BP Ultimate surprising result.

Mr Sambambles
Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
edited December 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Got a nearly new vw Passat. 2 Ltd 150 bhp. Had it for about 6 months now. Always had a real flat spot on the throttle . Particularly in 2nd gear when accelerating through to 3rd. Anyway put a tank full of BP Ultimate in by mistake. Lo and behold. After only a couple of miles the flat spot went. Totally. 

Runs like a different car in the mid gears. Thought it may be of interest to some. Shame it costs quite a bit more but we do so very few miles normally so expect I will keep using it. 

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Comments

  • holmesonwheels24
    holmesonwheels24 Forum Participant Posts: 148
    edited December 2016 #2

    Just out of interest what is the  mileage ?

     Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to one and all. Hope you all have good touring in 2017.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited December 2016 #3

    So it took only a couple of miles to empty the pump and pipework of the old fuel?     I do hope you are right as there are so many miracle  cure stories.

    Post back again after a few more milessmile

  • Tarmyn
    Tarmyn Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited December 2016 #4

    There was a similar thread about Premium Fuel versus Supermarket brands recently and I was the only one who commented on seeing an improvement both in MPG,trottle response and torque whilst using either Shell or BP premium fuels.Granted I dont use those brands all the time but when towing I do .Wether its worth the extra expense is another issue .My car is also a Passat 150 Tdi estate.

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited December 2016 #5

    yellfoot-in-mouth

  • Mr Sambambles
    Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
    edited December 2016 #6

    Only done 3500 miles. Can't comment on mpg etc. All I know at the moment is that it feels a different engine. Will report back on mpg's later. Merry Xmas all. 

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2016 #7

    Well that shows you know nowt CJlaughinglaughinglaughing

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited December 2016 #8

    Diesels take around 10-12k miles to be fully run-in so there could be other factors involved too, maybe simply using a different brand of regular diesel would also have worked. However I am also a user of premium brand fuels and often use Vmax or similar when towing. However CJ will no doubt be back to provide his industry take on the claimed benefits of premium fuels over supermarket unbranded fuels......

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited December 2016 #9

    LOL!

    I have decided that:

    a) Its Christmas.

    b) Its a natural selection / Darwin award type thing!

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited December 2016 #10

    When I had an Audi the dealer made a point of saying full power would not be available until 3K miles.

    Probably why your 148bhp engine is now producing more power.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited December 2016 #11

    Yes at least 10K.

    My last Xtrail took 20K miles, after that there was a noticeable power increase with improved MPG, very annoying because I change at 30K so see little of any increase.

    I would be happy with an engine already on 10K miles, but with a 3 year warranty, and all the other parts unused.

  • Mr Sambambles
    Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
    edited December 2016 #12

    It is appreciated that the engine will improve with age. HP will probably rise and mpg will get possibly better. The point I was referring to was the instant change. Not one over time.. It was within a couple of miles from filling up. A real sharpness about the pick up and the instant lack of any flat spot. Have used several diffent brands before but this is the first time of using a premium fuel. 

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited December 2016 #13

    As I suggested...the fuel lines and pump etc wouldn't have cleared the original fuel in 'a couple of miles'?

    It's always worth going back to the original fuel and seeing if the flat spot returns????smile

  • Woody19
    Woody19 Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited February 2017 #14

    The last two company cars I had before retirement were both 1.7TDi Astra estates. On both of them the fuel consumption went from around 46mpg to over 50 at almost exactly 30,000 miles - like a switch. That has to be a software effect.

    Come to think of it the two Vectra estates I had before that did the same thing!

    If you want to try out one of the 'performance' diesels go to Luxembourg - you will still pay less for it than for supermarket diesel over here. I tried it out a couple of years ago on my last Passat estate and whilst it did run quieter and a little more smoothly IMO it didn't make anything like change that I expected that would justify the extra fuel cost outside Lux. Current price is €1.02/L for normal diesel and based on that I would expect the performance version to be about €1.09 - or 92p/L. Makes you sick doesn't it? 

