Which grade of fuel should be used in AMG's?

[SavMan]

Just stumbled across this thread and have to say I'm utterly gobsmacked that anyone would even consider putting regular unleaded in an AMG!

1) It's a performance car. Give it performance petrol.
2) The minimum grade fuel is clearly printed inside the fuel filler flap(!)
3) Do you honestly think paying 135p instead of 141p for lower grade fuel is a good way to save money?! If you do, may I politely suggest you hand over your performance car to someone who deserves it and go buy a diesel instead.

As others have already said, doing a simple "consumer test" where you try one tank of one fuel immediately followed by a tank of another fuel is completely pointless. Don't do it. Mercedes/AMG tuned your engines to run on 98 RON fuel or better - don't stick 95 in(!)

I've religiously put Tesco 99 (now Momentum) in my last four cars (FTO GPX, Impreza P1, 350z, C63) since it was first released in the early 2000s. Back in the day when it was first released there were only a few stations in the country selling it and you had to hunt it down (or go with Shell Optimax, now V-Power). Today the stuff is readily available. There's absolutely no excuse not to be feeding your AMGs it *exclusively*.

I bought my 350z from new (March 2005) and sold it earlier this year with 48,000 miles on the clock. During that time it had only ever had £5 of regular unleaded in it (in an emergency). Every other fill-up had been Tesco Momentum (96%), Shell V-Power (3%) or another Super Unleaded (1%).

Next thing people will be posting asking whether it's OK to put semi-synthetic oil in their AMG because it's £8 for a litre bottle and not £13.

Cheapskate I only use 102 and 107 thats why my car is faster than yours

 

[Riverside Red]

Just stumbled across this thread and have to say I'm utterly gobsmacked that anyone would even consider putting regular unleaded in an AMG!

1) It's a performance car. Give it performance petrol.
2) The minimum grade fuel is clearly printed inside the fuel filler flap(!)
3) Do you honestly think paying 135p instead of 141p for lower grade fuel is a good way to save money?! If you do, may I politely suggest you hand over your performance car to someone who deserves it and go buy a diesel instead.

As others have already said, doing a simple "consumer test" where you try one tank of one fuel immediately followed by a tank of another fuel is completely pointless. Don't do it. Mercedes/AMG tuned your engines to run on 98 RON fuel or better - don't stick 95 in(!)

I've religiously put Tesco 99 (now Momentum) in my last four cars (FTO GPX, Impreza P1, 350z, C63) since it was first released in the early 2000s. Back in the day when it was first released there were only a few stations in the country selling it and you had to hunt it down (or go with Shell Optimax, now V-Power). Today the stuff is readily available. There's absolutely no excuse not to be feeding your AMGs it *exclusively*.

I bought my 350z from new (March 2005) and sold it earlier this year with 48,000 miles on the clock. During that time it had only ever had £5 of regular unleaded in it (in an emergency). Every other fill-up had been Tesco Momentum (96%), Shell V-Power (3%) or another Super Unleaded (1%).

Next thing people will be posting asking whether it's OK to put semi-synthetic oil in their AMG because it's £8 for a litre bottle and not £13.

Spot on my thoughts exactly.........great post

RR

 

[ghibbett]

Also V-Power is currently the cheapest it's been since September. 140.9p per litre round my way.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

I use only Tesco momentum (99ron) in my E55k...on occasion have used Shell V power (99ron), not really noted a lot of difference in performance....

 

[MOCAŠ]

I use only Tesco momentum (99ron) in my E55k...on occasion have used V power (98ron) not really noted a lot of difference in performance....

Well, you'd expect Tesco fuel to provide a little extra horsepower...

 

[Rashman]

I was having a conversation with a tuner earlier in the week about fuels.

He said that the tesco 99 stuff has a lot of additives in it. So although it might bang quite well, it's not particularly clean for the engine.

I have always used V-Power and won't use anything else.

I feel better buying fuel from a company that specialises in solely fuel rather than a company that also sells milk and eggs!

 

[ucr]

I've always used V-Power

 

[DSB SL AMG]

i use a Lucas fuel treatment from time to time anyway...have done on all my cars to keep the system clean and lubricated....

So will keep with the milk and egg seller for now

I was having a conversation with a tuner earlier in the week about fuels.

He said that the tesco 99 stuff has a lot of additives in it. So although it might bang quite well, it's not particularly clean for the engine.

I have always used V-Power and won't use anything else.

I feel better buying fuel from a company that specialises in solely fuel rather than a company that also sells milk and eggs!

 

[Rashman]

i use a Lucas fuel treatment from time to time anyway...have done on all my cars to keep the system clean and lubricated....

So will keep with the milk and egg seller for now

Lol

Ok, cool.

 

[Aitch55]

Perhaps buy fuel from someone who knows their onions

 

[sinewave]

Supermarkets buy their petrol from the same refineries as the major brands such as Shell and Esso but, they are not the same petrol / diesel. It is the additives that differentiate between the branded products and the not quite so good quality supermarket own brands. I’m surprised to say there is no branding on the tankers you see delivering the petrol to your supermarket though. They are commonly branded with the name of a petrol company. This is because they are no longer owned by the petrol companies so can transport fuel for who ever they want and you frequently see branded tankers delivering to supermarkets but they do not contain the same fuel.

All fuels come from the same refinery (s) and are essentially the same, the difference is in the additives. At the oil terminal at Buncefield in Hemel Hempstead (where they had that fire), petrol is received by pipeline from BP, Total/Fina and Shell refineries.
Each type of fuel is kept in the separate bunds at the terminal, they don’t have special tanks for fuel destined for supermarkets.

