Tesco fuel

[scillyisles1]

As already mentioned though, even if the base fuel is provided by BP it's unlikely the additive package will be identical to what's sold on BP forecourts.

I don't think anyone is saying that the additives are all identical as witnessed by the fact that only Shell fuel additives caused problems with Mercedes fuel gauges. The main point I was making is that the basic fuel sold at Sainsburys and BP is the same. Sainsburys's fuel contains additives in the same way that BP fuel does. Naturally, the fuel majors keep their additive cocktails secret and promote the view that their additives make their fuel better than the competition.

 

[markjay]

For many years I simply used unleaded plus Redex (in every tankful). It works very very well.

When I got the Merc, I stopped using Redex because of the MB warranty (with some very strict exceptions - MB do not approve use of any kind of additive - fuel or oil).

So I have been using exclusively Shell V-Power ever since. I would have happily used BP Ultimate or Texaco High-Octane, but the nearest garage to me is a Shell one.

I strongly believe that the additives (friction reducing and detergents) are good for the engine, especially as I drive mostly short distances which sadly promoted carbon deposits.

Not too bothered about any potential performance improvements or netter mpg. Never noticed or looked for these.

 

[br0ke]

a little googling - so it must be true

Greenergy - 2009 September - We are awarded a national contract to supply Sainsbury's with petrol and diesel, effective January 2010.

From BP.com - BP also supplies petrol and diesel to Safeway supermarkets in the UK

Daily Mail - BP, Shell and Asda are filling bulking up their diesel with 'cheaper but harmful' biofuels

I think I'll start growing my own diesel cause you just don't know what you are buying and from who. Actually, apart from the cost I'll just stick with BP. At least the black smoke is lessened.

 

[Nickk]

I had black cruddy spots out of my exhaust once after i filled up with some particularly cheap tesco petrol. It put me off buying it again.

 

[s999sws]

I used to own a '93 190e, and whenever I refilled at supermarkets, it used to hunt and stutter so much that I was always cleaning the distributer cap and plug leads to try and cure it. Eventually I realised that it was the petrol I was buying at Tesco's. After that I bought at garages and no problem. Now here's the funny bit. I sold the car in 2006 to a chum, and when I next met up with him he said that the car was running very lumpily, I asked him where he had filled up and he said, (guess) "Tesco's". I explained the problems I had had, and since then he has not had any problems because he doesn't use their fuel any more. Nuff said

SWS

 

[snoop51]

Surely if supermarket fuel is NOT suitable for running ANY car then they would NOT be allowed to sell it in it's current mix?

I've filled up primarily at Tesco's for years purely because it's convenient with a variety of cars and never had an issue. If my car pumps out black smoke under heavy acceleration (which it doesn't) I put it down to I don't normally floor it. The other thing is I'm accelerating normally to overtake something so I'm looking to see where I'm going not in my rear view to see where I've been.

 

[BTB 500]

Surely if supermarket fuel is NOT suitable for running ANY car then they would NOT be allowed to sell it in it's current mix?

That would only apply if it actually caused damage.

 

[snoop51]

That would only apply if it actually caused damage.

If your household electricity supply drops its volts due to a fault you may not get damaged electrical goods but your lights may dim, I'm guessing you would be straight onto your electricity supplier. Why? because you aren't being supplied with a suitable product.

Consequently if your car starts to run rough due to the petrol you are paying for, why can you not complain.. They aren't supplying a suitable product but they are selling it as such. The last time I checked (this afternoon) there are no signs at Tesco's saying fuel not suitable for Mercedes or any other car.

It's all fuel of one kind or another. It should be fit for purpose, you wouldn't accept a car with steel wheels if the one you had paid for was meant to have alloys would you? It's not broken, it will still get you from A to B, it just looks crap. Function wise it's the same.

 

[danclyon]

Hi,after various other reports of cars running badly after using supermarket fuel i tend to avoid them personally,the standard (unleaded/diesel)stuff they sell doesn't have any additives afaik,try sticking with shell/bp i haven't had any problems with either

Not quite right - sorry! They have an additive package in them that allows them to meet EN590 for Diesel, and whatever the standard is for Petrol (it's been a while) - neat fuel would not meet this. However, the fuel standards set an "average" level for fuel specification, meaning it can be variable.

Taking diesel an an example, normal ULSD is somewhere around 51 Cetane. Shell Fuelsave *is* 51, VPower goes up way above this, 55-57-60 not unheard of. Supermarket diesels are sometimes 51, often less (but the same is true for most fuel vendors - they vary, very few are set on a baseline).

There are only a few refineries in the country, and the additive package is basically what differs when the base-fuel is put into the tanker, the package is added (with the exception of VPower diesel, and BP's Ultimate which are different blends). The additive mix is what the fuel companies keep secret

D.

 

[s200rey]

Red Diesel -------> the way forward, quite literally!...other than that, I use Veg Oil. Cant bring my self to fill up any more @ ANY fuel station, in whats now 'Rip off Britain'

Or and my car runs excellent on both of the above!? each & everytime...