Cheap Petrol False economy

pyrorus

I commute to work and back everyday approximately 80 miles a day round trip and always used to fill up at the local supermarkets as there a few pence a litre cheaper. I usually use just over 3/4 of a tank (about £50) a week getting to work.

One day I was running late and needed to top up and rather than make the usualy detour to the supermarket stopped off at a BP to refill, I topped it up and it came to a couple of quid more as youd expect.

My surprise came the following week when I went to fill the car up and the needle had only gone down halfway, I'd done the same amount of miles at the same speed, the only difference was the fact Id been to a BP.

SO thinking it was just my imagination I thorght Id go the BP garage and try it again. It cost me £40 quid to top up.

Ive done this for the last few weeks and my car is definately using less petrol when I go to a BP than it does at the supermarkets.

Has anyone else found this and that the cheap petrol is actually a false economy.

Rus

RainbowsInTheSpray

So where is all the BP publicity telling us of this wonderful benefit..?

nickmack

Could well be external factors affecting it, the standard petrol (i.e. normal 95RON) usually comes from the same refineries and indeed gets delivered on the same trucks whether it goes to BP or Tesco.

Glad

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guss_2

All petrol comes from the same refineries in a particular area ,its the additives that are added by the tanker drivers on delvery that make the difference and affect economy . Its well known that some supermarkets skimp on these !! i have regularly experienced what the original poster mentioned and usually find that if you buy petrol from a mainstream oil company site, near a supermarket one the price is pretty much the same but the petrol gives better mpg due to the correct additives being added in the correct amounts . I have heard quite a few people comment on this but was confirmed to me by a relative who is a tanker driver .

stamford

guss wrote:

All petrol comes from the same refineries in a particular area ,its the additives that are added by the tanker drivers on delvery that make the difference and affect economy . Its well known that some supermarkets skimp on these !! i have regularly experienced what the original poster mentioned and usually find that if you buy petrol from a mainstream oil company site, near a supermarket one the price is pretty much the same but the petrol gives better mpg due to the correct additives being added in the correct amounts . I have heard quite a few people comment on this but was confirmed to me by a relative who is a tanker driver .

So what happens does the tanker driver disconnect the big pipe then give it a few shots of additive from his hand held spray ? Two squirts for Asda and three at Tesco- Sounds a bit of an old wives tale

mikey-mike_2

guss wrote:

.......was confirmed to me by a relative who is a tanker driver .

think he's pulling your leg

vansboy

stamford wrote:

So what happens does the tanker driver disconnect the big pipe then give it a few shots of additive from his hand held spray ? Two squirts for Asda and three at Tesco- Sounds a bit of an old wives tale

LOL!!

Not quite as easy as that!! The driver selects, using a card, the appropriate product, at the point of loading, depending on which fuel is going where.

As for the post, where is all the BP promotional blurb, well it IS there & has been for a few months, since they did a big push on their premium fuels.

& Shell have recently re-branded Optimax to V Power.

I'm a convert to Shell, as I do appreciate there is a difference. Plus the added extra of the filling stations in Luton, price match Asda, on unleaded & diesel, usually.

This means that although Vpower )my choice) is more expensive than unleaded, it's still worthwhile. Equates to around 7% dearer, but a similar increase in fuel economy.Cleaner engine, too - the additives are detergents,as well!

There is also the loyalty poins scheme, with Shell, worth between 1-3p/ltr discount, depending on your litres purchased & current offers.

So yes it IS worth buying a premium product!!

VB

LizEstelle

RainbowsInTheSpray wrote:

So where is all the BP publicity telling us of this wonderful benefit..?

I think this is the most telling comment here.

tomstickland

I've gone the other way. I use any old crap now and I haven't noticed a significant difference. I meant to keep records but lost interest TBH.

southernscouser

tomstickland wrote:

I've gone the other way. I use any old crap now and I haven't noticed a significant difference. I meant to keep records but lost interest TBH.

Where exactly do you put the hosepipe on your bicycle Tom?