Oil and fuel. Thoughts and opinions

[Big lou]

I was interested to see everyone’s views on the use of branded fuels versus supermarket fuels (high octane only). You run in your car and your reasons for it?

Also, the same thing applies to oil when doing oil changes. we are now in an age where getting fully synthetic oil is pretty easy, but how much do you rate the typical big branded versus alternatives.

I appreciate that different additives may be used. Just interested in peoples views and experiences.

I personally use Tesco momentum and shell v power when I can, but I’ve definitely used 95 and 97 octane when the others weren’t available on road trips, et cetera.

I am yet to do a full service on my Ghibli, I will probably use the recommended shell oil as the additional cost isn’t that much. In the past in German diesels I haven’t really minded or cared too much. I think petrols are a bit of a different matter, though. Again I don’t really have a reason to believe this apart from personal choice and preference.

 

[zagatoes30]

One thing Ireland are certainly behind on, we have no high octane fuel here which was offset by us only having E5 but now like everywhere else E10 is starting to proliferate along with all the issues this cause us owners of older cars.

 

[MrMickS]

I only ever used 95 octane in my Ghilbi S. Mostly supermarket stuff, with the odd tank of Shell, then whatever I could get hold of in Europe. It didn't make any appreciable difference that I could see and saved a packet. Up and over the Swiss passes with 95 octane with no issues, unlike the poor Alfa 916 Spider the struggled to keep going without the higher octane level. I put it down being newer and the turbos getting more air into the system.

I always used the recommended Shell oil when topping up and for a service. Oddly I always managed to just have to top it up a month or so before the service.

Edit:
By contrast the California lives on VPower unless I can't get hold of it. I had to put in whatever was available on the NC500 and it seemed fine. It also had no issues on the mountain passes even without turbos.

 

[Ebenezer]

95 from Morrisons or Costco for mine - never had an issue
Eb

 

[CatmanV2]

95 from Morrisons or Costco for mine - never had an issue
Eb

Never had an issue on any vehicle on 95. Apart from my old Ducati Monster that would ice its carbs in winter

C

 

[Zep]

There is some suggestion that the mainstream brands have a better detergent package than supermarket when it come to petrol. In the end it’s what you believe, and probably how you use your car. If you are steady, then probably not a lot of odds, if you spank it every time you drive, it might help.

As for oil, I think that there is much more difference, with the more expensive stuff having better long chain polymers and detergents. Unlike petrol, which goes through your engine once, the oil is in there for a while and so I use the best / specified one.

 

[CatmanV2]

There is some suggestion that the mainstream brands have a better detergent package than supermarket when it come to petrol. In the end it’s what you believe, and probably how you use your car. If you are steady, then probably not a lot of odds, if you spank it every time you drive, it might help.

As for oil, I think that there is much more difference, with the more expensive stuff having better long chain polymers and detergents. Unlike petrol, which goes through your engine once, the oil is in there for a while and so I use the best / specified one.

This makes sense. But marketing is a powerful thing. There's no *published* reason why Super would have impacted carb icing, or indeed anything that I can offer as *proper* evidence, other than, when the weather was ****** and I rode into London I would pull off (or even onto) the M11, and at the roundabout, the damned thing would die. Unless I had super in the tank. Absolutely no obvious difference in performance, though

C

 

[TimR]

Check out google. There are a number of tubers who make it their business to test various fuels and make brand comparisons….
It’s a an ever changing landscape of variables, and as such, making generalisations based on brand, or region is little more than a snap shot. I found something else to watch for my sanity…
Equally, there are some interesting discussions on oils that are more informative….

 

[CatmanV2]

making generalisations based on brand, or region is little more than a snap shot

As are any tubers making proclamations on *highly* limited data and tests. How many cars, miles, conditions / other variables? Personally I suspect the 'data' is utterly worthless

C

 

[MRichards]

All gasolines are made to the same international specifications so you just use whatever RON is recommended & ignore the branding & promotion nonsense. Secondly fuel companies share product so what you buy at the pump maybe came from a Shell refinery and was sold to an Exxon outlet, or a BP outlet etc.
Thirdly, our cars used on the road aren't critical when it comes to octane rating. Knock sensors adjust the timing if there is a problem so you are unaware of any little glitches.
Oils are different, but they are all made to international specifications and it's printed on the label as a two letter code. Some companies exceed the specifications in their formulation such as Mobil 1 and are very good at keeping the internals clean. You get what you pay for, so Mobil 1 is expensive. Modern oil formulations are very good and any brand will do the job for a road car. There is no point in fussing over oils,the engine will eventually wear out whatever oil you use.

