Different Diesel Fuels?

[billynibbles]

I've just done two almost identically tedious runs from west London, once up the M40, M42, M5 and M6 thence to Settle in Yorkshire, and once back over the same route. On the way there, I used Tesco's diesel fuel in my C4 VTS Hdi 2.0. This smelled curiously pleasant when I sniffed my hands after fuelling up, like the fine oil you might use in sewing machines, but over the period of the run, the car refused to cruise gently at say 55 in 6th gear without jittering. (all the traffic conditions would allow for most of the journey)

 

On the return journey, I used Shell diesel, which smelled more of its old 'industrial' self but gave perfect smooth cruising, which is what leads me to my title question; could there be a difference? I know Tesco now have 5% bio-ethanol in their petrol (more as a saving on tax than for any altruisitic reasons) but their diesel definitely felt and smelled different - even if the car didn't seem to like it.

[C4VTS]

When I had my Audi A4 TDi, using Shell diesel made the car quieter and smoother compared to Morrisons supermarket fuel.

 

The jury is still out on my C4VTS. <_<

[Safety Engineer]

I've used Tesco's fuel (mostly diesel) for quite a while and haven't found any problems with it, by have also tried running it with Millers diesel additive on each fill, have found that I get better mpg, have also tried BP Ultimate diesel again with better mpg than the basic Tesco's.

 

On along term basis I've now gone for the Tesco's with Millers, it gives nearly the same mpg as the BP but even at £7 quid a bottle it still works out out cheaper in pence per litre than the Ultimate.

 

These guys are really into thier fuels and additive, with one poster working in the fuel industry, worth a look: http://www.dervhead.com/xmb/

[hertsnminds]

This from the Honest John website

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ind...htm?f=2&t=34000

 

All crude in to UK refineries is the same (there is an established acceptable range for certain attributes). All petrol out the other end is the same (within an accepted range).

 

The tankers line up, fill up with petrol and then add 'additives' relevant to who's buying the petrol. Therefore the base petrolis all the same there is no concept of Shell say geeting the 'good' stuff.

 

None of the oil majors owns tankers anymore. They are all sub-contacted out. They may carry an oil companies livery but they don't own or run the tankers. I'm not sure if Tescos own their own tanker or not. Don't think it matters.

 

All sellers are party to a net fuel agreement whereby they swap fuel if someone has an unexpected shortage. They are one or two fuels outside the agreement such as Optimax but nearly all are in it.

 

So the only difference between supermarket fuel and branded fuel is the 'additives' unless you happen to be filing up with swapped fuel in which case you could be buying Tescos fuel at a Shell station or vice versa.

 

The oil majors have never made any claims in their advertising that these 'additives' do anything as if they did they would have to prove it.

 

Some people including HJ insist that using 'good' fuel increase engine life some people like me say its all nonsense. You pays your money and you takes your choice...

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[Johndouglas]

Without passing any judgement on Tesco's diesel, I just make the following observation. My daughter runs the Xsara mentioned in my signature. It's at around 50000 miles from new and she runs it exclusively on Tescos fuel. She drives around 50 miles each day, mostly on dual carriageways. Prior to last MOT, I gave it its usual big swig of Redex diesel and told her to give it a thrashing. At MOT, it just scraped a pass. The other two vehicles with the same treatment, sail through the emission test. All I can think is that it's down to the fuel.

[Rich_Eason]

Funnily enough this topic came up on a work intranet forum. There are some right bods on there and the word on the street is at the mo some poopermarket deisel is being mixed with "bio fuel" what ever that means.

 

Sewing machine oil by the way is Whale Oil <_<

 

Watch out for swampy

[Johndouglas]

the word on the street is at the mo some poopermarket deisel is being mixed with "bio fuel" what ever that means.

 

'City diesel', which is what supermarkets sell has a mixture of 5% bio diesel. The same stuff which has been on sale in France for the past couple of years. They sell nothing but. The bio diesel is manufactured from rape seed oil or sugar beet.

[ham's c4vts]

I've just done two almost identically tedious runs from west London, once up the M40, M42, M5 and M6 thence to Settle in Yorkshire, and once back over the same route. On the way there, I used Tesco's diesel fuel in my C4 VTS Hdi 2.0. This smelled curiously pleasant when I sniffed my hands after fuelling up, like the fine oil you might use in sewing machines, but over the period of the run, the car refused to cruise gently at say 55 in 6th gear without jittering. (all the traffic conditions would allow for most of the journey)

 

On the return journey, I used Shell diesel, which smelled more of its old 'industrial' self but gave perfect smooth cruising, which is what leads me to my title question; could there be a difference? I know Tesco now have 5% bio-ethanol in their petrol (more as a saving on tax than for any altruisitic reasons) but their diesel definitely felt and smelled different - even if the car didn't seem to like it.

perhaps its because you were going uphill to yorkshire, and the return journey was back down hill? :rolleyes:

[Safety Engineer]

Prior to the C4 I had a Xsara 1.9d started on 24,500 miles and sold it at 138,000 miles. Always run on Tesco's diesel (never used additives) mostly m-way and dc.

 

Only change was the air filter to a K&N 'High Efficiency' filter

 

Always passed emissions well within spec.

 

Bearing in mind once a manufacturer produces over a certain quantity ALL fuel sold must meet the relevant BS/EN Standard.

 

The only exception are the small biodiesel producers, but a lot of them do often get BS standard accredititation.