Premium unleaded - worth it?

Joe_Horner

Ranger8 wrote: »

And good for you too my friend, many more of them and think of all those pennies you`ve saved as well

But those "pennies" add up. At the current difference around here of £1.34 for supermarket unleaded and £143 for the "posh stuff", my annual useage of around 1400 litres would cost around £125 extra a year using brand name. That's my insurance premium paid for, thanks very much!

As for the "better additives / cleaner engine etc....":

When was the last time those who subscribe to that line actually stripped an engine running on any fuel and saw what "clean" or "dirty" means?

Just wondering seeing as I've done a fair bit of engine building over the past 30 years or so and the way they're used (never warming up, not getting oil changed etc) has far more effect on deposits than the fuel does. To quote a previous post, That's FACT!

Ranger8

Joe_Horner wrote: »

As for the "better additives / cleaner engine etc....":

When was the last time those who subscribe to that line actually stripped an engine running on any fuel and saw what "clean" or "dirty" means?

I know when I had a 2.7d Jag its DPF didn`t regenerate as often when using Shell V-Power

A._Badger

If these mystery additives (which are never specified, you can't help noticing) actually did anything provable, the very same marketing departments that are trying to persuade the gullible to buy 'premium' fuels, would be turning their guns full on the supermarkets. So would the car makers themselves. And both would do so using claims that stood up to scrutiny.

They don't do it because there is little or no evidence to back the claim. Which leaves us with self-styled 'experts' on chat rooms and forums who know it 'for certain.'. Again, without a shred of evidence.

Ranger8

At the end of the day if your all happy saving money by not buying premium fuel I`m happy so sleep easy about me paying the `extra` because I really don`t mind ...

Live and let live eh?
:beer:

Paradigm

Ranger8 wrote: »

At the end of the day if your all happy saving money by not buying premium fuel I`m happy so sleep easy about me paying the `extra` because I really don`t mind ...

Live and let live eh?
:beer:

Couldn't agree more

Joe_Horner

Ranger8 wrote: »

I know when I had a 2.7d Jag its DPF didn`t regenerate as often when using Shell V-Power

So instead of creating excess soot, it may have been creating excess tar that was gumming up the rings. Without stripping and looking, you just don't know.

As Badger says, if the claims were supportable beyond a "maybe" their very well paid marketing guys (whos wages are included in that higher price per litre, btw) would be all over it.

In case you hadn't noticed, the supermarkets tend not to spend anything on fuel adverts - they just keep their prices down (relatively) and stick the forecourts where they know people will be passing.

Joe_Horner

Ranger8 wrote: »

At the end of the day if your all happy saving money by not buying premium fuel I`m happy so sleep easy about me paying the `extra` because I really don`t mind ...

Live and let live eh?
:beer:

Yep, I can go with that

If we all bought the same it'd end up costing more for everyone anyway - can you imagine what that world-wide fuel monopoly could charge?

A._Badger

Joe_Horner wrote: »

In case you hadn't noticed, the supermarkets tend not to spend anything on fuel adverts - they just keep their prices down (relatively) and stick the forecourts where they know people will be passing.

It is worth making one extra point here - who says supermarkets are cheaper anyway?

I noticed in Hastings last week that an Esso station was 1p per litre cheaper than the Sainsbury's right next door.

If the supermarkets deserve a kicking for their petrol policies it is better aimed at the way they have caused the closure on numerous privately owned small garages by their launch of 'cheap' fuel - which mysteriously seemed to rise in price once the small retailers had been driven out of business.

When the you're starting to panic as your drive through Norfolk or Cornwall on a Saturday night, unable to find petrol at any price, it's largely the supermarkets you have to thank.

gkerr4

interesting thread.

I used to have a 325i BMW and it didn't seem to make any odds what fuel used in it. I now have a 330d and I have to admit that I usually try and stick the 'posh' stuff in it once every 2 or 3 fill-ups. I do a few miles in it and am concered about the DPF being a major cost. not sure if it does anything or not - i used to use the millers additive in place of the expensive fuel which can be seen as a way of getting the additive package of the posh fuel for about 2p/litre rather than the 4/5ppl at the pumps. In my last C220CDI merc that stuff made a massive difference to the quieteness of the engine - it really did! It's not such a big differnce in the (already quiet) 3.0 6-cyl BMW unit.

I do however, always run my 600cc sports motorbike on the premium unleaded. It has individual knock sensors and can change the ignition retardation rate based on the octane of the fuel. It actually 'feels' better - the fuelling is better on part throttle as well as feeling a bit smoother - could be in my head though, but for all the difference it makes (only do 2000 miles max on the motorbike) i'm going to stick with it!

Joe_Horner

Those are exactly the sort of machines that can benefit from the "better" fuel, gkerr, although whether any benefit in fuel economy can actually offset the extra cost of the fuel will be marginal at best.

As for the supermarkets forcing closure of the indies, yes there's some truth in that but remember that tmost of those indies had their prices set artificially high by the oil companies in the first place. Road fuel is essential in modern life and those supplying it will always charge as much as they can get possibly away with - not helped by the absurd cut taken by UK PLC of course!