The tankers are filled from the appropriate tanks regardless of their destination but the additives are added before the tanker leaves the depot. All fuels have additives included … the difference is that the branded petrol has additives that enhance the performance and the supermarket petrol has additives to make it cheaper. Mineral oil is often added to diesel fuel for example. There is a maximum level of contamination of mineral oil permitted and the supermarkets regard this as a standard and not a maximum.

If you think that supermarket petrol is the same as from your branded fuel supplier, remember the damage to people’s cars caused by using Tesco and Morrisons petrol last year. The reason for this was that it was made using reclaimed/scrap toluene solvent which had been used to wash PCBs in electronics factories. No reputable oil companies were involved in that scandal as I’m sure none of them would use a cut price additive such as this.

 

[Rashman]

Supermarkets buy their petrol from the same refineries as the major brands such as Shell and Esso but, they are not the same petrol / diesel. It is the additives that differentiate between the branded products and the not quite so good quality supermarket own brands. I’m surprised to say there is no branding on the tankers you see delivering the petrol to your supermarket though. They are commonly branded with the name of a petrol company. This is because they are no longer owned by the petrol companies so can transport fuel for who ever they want and you frequently see branded tankers delivering to supermarkets but they do not contain the same fuel.

All fuels come from the same refinery (s) and are essentially the same, the difference is in the additives. At the oil terminal at Buncefield in Hemel Hempstead (where they had that fire), petrol is received by pipeline from BP, Total/Fina and Shell refineries.
Each type of fuel is kept in the separate bunds at the terminal, they don’t have special tanks for fuel destined for supermarkets.

The tankers are filled from the appropriate tanks regardless of their destination but the additives are added before the tanker leaves the depot. All fuels have additives included … the difference is that the branded petrol has additives that enhance the performance and the supermarket petrol has additives to make it cheaper. Mineral oil is often added to diesel fuel for example. There is a maximum level of contamination of mineral oil permitted and the supermarkets regard this as a standard and not a maximum.

If you think that supermarket petrol is the same as from your branded fuel supplier, remember the damage to people’s cars caused by using Tesco and Morrisons petrol last year. The reason for this was that it was made using reclaimed/scrap toluene solvent which had been used to wash PCBs in electronics factories. No reputable oil companies were involved in that scandal as I’m sure none of them would use a cut price additive such as this.

Good post

 

[philnewmerc]

I'm just curious if super unleaded petrol is still ~6p per litre more as mentioned several times above (an acceptable purchase imho) or ~15p/L it is in the North East? (Which is a bit too much for my tight wallet). I've run 20 alternative tanks of premium and super and not noticed any difference in performance or economy (mixed being about 20 mpg imperial, mid 20s on a fast run)... But then I hardly ever give it a redline thrashing anyway, i just like the walking softly but carrying a big stick approach to motoring (and torque, lots of it )

 

[Skd884]

I'm just curious if super unleaded petrol is still ~6p per litre more as mentioned several times above (an acceptable purchase imho) or ~15p/L it is in the North East? (Which is a bit too much for my tight wallet). I've run 20 alternative tanks of premium and super and not noticed any difference in performance or economy (mixed being about 20 mpg imperial, mid 20s on a fast run)... But then I hardly ever give it a redline thrashing anyway, i just like the walking softly but carrying a big stick approach to motoring (and torque, lots of it )

What does it show on your fuel flap i am not sure for the 113k, for the m156 it is 98 ron minimum - i always use 99ron v power.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I'm just curious if super unleaded petrol is still ~6p per litre more as mentioned several times above (an acceptable purchase imho) or ~15p/L it is in the North East? (Which is a bit too much for my tight wallet). I've run 20 alternative tanks of premium and super and not noticed any difference in performance or economy (mixed being about 20 mpg imperial, mid 20s on a fast run)... But then I hardly ever give it a redline thrashing anyway, i just like the walking softly but carrying a big stick approach to motoring (and torque, lots of it )

In my area the cost premium for 99 RON fuel over and above the same brand’s 95 RON fuel is typically 6-7p at Tesco and 14-18p at Shell.

Shell already charge 4-20p more for 95 RON than Tesco, so it’s increasingly difficult to justify buying Shell Vpower - you have to really “want” it.

I would say the Tesco 99 RON fuels is a no brained for anyone with a car requiring super unleaded or concerned about Etjanol content.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I'm just curious if super unleaded petrol is still ~6p per litre more as mentioned several times above (an acceptable purchase imho) or ~15p/L it is in the North East? (Which is a bit too much for my tight wallet). I've run 20 alternative tanks of premium and super and not noticed any difference in performance or economy (mixed being about 20 mpg imperial, mid 20s on a fast run)... But then I hardly ever give it a redline thrashing anyway, i just like the walking softly but carrying a big stick approach to motoring (and torque, lots of it )

I’m pretty sure your car will require super unleaded. The car is clever enough to protect itself from damage whilst running 95 RON fuel; but there’s no need to take that risk - nor limit performance - when Tesco 99 RON is a small premium over 95 RON. In fact you may find that Tesco 99 RON is the same as 95 RON in other filling stations, depending upon your loca market conditions.

 

[badgx]

My local garage is Tesco Extra, and Tesco 99 is what I use. I have noticed the prices have gone up again after coming down a while back. Good opportunity to build up Tesco club card points too.

 

[guhvies]

£1.60p/L @ Elmers End. I just topped up. Could only manage £53.35 in the tank...

 

[pioneercollector]

I have always used Super Unleaded in my SL, and for that matter both of my motorbikes ..... why use the cheap stuff ?

Of course i might have a different opinion if i was driving 500 miles per week, every week .... but there again....

 

[ALFAitalia]

Not many bikes need it...it can even take advantage of it...so its mainly just wasted money.