Is premium petrol cost effective?

[welland99]

I've just looked at the tesco website for the "evidence" that their momentum 99 petrol improves fuel efficiency, and it certainly looks attractive. MOMENTUM99 - Tesco.com

At worst it seems to improve MPG by 10% (Honda CRV), and at best by 27% (ford focus).

Fuel price premium is only about 4 or 5 p per litre, say 5% more expensive.

Is my maths correct? Am I missing a trick here? Does anybody have experience of using premium fuels? Can they really save money?

 

[Silver CL55]

I think they only make a difference if you have a highly tuned engine.
eg an AMG powerplant

 

[wheels1]

MY SL 500 hand book says that premium or higher should only be used in it!

 

[markjay]

Probably NOT cost effective when comparing the higher cost per gallon with the actual mpg savings.

However, if you keep the car for the longer run, and assuming that the claims made by the likes of Shell V-Power and BP Ultimate regarding the additives in premium fuels (lubricants and detergents) that help keep your engine clean and healthy, than potentially there is a long term saving in preventing the deterioration of the mpg over time due to carbon deposits and reduced repair bills.

So in short, if you only keep your car for a relatively short period of time, it is probably not worth it financially. I, however use only premium fuels.

 

[moonloops]

I'd use it on super/turbo charged engines that can adapt timing etc. No point on lazy n/a AMG V8's unless they have been specifically set up to run on super unleadeded.

If you want to use less fuel, drive more efficiently.

 

[markjay]

I'd use it on super/turbo charged engines that can adapt timing etc. No point on lazy n/a AMG V8's unless they have been specifically set up to run on super unleadeded.

If you want to use less fuel, drive more efficiently.

I agree.

I think that any Shell/BP hype about mpg savings are only intended to help them sell the premium fuels.

Any real advantage to everyday users - as opposed to Subaru/Mitsubishi drives - might come from the additives, in the shape of cleaner/healthier engine, over a longer period of time.

To emphasise the point - if I were driving a rental, I wouldn't bother with premium fuels as they will probably only cost more in the end. But driving my own car is a different scenario.

Incidentally, MB actually officially recommends the use of premium fuels - but again they refer to the additives, rather than to any mpg savings.

 

[Alfie]

The manual for my car recommends higher octane fuel. So I figure the manufacturer has developed the engine with that in mind. So I use it.

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

You can save much more by just checking your tyre pressures are correct and use acceleration sence when driving.

Saw an add at fuel station yesterday proclaiming thier fuel will save you 'one litre per tank'!!! thats equal to a 2 min foot down b*lls out moment!

 

[219]

potentially there is a long term saving in preventing the deterioration of the mpg over time due to carbon deposits and reduced repair bills.

Doesn't a good 'blast' or 'Italian tune-up' do that anyway ?

 

[DITTRICH]

I just use the more expensive fuels once in a while or when my fuel level sender in the tank starts playing up. Driving conditions, driver habits and driver style have a far greater effect on fuel consumption. The claimed fuel savings are really only detectable in a laboratory. In real world driving they just get lost in amongst all the other variables. As above, tires are the easiest fix. And, like red buttons, kickdown is there to be used!

 

[Tan]

I used to use the V-Power, but at the moment its 8p more than the regular unleaded so I just use the regular Shell petrol.

I did read yesterday that my local Sainsbury's are selling their super at £1.20, which is 3p more than their regular unleaded and the same as my local Shell's regular unleaded, plus i get Nectar points.

 

[jwbenz]

Apparently you get greater mileage. The one thing I find confusing is that, I thought/was told/heard that supermarket petrol was worse quality fuel compared to what you get in the typical shell/bp etc. Hence why it is cheaper.

So would Sheel premium fuel be better than Tesco?

 

[219]

I just buy the cheapest petrol I can find locally , my car runs just the same .

By using the petrolprices.com website or the petrolpricespro app on my iPhone , I can always find the cheapest petrol nearby and save up to 10p per litre just by driving a short distance .

 

[219]

All fuel comes from the same refineries - the base fuel is the same but tanker drivers for different brands add their own additives in the tanker .

 

[Simon_M]

I use the Tesco 99 as the manual states 97 or higher and only 95 in an emergency.

It is cheaper compared to the vPower and other marketed shyate which I would not pay the hefty premium for. But at around £2 a top up I think I may as well.

S

 

[markjay]

Many motoring magazines often mention the adverse effect of 'cheap supermarket fuels' on modern engines.

At the same time, others claim - as Pontoneer said - that all UK fuel comes from the same depots (albeit with different additives).

I guess that until we find a member that works in the petroleum retail industry this will remain an urban myth - one of the above anyway, but which one?

 

[Stratman]

Do the motoring magazines which castigate 'cheap supermarket fuels' carry expensive adverts for 'Super Turbomax Fuel' from the big suppliers?

 

[moonloops]

Do the motoring magazines which castigate 'cheap supermarket fuels' carry expensive adverts for 'Super Turbomax Fuel' from the big suppliers?

yep, lets not forget magazines are always biased to their advertisers/sponsors

 

[Movi-Star]

The higher octane fuel is more calorific so burns longer giving more MPG. Your calculations seem correct, the best way would be to empty tank, fill up with 40 litres (not £) of UL and then SUL, drive normally and see which got more miles. Crude way of doing it but would give a rough idea.

Ive come from remapped Evo & Imprezas and can say without a doubt there is nothing wrong with Tesco Momentum fuel, probably only V-Power is a better fuel.

I never used BP Ultimate due to others experiencing high engine knock detination.

 

[Dryce]

The higher octane fuel is more calorific so burns longer giving more MPG.

That's not my understanding.

We were always told it was to do with knocking.

Higher octane meant ability to run at higher compression and also better ignition control.