Unleaded/super unleaded

hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
It is against certain laws to publish facts and figures that are not true. I normally use V-Power Nitro, but I also use the odd bit of BP Ultimate and other SUL's when needed. My car deserves the best, as I expect the best from her..!!
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,943
Precious few facts and figures in that article:

'Top of the list is Friction Modification Technology, which has been increased by 25 per cent in the latest formulation.'

25% of sod all is sod all

'Secondly, V-Power contains cleaning and protective elements that both prevent the build up of carbon deposits in the intake valves and fuel injectors while cleaning any deposits that already exist. It also acts to prevent corrosion'

Which does not indicate it's actually any better at it than the regular stuff


OK here's one:
'Over a period of months of use, Shell V-Power can remove substantial amounts of build up. '

I'd be more impressed if it gave some comparative figures to 'substantial' but here's the really important bit:

'There are so many variables at play, of course, that pinning down any direct percentage value in performance or power improvements is impossible'

That is all

C
 
drewf

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
Since ethanol in fuel is a big worry for quite a few people, here's a really quick and easy way to check if the fuel you buy has any ethanol in it.

The CAA forbids use of ethanol in light aircraft fuel, which for most GA aircraft isn't an issue as they are using typically 100LL fuel bought at the airfield, but microlights and similar often use engines running on 'Mogas' - effectively fuel bought from a standard petrol station. You can buy kits to test for the presence of alcohol, usually using little blue/purple cotton buds which change the colour of the test sample.

Not really necessary for car fuel testing, as the video shows:

[video=youtube;rd-iO1-ZCMo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd-iO1-ZCMo[/video]
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,943
That's almost a good reason, although there's no way to determine how valid the claims that no ethanol is added except in some regions is impossible to validate, or indeed to be sure that it continues to be valid. That is the petrol companies may decide to add ethanol to SUL at any time, and there's lots of un-substantiated claims that SUL already has ethanol in it.

I'm no great chemist, or physicist, but some of the claims as to lean burning and corrosiveness strike me as being 'not quite right'. This quote also does nothing for his credentials:
'Ethanol is simply a form of alcohol modified to use it as a fuel by making it undrinkable (ethyl alcohol)'

Simply not true.

It's not immediately obvious what qualifications he has either.

C
 
drewf

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
Agree with you C, but it's not impossible to check whether or not ethanol is in the fuel - I've just given you a really simple way to test it. Won't tell you how much is there, whereas the test kits will give you a fair approximation of the percentage present.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,943
drewf said:
Agree with you C, but it's not impossible to check whether or not ethanol is in the fuel - I've just given you a really simple way to test it. Won't tell you how much is there, whereas the test kits will give you a fair approximation of the percentage present.
Click to expand...

That's cunning OB. Not that I really fancy doing that every tank :)

C
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
Some interesting facts in all those clips and text. My overall impression is as before, Super Unleaded is mainly better and Shell V-Power in the golf test gives an increase in BHP, so that's all. If you want to buy cheap and use Ethanol added fuel with the drawbacks and lower BHP, then you are free to do so, not for me though..!!
 
G

Greg Bowman

New Member
Messages
30
I like this from Honest John's forum the Telegraph writer:

"So he's bought a £100 grand car and he'd reluctant to spend 8p a litre more on fuel that will give it an extra 50 horsepower, keep its fuel system clean and pay for itself with better fuel economy. He must have won the lottery"

I don't buy the fuel economy bit but all my vehicles over the years have run better with SUL and Shell seems to be the best. The flushing it through everyone so often I don't buy think you have to use constantly.

As for supermarket stuff, lets face it they are quite happy to label stuff you eat as from cows when it is actually horse so if you believe they aren't going to go as cheap as they can on fuel.......
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,916
Im fortunate to have a supermarket petrol station just 1000 ft from a Esso and 1/4 mile from a shell garage all on the same road...so decent petrol at SM prices here.
 
Klive

Klive

Junior Member
Messages
725
I had to use the standard fuel last week for 3 fills, as soon as I put the super in there was a clear difference in power. This isn't the first time I noticed this. Is it only me that has had this experience?
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,943
Klive said:
I had to use the standard fuel last week for 3 fills, as soon as I put the super in there was a clear difference in power. This isn't the first time I noticed this. Is it only me that has had this experience?
Click to expand...

Yes ;)

C
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
The old 3200GT drives lots better on Shell V Power...but as it's a 14 mile round trip to the nearest Shell station, it normally runs on Sainsbury's finest!

Dave
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
I had a grim experience with Fuel last week which I don't ever want to repeat. It turned out my misfire under load was down to bad fuel potentially too much water content. Never going to use BP Super again from my locL from now on it is the highest Octane Tesco momentum (99) which is higher than Shells Vpower.

I am going to drain the tank and change the fuel filter this week.
 
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