Supermarket petrol okay for our car?

justmel

We had a mistibushi spacewagon 2.4 gdi,it gave up this week beyong economical repair so we have now got a Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 club,manual petrol.

Now i don't actually drive,my husband does so excuse any ignorance on my part,when we had the spacewagon so many mechanics would tell us it was a bit of a fussy car and not to use petrol from supermarkets.

That meant we were never able to take advantage of money off coupons or lower prices but now we have the Zafira i am wondering if it is actually fine to use the supermarket stuff if only when it's on offer?

I know some people say it can also reduce your mpg but have no idea if that is true or varies between car types,what do you all think? Good enough to use in a car like this or worth a bit extra to get it from a 'main' filling station?

Be gentle,i know little about the subject and we have only ever gone on the advice of mechanics who i am hoping not to see anytime soon *touches wood*.

ALM2013

Unless it's a performance car, use the cheapest fuel available. Going to BP or shell just isnt worth it for such a bog standard car.

Tesco pay at pumps does me fine.

motorguy

I monitor my fuel consumption very closely and record where i bought it, how many litres, miles covered, etc, and i always fill brim to brim.

Theres no difference in fuel consumption across brands.

Horizon81

At the end of the day you pays your money and you takes your choice. I've always driven petrols and have never bought supermarket fuel. It's not exactly the same end product as you get at BP/Total/Shell etc - although it may come from the same refineries, the additives are not the same. It's not just about MPG, it's also a matter of the quality/volume of additives that are used. Of course, this may never make any difference to your car whatsoever and the vast majority of people go to whoever's the cheapest.

colino

OP, before this starts another pointless, epically long and fruitless thread, have a search for similar questions, find out that all UK fuel meets minimum standards and around half of all UK fuel sales are from supermarkets. Not every second car is conking out, is it?

jase1

In this instance the mechanic was right.

The Mitsubishi GDI (an engine rather ahead of its time) was specified to use high-octane fuel, and if standard unleaded was used (not specifically supermarket fuel) it was apt to coking up.

The more mundane 1.6 engine in the Vauxhall has no such requirements -- so use any fuel you like without worry.

justmel

Thanks everyone,can't see why we shouldn't use it then especially when the vouchers for X amount off per litre come up again.

Yes the last car was very needy,lovely car in many ways but was not ours from new and came very coked up,husband did his best to de coke it and looked after it but i think it was too late by then..one of those mistake buys sadly.

I know many,many people fuel up at the supermarket and the Zafira is much more basic,just felt a bit nervous after having something needy but seems fine then,thanks again for all of your help,much appreciated

oldhand

justmel wrote: »

Thanks everyone,can't see why we shouldn't use it then especially when the vouchers for X amount off per litre come up again.

Yes the last car was very needy,lovely car in many ways but was not ours from new and came very coked up,husband did his best to de coke it and looked after it but i think it was too late by then..one of those mistake buys sadly.

I know many,many people fuel up at the supermarket and the Zafira is much more basic,just felt a bit nervous after having something needy but seems fine then,thanks again for all of your help,much appreciated

Agree with most of the replies,supermarket fuel is just as good and will certainly suffice for your zafira,when your lottery win comes up and you buy the lamborgini you may need to change supplier.;)

neilmcl

ALM2013 wrote: »

Unless it's a performance car, use the cheapest fuel available. Going to BP or shell just isnt worth it for such a bog standard car.

Tesco pay at pumps does me fine.

That assumes the likes of BP and Shell are not any cheaper than the local supermarket. My local Shell tends to be the cheapest in my area.

justmel

Thanks oldhand,i shall live in hope for that lottery win but wont hold my breath lol..very good point there too neilmcl,my husband says that currently esso are the cheapest in our area unless you go a few miles out of your way which would obviously defeat the purpose.

It's good to know though and when or if Tesco do the money off vouchers again we can use them,my husband had been giving them to a lovely elderly man he chats to because they were no use to him,feel a bit sad for the elderly man now but it will be good to be able to save a little when the chance is there.

Richard53

Don't forget http://www.petrolprices.com/

Pop in your postcode and you see the cheapest in your area. You can get regular email updates, too.