Does buying the more expensive fuel actually make a difference?

Feek · 12-12-2006, 09:28

BP have their 'Ultimate' diesel, Shell have their 'V-Power' stuff and I'm sure Esso will soon have an equivalent if they don't already.

Does this stuff actually make any difference to the normal cheaper fuels or is it just marketing hype? If I run a few tanks of V-Power derv through the Feekmobile am I really likely to get an increased MPG of the same or greater percentage than the extra cost?

Or is it all a load of marketing bollocks just intended to get more money over the counter?

kaiowas · 12-12-2006, 09:55

The higher grade petrols will definately make a difference if your car has the ability to adapt to it. Don't know much about the diesels though, I'd suspect they're a marketing gimmick which probably just have a more aggressive set of detergents in or something.

FakeSnake · 12-12-2006, 10:09

Well I have switched from Tesco 97 to V-Power about 5 tanks ago and noticed very little difference. I still get about 220 miles to a tank and bum-dyno performance is negligable as well.
Only reason I am sticking to it, is because of its cleaning capabilities.

It will be interesting at the next RR meet, as the last one was on Tesco 97 and made 326hp. In theory I should see an improvement.

Will · 12-12-2006, 10:41

Evo mag did this review. Basically the outcome was that if your ECU can change the retardation and general fuelling then you could get some gains if only minor. However on forced induction cars you can certainly gain a noticeable and measurable difference. The evo results did dyno runs with all the fuel varieties on a group of different cars. The FI'ed cars did clearly show an improvement with Optimax/V-Power (which is considered to be much better than the rest).

My car is certainly less lumpy and more responsive on Optimax.

Matblack · 12-12-2006, 10:49

Minnie has been on V-Power from Day one and that is all she will ever get.
It is more expensive but the difference isn't much and the car is ment to have Super UL so it fits the bill.

According to the marketing hype the difference is two fold

a) Higher RON, if the car can use it (The ECU can adapt) this should give more power
b) The quality and quantity of the cleaners in the fuel should keep the injectors and the rest of the fuel system clean and healthy and hence give better long term performance.

Whether you belive this or not is really down to your suceptability to marketing hype and whether you act on it should be down to how hard you drive your car and how long you plan to keep it.

If it means anything at all then the MINI is performing to manufacturer quoted figures or slightly above based on some unscientific tests with a G-Meter. We'll know more on a rolling road

I'd be interested to find out if forced induction improvements is just turbo or if its supercharger too

MB

Burble · 12-12-2006, 10:59

I've shoved a few tanks of ultimate diesel in my car and I didn't notice any difference at all, other than my fuel bill was a bit higher than normal.

Will · 12-12-2006, 11:14

I think you'll only really get benefits from Petrol rather than Diesel, purely owing to the higher RON/MON ratings.

Feek · 12-12-2006, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

However on forced induction cars you can certainly gain a noticeable and measurable difference.

"forced induction" ?

/edit - Ahh, turbocharged, etc, ie non normally aspirated.

Zirax · 12-12-2006, 12:05

Its not worth bothering putting the uber stuff in my Focus, however....
If I put supermarket fuel in then the car is less responsive around the 4k rpm mark and isn't as rev happy. Sticking Esso/BP fuel in it does rev much more happily, which is handy as i'm normally wringing its neck to get it moving. There is a hell of a difference in my cars willingness to get up the rev range.

Apparently mine can adapt to the new fuel, but when you only have 120bhp ish to start with... I won't bother as its my commuter mobile.

Feek · 12-12-2006, 12:06

Is yours the petrol or the diesel version Focus? I'm guessing petrol.

12-12-2006, 09:28	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Does buying the more expensive fuel actually make a difference? BP have their 'Ultimate' diesel, Shell have their 'V-Power' stuff and I'm sure Esso will soon have an equivalent if they don't already. Does this stuff actually make any difference to the normal cheaper fuels or is it just marketing hype? If I run a few tanks of V-Power derv through the Feekmobile am I really likely to get an increased MPG of the same or greater percentage than the extra cost? Or is it all a load of marketing bollocks just intended to get more money over the counter? __________________

12-12-2006, 09:55	#2
kaiowas The Stig Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fightertown USA Posts: 1,458	The higher grade petrols will definately make a difference if your car has the ability to adapt to it. Don't know much about the diesels though, I'd suspect they're a marketing gimmick which probably just have a more aggressive set of detergents in or something. __________________ Anal Fish Porn

12-12-2006, 10:41	#4
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	Evo mag did this review. Basically the outcome was that if your ECU can change the retardation and general fuelling then you could get some gains if only minor. However on forced induction cars you can certainly gain a noticeable and measurable difference. The evo results did dyno runs with all the fuel varieties on a group of different cars. The FI'ed cars did clearly show an improvement with Optimax/V-Power (which is considered to be much better than the rest). My car is certainly less lumpy and more responsive on Optimax. __________________ *No No!*

12-12-2006, 10:49	#5
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Minnie has been on V-Power from Day one and that is all she will ever get. It is more expensive but the difference isn't much and the car is ment to have Super UL so it fits the bill. According to the marketing hype the difference is two fold a) Higher RON, if the car can use it (The ECU can adapt) this should give more power b) The quality and quantity of the cleaners in the fuel should keep the injectors and the rest of the fuel system clean and healthy and hence give better long term performance. Whether you belive this or not is really down to your suceptability to marketing hype and whether you act on it should be down to how hard you drive your car and how long you plan to keep it. If it means anything at all then the MINI is performing to manufacturer quoted figures or slightly above based on some unscientific tests with a G-Meter. We'll know more on a rolling road I'd be interested to find out if forced induction improvements is just turbo or if its supercharger too MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

12-12-2006, 11:14	#7
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	I think you'll only really get benefits from Petrol rather than Diesel, purely owing to the higher RON/MON ratings. __________________ *No No!*

12-12-2006, 10:09	#3
FakeSnake Absinthe Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devonshire Posts: 1,143	Well I have switched from Tesco 97 to V-Power about 5 tanks ago and noticed very little difference. I still get about 220 miles to a tank and bum-dyno performance is negligable as well. Only reason I am sticking to it, is because of its cleaning capabilities. It will be interesting at the next RR meet, as the last one was on Tesco 97 and made 326hp. In theory I should see an improvement.

12-12-2006, 10:59	#6
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	I've shoved a few tanks of ultimate diesel in my car and I didn't notice any difference at all, other than my fuel bill was a bit higher than normal.

12-12-2006, 12:05	#9
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Its not worth bothering putting the uber stuff in my Focus, however.... If I put supermarket fuel in then the car is less responsive around the 4k rpm mark and isn't as rev happy. Sticking Esso/BP fuel in it does rev much more happily, which is handy as i'm normally wringing its neck to get it moving. There is a hell of a difference in my cars willingness to get up the rev range. Apparently mine can adapt to the new fuel, but when you only have 120bhp ish to start with... I won't bother as its my commuter mobile.

12-12-2006, 12:06	#10
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Is yours the petrol or the diesel version Focus? I'm guessing petrol. __________________