  • Tarmyn
    Tarmyn Forum Participant Posts: 49
    edited February 2017 #15

    There as been discussions on here before on using premium fuels a lot of negatives and some positive some saying it isn't worth the extra cost .I.ve found with our previous Passat 140 tdi and our present one the extra is justified especially when towing it definitely gives extra punch.Just driving solo will try and  do 1 in 3 fuel fills with the premium stuff .

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited February 2017 #16

    I have posted before on BP Ultimate and premium fuels in general but I think it is worth repeating. Check out what BP say on their website and on their forecourts. Their claims are extremely modest and based around the fact that if you have an old "dirty" engine then running several tanks of Ultimate may give you an improvement. Note all the caveats and make your own mind up!

  • H B Watson
    H B Watson Forum Participant Posts: 183
    edited February 2017 #17

    The surprising thing I found with BP Ultimate Diesel was with my previous car (Renault), the fuel consumption became worse, went back to Asda and it recovered, tried Shell V-Power and the fuel consumption improved, however not enough to warrant the extra price. Obviously all checked over a period tome with almost identical running. With car previous to the Renault, a Subaru Impreza WRX, BP Ultimate and Shell V-Power both improved the consumption. In my experience some engines like the stuff, some don't care and some hate it, you've just got to try them and see what's best.

  • Mr Sambambles
    Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
    edited February 2017 #18

    One thing I have found since using premium brands / fuel is that when filling there is no foam. Unlike many supermarket fuels. Don't know if that would or would not have any long term effect. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2017 #19

    how do you see the fuel to know there's foam or not? undecided

  • Mr Sambambles
    Mr Sambambles Forum Participant Posts: 194
    edited February 2017 #20

    I normally fill brim to brim. In Supermarkets the fuel foams out of the filler when getting near full but the likes of Shell etc does not. Something must be different. Just an observation. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2017 #21

    I fill both my petrol Smarts & diseasal R Class brim to brim with supermarket fuel ..... I've never seen any foam undecided

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #22

    Certainly foams on my XTrail, as it comes up the filler. I have to let it die down if I want to fill to the brim. It might depend on the filler design. I can't comment if any different with BP or Shell, as I always use supermarkets.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #23

    Tesco Diesel doesn't foam when I fill up my Tiguan!

  • alanannej
    alanannej Forum Participant Posts: 79
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    edited May 2017 #24

    Normally use supermarket - tried BP Ultimate for 6 months, towing & solo, noticed no difference - Octavia 2l. Previous Octavia had probs with Sainsburys diesel - when parked nose up for 48 hrs or more, wouldn't start. Garage said fuel filter blocked - more than 1 occasion.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited September 2017 #25

    most manufacturers test their vehicles using higher octane fuels and recommend it in their handbooks. its also better for keeping engine cleaner hense oil last longer, better startup and quicker heating up from cold start. the common rail diesels are much higher pressure injectors and the hotter fuel burn helps keep the injectors clean. all in all its better for the engine if slightly dearer even if you do not feel the difference.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited September 2017 #26

    Not sure about that.  When I bought my BMW (a few years ago admittedly) my dealer said that they had done extensive tests and that there was no difference between premium and normal fuel on performance of fuel consumption.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited September 2017 #27
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited September 2017 #28

    well take a look at all the motoring mags and websites. honest john etc etc. also how many of you after towing or long trips let the engine tick over for 2 mins before turning of to let the turbo cool down as this is a major cause of engine failure in turbo vehicles.   

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited September 2017 #29

    hitchglitch. who mentioned fuel consumption????

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #30

    Fuel consumption is a related issue surely?

    Yep, always let the engine idle to let the turbo cool but thanks for thinking to remind us all, LL.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2017 #31

    Your turbo is likely to get a rest at the end of towing duties on the last few miles on the approach to a site & while manoeuvring your caravan onto its pitch .... unless of course you had the pedal to the metal all the way to your site innocent