Diesel Fuels - Which is best including premium fuels

[Chris_374224489]

1. Has anybody any real evidence about whether the premium diesel fuels are worth any extra cost?

2. Which diesel fuel - both premium & ordinary is best?

Best might include economy, performance, exhaust particle issues, engine/injector longevity etc.

I have never seen real proof that the premium diesels are worth the extra but I have seen some strong suggestions that some brands of ordinary diesel perform better in certain engines than others. As towing is a high stress activity for engines I am hoping for some thoughts based on evidence.

 

[Jaydug]

I tow down to Malaga every year and for the past four years I've been using the latest Euro4 diesel engine. In France I tend to fill up with hypermarket diesel but in Spain, because it's a similar price, I generally use premium Cepsa. Fuel consumption doesn't alter any on the journey. Maybe the engine pulls a bit more enthusiasticly though.

 

[Douglas_374404558]

HI! I run a KIA Sportage diesel if i put in Te--o supermarket diesel it has a small flat spot on lowdown revs but if i use other diesel ie Esso,BP,Shell NO lowdown flat spot ???

Cheers

Duggie

 

[Royston]

I use shell did not notice any difference between the super and normal diesel apart from the price the super being 7p per ltr more

Royston

 

[Mikey1]

Supermarket fuels dont have as many additives as he normal oil company fuels.

Sometimes i have put the ultimate fuel in but at 10p more a litre i couldnt tell any difference.

 

[Chris_374224489]

The lack of real short term benefit with premium fuels seems to reflect magazine test results.

As far as ordinary diesel is concerned the suggestion I heard was that Sainsbury & Morrison was better than some of the other supermarkets. Any experience?

 

[Gumbo]

I have read some place that the premium fuels lubricate the injector pump better than Supermarket blends. Sulphur used to do the lubricating, but with it's demise I suspect that the Oil Companies have added something to the premium blends to overcome this problem !!!

 

[JTQ]

It really does depend on the design of the engine itself.

I have found the differences more marked in VW 1.9 PD engines than various others.

The improvement has also been in the subjective area of engine smoothness/refinement rather that in achieved mpg.

Also its benefits seem more to do with the initial cold running and creeping in traffic rather than more higher power use , towing motorways etc.

That all said I still invest in a tank full once in a while in the belief it might help clean the injectors more that using my normal Shell basic diesel Fuel. I remain pretty convinced the benefits are in keeping the injectors clean to best burn whatever fuel is being used.

I have also done extended testing using Millers Sport 4 additive and found no general mpg differences but the same refinement improvement with just the VW PD engines.

 

[Terry_5112949]

I use the ordinary Shell diesel, not noticed any mpg against supermarket diesel but my car always seems to run smoother and more responsive. I avoid Tesco on a helmet removal rule when I`m on my bike, but thats another story.

 

[Neil_5041165]

My diesel Kia Sedona has just clocked up 83K and I've just spent

 

[Guest]

The premium diesel fuels from the likes of BP and Shell, actually have higher cetane ratings than normal diesel.

Its a bit like in the old days 5 start petrol and 2 star petrol.

It "should" be better, and give ever so slightly better running performance and MPG, but in most cases its hardly noticeable, but rest assured it is better. Whether its worth paying the extra for that's up to the individual.

Me I use Millers with normal diesel it cost

 

[johno1]

Hi chris,

I normally use supermarket diesel but now and then use BP and can certainly feel a difference with BP, consumption still the same but engine smoother and more willing to pull

 

[Sedo]

Hi

On 2 cars we've had 03 Fiat Multipla and 07 Kia Sportage actually found putting ultimate diesel in actually had an adverse affect on the enigines performance.

We don't find much difference running on Supermarket diesel fuels but we never used T---o petrol, that really affected engine running.

As a rule we try to put branded fuel in every so often, I must admit though in retrospect our Sedona does feel a bit smoother on some.

On a particular occasion with a VW Passat GTi when we filled up with Jet fuel it ran like a different car after using T---o for the points.

I was told by someone who worked in the filling station (T---O) that it was up to the delivery driver to add additives. Whether this is true I don't know but our car certainly ran noticably a lot better on Jet.

Going back to the original point though I would say try the Ultimate for a period and see if it alters your performance if not stick to normal.

Tomo

 

[moulineuxgorilla]

I always add millers sport additive to the diesel fuel as recommended by Honest John reporter in the Saturday Telegraph; also he says prevents injector pump failure due to supermarket fuel having less lubricant.

Simon

 

[Del_374232870]

I try to stick to Shell or BP premium diesel and usauly get about 2 - 3 mpg, But more important is that I dont get the usual black soecs on the van. Also worth considering is what is happening within the engine where you cant see. A bit like the human body, we try and eat what is good for us , car engines are the same , they need to be looked after

 

[ProfJohnL]

I try to stick to Shell or BP premium diesel and usauly get about 2 - 3 mpg, But more important is that I dont get the usual black soecs on the van. Also worth considering is what is happening within the engine where you cant see. A bit like the human body, we try and eat what is good for us , car engines are the same , they need to be looked after

Question Del,

If you only use premium grades, how do you know you get better mpg?