Supermarket fuel any good?

shandypants5

I have read a few posts recently saying that supermarked fuel can be bad for you engine.

I use Sainsburys diesel as its the cheapest (usually) and I collect nectar points too.

I thought Sainsburys fuel was supplied by BP , so how can it be any different to the stuff I occasionally buy on the motorway?

Are there any scientist type fuel boffins on here, who actually have some REAL data or info about different types of fuel and where they are supplied from.

I know one supermarket had contamination problems recently, but wasnt that just a delivery problem?

vikingaero

If you use Sainsburys the supplier of the fuel will generally be the nearest oil refinery to that branch of Sainsburys. So East Anglian Sainsburys will be more likely to be supplied by Shell at Shell Haven/Stanford le Hope, Southern Sainsburys will get fuel from Esso Fawley etc.

The fuel problem was due to a contaminant in the storage depot.

The premium brands inject an additive pack into their fuels.

shandypants5

When you say premium brands you mean BP, Shell, and alike?

The reason I ask is that I am sure ALL sainsburys are BP (they all come up as BP garages on my satnav).

So is BP sainsbury different to BP motorway?

And when are these secret "additive Packs" added?
In the tanker or at the refinery, or in the garage underground tanks?

I am really after some REAL data here.

Not saying your wrong vikingaero, I just need proof.

If these additives are just a squirt of "redex" then I can do that myself cheaper..:rotfl:

barclaysguy

I asked my uncle about this, he works at fawley. He reckons all the tankers go to the same place to fill up and nothings different.

However there was that tesco fuel scare a few years ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6405051.stm

Then each supermarket does give out contracts for their fuel supply. So as viking said it would also depend on what fuelling station your at.

shandypants5

Surely there must be a place where I can see exactly what ingredients are in my fuel.

I mean, "Does it contain nuts" would be a good start.

The sign says that BP ultimate will give me better fuel economy, but it is a lot more expensive.

Where can I see the ACTUAL performance test data, and ingredients list for the fuel I am buying.

System

I have found from experience that my Zafira is quite happy with ASDA but runs poorly, with reduced MPG, when using Morrisons, Sainsbury or Tesco (diesel).

Don't know what the difference is between the fuels but this is from trying various supermarket fuels across the Midlands & North England, So it isn't limited to a single point of supply.

Hintza

shandypants5 wrote: »

Where can I see the ACTUAL performance test data, and ingredients list for the fuel I am buying.

Think that would be a bit like asking Coca Cola for their recipe.

Hintza

I am lucky in that the not so local Asda is price matched by the Shell Station down the road although recently I think their might be a penny in favour of Asda.

I believe that supermarket petrols have less lubricaty (sp) than the majors. Since I lease a car for 1-2 years if their was big price difference I might choose the supermarket petrol.

However is I was running car for extended mileage/years then I would probably play safe with say Shell or BP on most fill ups.

Try the honestjohn site you might find some more scientific threads on this issue.

Conor_3

At the end of the day, all the garages in your area use the same base fuel. Different brands will add different additives to the base fuel. Running on the base fuel alone with no additives WILL NOT damage your car so therefore there's no need to worry about them not being there. BP Ultimate etc will only benefit your car if the engine management is of the type that can remap the timing to take advantage of it. Many can't so there's no advantage whatsoever to using it.

As for figures, RetroFord did a comparison test a few months ago. Upshot was that unless you had a car tuned for over 200BHP, standard supermarket petrol was as good as any.

goldspanners

!!!!!! wrote: »

I have found from experience that my Zafira is quite happy with ASDA but runs poorly, with reduced MPG, when using Morrisons, Sainsbury or Tesco (diesel).

Don't know what the difference is between the fuels but this is from trying various supermarket fuels across the Midlands & North England, So it isn't limited to a single point of supply.

im sorry but i just dont believe this for a second, i fuel up my company van regulary using tesco (for the points) but also sometimes have to use shell and bp or whoever is closest at the time, and i have found absoloutly no difference in mpg,or how the engine runs,if your zafiras engine is running poorly i would be getting it looked at rather than blaming the fuel you use.
i dont think supermarket fuel is any lesser than buying at bp or shell, diesel is diesel and even cheap red diesel will still lubricate just as well as the most expensive bp ultimate diesel.

and just to note tesco bring thier fuel from the netherlands not the nearest refinery.

LandyAndy

I run three vehicles. A twenty six year old petrol Land Rover, a thirteen year old Peugeot turbo diesel and a two year old Mazda RX-8. All are filled from both supermarket and 'branded' filling stations. I have never noted a variation in performance or economy that could be attributed to fuel source (not that performance and economy are things normally associated with old Land Rovers:rolleyes: )