Diesel preference

[R M]

Hi , sure this topic has been covered ,
Just wondering people thoughts on supermarket diesel long term use ?
Would you recommend a fuel conditioner etc
Or stay away and try bp / shell + ?
Regards

 

[DuxDeluxe]

So in certain situations there’s a good benefit to using the premium fuel then?

Oh yes, the superfuels are good stuff but it depends on the individual circumstances. High mileage when working it was cheapest that was convenient. Now, I see the extra detergents as helpful with three low mileage vehicles. In fact it probably makes little difference (which is what my professional fuels brain tells me) but I feel better about it and that is all that matters

 

[ChrisL]

I have to say in my case, with a 100 ltr fuel tank and 18/19 mpg, it gets the cheapest fuel I can find I also think that these are commercial engines, designed to work in many countries, some of which will have unreliable fuel supplies of questionable quality, so I don't think UK supermarket fuel is going to take much out of the life of the engine, mine is Sprinter based and on the American forums I regularly read posts from people who have 500,000 miles on their vans, I very much doubt that these commercial operators are putting premium fuel in them as it would effect their profits quite a bit.

 

[TDub49]

Hi , sure this topic has been covered ,
Just wondering people thoughts on supermarket diesel long term use ?
Would you recommend a fuel conditioner etc
Or stay away and try bp / shell + ?
Regards

Interesting read here: https://allstarcard.co.uk/resources/news-and-insights/supermarket-fuel

 

[Bill-H]

there
seem to be many threads on MHF about where the cheapest fuel is and many threads advising us not to use cheap fuel. I'm guessing that vehicle manufacturers who sell their offerings around the world where lower octaine and basic diesel are the only fuels available, are quite confident that the engines will run and run on poorer fuel.
Do fuels in the UK and europe have to comply with a set minimum standard?
I've been running numerous cars and motorhomes on the basic supermarket fuels for many years.
I'm more concerned about the quailty of oil the garage use when servicing my vehicles when I'm not there to see what they are actually putting in during an oil change.

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[Barti Ddu]

Interesting read here: https://allstarcard.co.uk/resources/news-and-insights/supermarket-fuel

But the biggest "myth" that the article fails to address is that supermarket fuel is cheaper than that from branded sites. It isn't.

Don't take my word for it. Check for yourself using one of the fuel price comparison websites or apps for your area. I'd be surprised if there isn't an independent branded filing station undercutting the supermarkets by a penny or two per litre.

These are the current prices around me.

 

[meanders]

Not so here!

When I widened the net to Ipswich it showed 9 all but one of which were supermarkets.

 

[TDub49]

But the biggest "myth" that the article fails to address is that supermarket fuel is cheaper than that from branded sites. It isn't.

Don't take my word for it. Check for yourself using one of the fuel price comparison websites or apps for your area. I'd be surprised if there isn't an independent branded filing station undercutting the supermarkets by a penny or two per litre.

These are the current prices around me.

View attachment 1062031

Absolutely but this thread wasn't about price, it was about the question of whether or not the supermarket fuels are lower quality than the 'branded ones'. Likewise the article I posted the link to.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Absolutely but this thread wasn't about price, it was about the question of whether or not the supermarket fuels are lower quality than the 'branded ones'. Likewise the article I posted the link to.

But, the inference was clearly - is it worth paying extra for branded fuel and the extra additives they contain, rather than cheap supermarket fuel which may not have the same additives package.

I'm pointing out that it's often cheaper to get the branded stuff anyway so why pay more for possibly inferior supermarket fuel? That seems highly relevant to the OP's question.

 

[meanders]

But, the inference was clearly - is it worth paying extra for branded fuel and the extra additives they contain, rather than cheap supermarket fuel which may not have the same additives package.

I'm pointing out that it's often cheaper to get the branded stuff anyway so why pay more for possibly inferior supermarket fuel? That seems highly relevant to the OP's question.

That's a fair question, but a mechanic acquaintance says he would not put in Jet, Applegreen, Butler or Pace fuels as they are no better than supermarket fuels, yet it's those less well known brands that the independents tend to sell, and they do not get teh throughout that the supermarkets get! You pays your money and you take your choice.

