good at all. However, I suspect it is not all a big con and these additives can enhance component cleaning including the DPF. Certainly I know technically these products exist, and work in cleaning, though I don't know what BP use.
Anyway, that only cost us per vehicle sub £10, and fingers crossed it continues, we have never had a engine related MOT failure. Therefore, will "waste" that few pounds of our money, at least till we have an emission failure.
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I used to work for a now defunct parcels company. Our sprinter vans did mileages approaching 1000 miles every single week. We had our own pumps and tanks, "bunker fuel" delivered in a white tanker, same as to supermarkets basically. If ever we were low we had instructions to fill at Morrison's or BP ( at a discount price ) which ever was handiest really but seldom needed to..Year in year out all our vans usually returned 28/29 mpg, not bad considering they are driven both hard and heavy. If it ever varied, it was usually the driving style.
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Fuel is distributed nationally by underground pipeline from refineries to local distribution depots.
When I worked on the fuel system, many years ago, there was one pipe for diesel. It's possible that more pipes have been added in the intervening years so that multiple types and makes od diesel can have their our dedicated pipe. It's also possible that companies drop an additive pill in their bulk storage tanks at the distribution depots.
Has anyone any up to date knowledge of the industry to suggest either of these scenarios is true?
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Faith can move mountains.
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Remapping is essentially the same as a re-chip and it can be returned back to the factory setting at any time albeit via a laptop. Not sure why I would want to to though.
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Until a claim(cleaner engine/better mpg) is proven I will view it cynically. Prove it & I will happily be on board. If the buying of ‘premium’ fuel imbued with magical properties makes an individual happy then I fully understand that individuals belief in it. Take contentment where you find it👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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It’s like food buying. Some folks swear M&S food tastes nicer than other supermarkets, and are happy to pay a bit more for quite ordinary products. My sister used to sell dairy products for a big producer at one time, all over country. All the dairy producer did was put the same product into different packaging, M&S slapped their label on at a higher price, and the “discerning” public thought they were getting something nicer! 😂
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I only think about it because it is always being mentioned on caravan and motorhome forums. All fuel has to meet a minimum standard. The only time I fill up anywhere other than a supermarket is when there is no supermarket to fill up at. I probably don't do more than 6000 miles a year in total for two vehicles so getting an extra mile or two in extra economy is hardly important! Food on the other hand
David
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