Now let the oil war begin !

 

[CatmanV2]

All gasolines are made to the same international specifications so you just use whatever RON is recommended & ignore the branding & promotion nonsense. Secondly fuel companies share product so what you buy at the pump maybe came from a Shell refinery and was sold to an Exxon outlet, or a BP outlet etc.
Thirdly, our cars used on the road aren't critical when it comes to octane rating. Knock sensors adjust the timing if there is a problem so you are unaware of any little glitches.
Oils are different, but they are all made to international specifications and it's printed on the label as a two letter code. Some companies exceed the specifications in their formulation such as Mobil 1 and are very good at keeping the internals clean. You get what you pay for, so Mobil 1 is expensive. Modern oil formulations are very good and any brand will do the job for a road car. There is no point in fussing over oils,the engine will eventually wear out whatever oil you use.

Now let the oil war begin !

****** Facts *again*!

C

 

[TimR]

As are any tubers making proclamations on *highly* limited data and tests. How many cars, miles, conditions / other variables? Personally I suspect the 'data' is utterly worthless

C

Mostly just weeding out the Ethanol and measuring it…
I wont buy supermarket junk. So sue me..! Neither will I pay up for V-Power more than 1 in 3 or 4 tank fill ups….
Not so the oil…hence why it’s more educational.
Oil comes from the ground. ( ) The well of its origin makes a notable difference. It’s this that decides what it gets used for largely, afaik. Beyond that, it’s all clever chemistry. To suggest we should have no interest in it and just use whatever were told, is to miss the point, and rather patronising, honestly…! Not that anyone on here would suggest such a thing….

 

[midlifecrisis]

When buying from Costco, I always use the super duper unleaded stuff as it's blaaady cheap, stupid not too.

 

[Sam McGoo]

The fuel thing has obviously been debated to death on every car forum ever.
My 2p is that pretty much ever since Tesco brought out 99, I've used it in all my cars whenever I can.
For me, its best bang for buck.
Before the Maserati I was always into tuned, forced induction, Japanese cars. I drive my cars fairly hard, and like to use the Revs and I have had never had a fuel related issue on any of them, and when getting them tuned most of the tuners recommended using Tesco 99.
I will/have put Shell Optimax/V-power in all of them when I couldn't get Tesco99 and I never really feel any difference, but to me the price jump is unwarranted and there seems to be no benefit.
On the very rare occasion that I've had to splash £20 worth of 95 in to get to a petrol station that has 99, I can notice the difference. You can defiantly feel the car holding back a bit when you put your foot down.

I suppose for those drivers that cruise around never revving over 4k rpm, any fuel, even 95, will be 'fine'. But as most of these cars recommend at least '97 octane, I personally won't risk it for the sake a few pence per litre.

 

[Brendan]

However you look after your car how did the previous owners?

 

[Big lou]

However you look after your car how did the previous owners?

The terrifying roulette. I’ve seen all kinds of ‘paperwork’ showing work done that once you get stuck in, definitely hasn’t been done.

stamps in the book aren’t the be all and end all imo, I’d rather someone who works on their own cars are generally they know them inside and not. Again, that could be good or bad. Honest people seem harder to come by now…

 

[TimR]

On the very rare occasion that I've had to splash £20 worth of 95 in to get to a petrol station that has 99, I can notice the difference. .

Maybe why I got left in the weeds by some 3 series BMW oil burner yesterday…

(I couldn’t believe how fast that old sh1tb0x was….Ooops ! )

 

[philw696]

Mobil 1 and the BMW 325i that did a Million Miles following service schedules and BMW were one of the first to put service indicators on to dashboards what the discovered was very interesting.
You get what you pay for.

 

[Bebs]

Maybe why I got left in the weeds by some 3 series BMW oil burner yesterday…

(I couldn’t believe how fast that old sh1tb0x was….Ooops ! )

 

[TimR]

Mobil 1 and the BMW 325i that did a Million Miles following service schedules and BMW were one of the first to put service indicators on to dashboards what the discovered was very interesting.
You get what you pay for.

Interesting. Lovely cars imo. Poor thing.
Of course, it’s all down to their marvelous fuel….
Nothing whatsoever to do with BMW engineering & design.
BMW have forgotten how to do engines since. Rod end bearing ball ache, and more recently, crappy crank slip….
Mobil fix that too …?!