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[CAB96]

We have a new van and we said from the beginning that we are going to fill up with the good juice about 1 in every 4 fills whenever we can. In the far north of Scotland atm and I don’t think they’ve even heard of V power or Ultimate up here

Get some Redex.

I try to use Costco as much as possible, if not I have Redex (on offer from Costco!) to add to the tank.

No idea if it works, but makes me happy.

 

[Jonno1103]

So in certain situations there’s a good benefit to using the premium fuel then?

A tank of premium will help keep the engine & injectors clean and also aid the DPF's & EGR's etc in the same way a bottle of redex or Wynn's etc will do.

 

[Barti Ddu]

That's a fair question, but a mechanic acquaintance says he would not put in Jet, Applegreen, Butler or Pace fuels as they are no better than supermarket fuels, yet it's those less well known brands that the independents tend to sell, and they do not get teh throughout that the supermarkets get! You pays your money and you take your choice.

By independents I was meaning family owned sites, often franchised to Shell, Texaco, etc, as opposed to company owned sites.

 

[Jonno1103]

Essentially it's FAME in the fuel which does for engines & injectors, you can't get away from the stuff. The Fatty Acid Methyl Esters. It destroys seals and is corrosive. The Bio in the Biofuel and in a couple of years the mix is increasing to almost 12.5%.

The premium fuel additives and the aftermarket single dose bottles helps combat it.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

This thread prompted a thought.
Years back I had our 2002 Reg Hymer B544 Fiat Ducato 2.8 JTD remapped for more power.
This made a lot of difference in pulling power, and didn't reduce the MPG (I could have had a remap for better MPG but driveability was more important to me).
The re-mapper said that the ECU as standard was set for the worst expected conditions that Fiat shipped to, poor quality fuel.
So in the UK with good quality fuel there was more scope.
Could have been sales talk, but this suggests that the standard Fiat Ducato engine should cope easily with the cheapest fuel.
I may need to seek out a fuel station which sells the super duper diesel just to try it out.
My usual suspects don't.
Currently 2016 reg Fiat Ducato 2.3 130.
Still planning a remap.

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[Simon G]

I'll admit to always buying cheapest, usually supermarket, but a former engineering director of Stagecoach Bus tells me the additive packages of branded diesel are different (and better) and he always uses branded. Maybe I'll change my routine with the new to me Euro 6 with DEF and all the gizmos

 

[steve69]

But the biggest "myth" that the article fails to address is that supermarket fuel is cheaper than that from branded sites. It isn't.

Don't take my word for it. Check for yourself using one of the fuel price comparison websites or apps for your area. I'd be surprised if there isn't an independent branded filing station undercutting the supermarkets by a penny or two per litre.

These are the current prices around me.

View attachment 1062031

I'm surprised no-one on here has yet mentioned the Essar fuels franchise. Now known as EET many of it's outlets are WAY cheaper than other suppliers. Currently £126.9 per litre of Diesel in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

 

[Peter Clark]

Loss Leader Stratagy:
Supermarket fuel used to be consistently significantly cheaper as it was originally introduced solely to bring traffic to the store and boost non-fuel sales - so its margin just had to pay the costs of the fuel selling operation, the normal profit-centre rules of business were suspended.

In recent years supermarkets have tried to make fuel selling deliver a clear profit on behalf of the poor, needy and downtrodden shareholders, “dynamic pricing” is one of the methods which is why you get some regional pricing “anomalies” between supermarkets and brands.

And yes everyone is correct, all the fuel is exactly the same up to the point that some brands put additives in - which have some benefit for very high performance or very old engines.

The only time I use the premium grade of branded fuel is in places like rural Turkey as there is a better chance the storage tanks are properly maintained and you have less risk of having to chug through a tank of water contaminated fuel.

 

[SafetyPete]

Paying 103.7p plus vat per diesel litre with a fuel card on Shell/BP/Texaco, but pump price at supermarkets, so cheaper to use the brand names.

Havent noticed any difference but sweets tend to be more expensive, so overall cost probably same.

