Which petrol purchase is 'cheaper'?

John_Gray

Having completely failed to identify a forum in which this question would be more appropriate, I'm posting this in my 'home' forum!

Currently my local Tesco garage is selling petrol for 130.9p per litre, and a cheapo petrol station about the same distance away from my house is selling it for 129.9p, thus 1p a litre cheaper.

I would normally buy the petrol using a Tesco credit card, so I will get some Clubcard points from a purchase at the cheapo petrol station, but rather more if I buy at the Tesco petrol station.

How can I work out which purchase is actually 'cheaper'?

closed

Assuming the petrol quality is identical, if they are equi-distant, it would depend on whether you are making a special visit to one or the other, or going past/close anyway, and the amount you intend to buy, and the number of points, and value you'd place on them, which also depends on what you intend to use the points for.

1 point for £2 tesco petrol
1 point for £4 CC?

Also add to that, the unknown personal cost, of adding extra stress to your life trying to decide.

Some student has probably done a thesis on it.

kwikbreaks

If you buy from a Tesco station with a Tesco credit card I'm pretty sure you end up with double points - one lot from normal Tesco points and a second from the CC use. As that amounts to an additional ~ 1p in the pound or more if you use Tesco points doubling it makes the Tesco petrol cheaper already.

For other calculating I base my estimates on a 50l fill so 1p less a litre equates to 50p. 50p at standard mileage rates would be about 2 miles - it isn't just fuel it's wear and tear too.

It's usually better to fill up at a petrol station you pass in the normal course of your travels than to make a special trip.

JJ_Egan

My method is to subscribe to Petrol Prices .com and use the app and weekly email . That gives me a good indication of local prices . Then once i get to around half a tank i will buy if i see low price .
General rule of thumb is Asda are cheaper than Tesco .I have a sort of pattern in my head after a few months of those likely to be cheaper or expensive . Typically avoid buying on a Friday or just before the school holiday bank holiday etc .
Within ten miles today's diesel price is from 141.9 to 134.9.

John_Gray

Yes, I use PetrolPrices.com, but there's no Asda petrol within ten miles, just Tesco and Sainsbury's, of the big supermarkets.

The other time to avoid buying petrol is if you see the tanker there, or just leaving, because the gunge at the bottom of the forecourt petrol tanks will have been stirred up by the new gush of petrol added (or is this just an urban myth?!).

JJ_Egan

Its possible grunge but there are filters .
Big problem with tanks is usually water ingress .

wealdroam

John_Gray wrote: »

Having completely failed to identify a forum in which this question would be more appropriate, I'm posting this in my 'home' forum!

I guess you have yet to stumble across The Motoring Board?

johnmc

Just to add another variable, I keep very carefull records of mileage and fuel use.

I get an extra 2 mpg from Sainsbury petrol as opposed to Tesco or Asda. So an 11 gallon tank will provide 22 extra miles.

It may actually be worth driving a small distance to Mr S as opposed to Mr T. Also I get Nectar points on their petrol as well as Clubcard points by using my Clubcard Credit card.

John_Gray

wealdroam wrote: »

I guess you have yet to stumble across The Motoring Board?

Absolutely correct - I've been through the list three times, and never found that one!