 

[starquake]

Really. Non-foods yes, specialist foods yes but lots of stuff sold at close to no margin to attract the customer. The fuel is seen as a necessity, but is expensive to provide service, so not as a 'puller'. Those where they have a shop in the kiosk hope you will pick up things many of which are higher margin like confectionery, coffee to go etc. Where the PFS is open 24x7 they will also stock a number of 'convenience lines' that are subtlety different to what is on sale in the store at an enhanced price to pay for the convenience factor of being able to buy at 3am.

Explain costco fuel then, no shop, 24/7, and no convience lines, and premium diesel for at least 5p less than any other supermarket.

We always fuel the motorhome at a Costco when passing as it's both cheaper and we do get more mpg as the motorhome measures it.

Good news in our neck of woods is the Norwich one has been approved dropping the nearest Costco from Stevenage and Thurruck to Norwich come next year (and yes it'll include a fuel station, and yes, it'll be convieniently placed for trips to Norfolk too).

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[starquake]

Not so here!
View attachment 1062033

When I widened the net to Ipswich it showed 9 all but one of which were supermarkets.

Costco Stevanage today is 128.9 for premium diesel.

 

[Burge]

Get some Redex.

I try to use Costco as much as possible, if not I have Redex (on offer from Costco!) to add to the tank.

No idea if it works, but makes me happy.

I try & stick a Bottle Full in at every Fill Up

 

[Hymer Tony B]

Hi , sure this topic has been covered ,
Just wondering people thoughts on supermarket diesel long term use ?
Would you recommend a fuel conditioner etc
Or stay away and try bp / shell + ?
Regards

We use mixture, normally go on app named "petrolPrices" Look up cheapest in 5 mile radius. Put premium in if Nectar card used getting the discount 3p to 6p a litre. If we use standard put in additive.

 

[Jerrywh]

More bolix talked about fuel and fuel additives than any other subject.
It is all anecdotes and unverifiable opinion, so believe whatever you want and I will carry on using whichever is cheapest, with no adverse effects so far in any of more than 30 vehicles over the years. Usually supermarket but not always.
Wife bought some Redex cheap in Aldi and I have added it to the van, whether it has done any good or not I have no idea.
Which? should do some tests on fuels but so far, only general advice saying short of a Ferrari or Lambo, premium fuels provide no benefit.

 

[meanders]

The mention of Which?

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[TheMobileWanderer]

Get some Redex.

I try to use Costco as much as possible, if not I have Redex (on offer from Costco!) to add to the tank.

No idea if it works, but makes me happy.

I seem to recall from a previous discussion that redex was mentioned as not very good, in terms of raising the cetane number. Not a bad additive but not doing enough. I'm going to compare with others stuff before I use it.

 

[Jerrywh]

The mention of Which?

?

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

For the ultimate performance and protection – use Oilsyn Diesel Race DNA.

For an all-around product that increases cetane, cleans and protects – use Oilsyn Diesel Power DNA or Archoil AR6900-D

Either of the above works out cheaper per tank than upgrading to premium diesel at the pump.


From https://www.fueltechexperts.com/what-is-the-best-cetane-booster/

 

[starquake]

Either of the above works out cheaper per tank than upgrading to premium diesel at the pump.

Unless going to Costco, where they ONLY sell premium, at usually 10p a litre less than normal diesel in vicinity.

 

[R M]

We use mixture, normally go on app named "petrolPrices" Look up cheapest in 5 mile radius. Put premium in if Nectar card used getting the discount 3p to 6p a litre. If we use standard put in additive.View attachment 1062528View attachment 1062528

Cheers tony

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[gus-lopez]

Here in Spain locally I use the independents. One supplies posh, diesel for 1c a litre more than peasant grade,so it is a no brainer especially when it is 1,18€.
On the road i would also use the same supplier if available locally, or one of the other indepents but failing that Repsolor cepsa with there discount cards.

just those where the fuel filter (petrol) is gunked up.

My diesel has a clear "blockage indicator" on the fuel filter. never seen it even move slightly except the day a u/s new fuel filter was installed that allowed nothing past.