[JD6]

I often see Trading Standards taking volume measurements at fuel pumps, but I wonder if they test the fuel, particularly the difference between premium and non-premium fuels?

I must have tried BP Ultimate Diesel about 5 times in the past at 2 different forecourts, after forum members described the benefits they saw. About 3 of those were consecutive, just to make sure that I was running on nearly 100% BP Ultimate. The difference I found to be at best marginal, or perhaps non-existent, so I went back to ordinary fuel.

A few days ago, I filled the tank with about 45 litres of BP Ultimate Diesel again. However, this time I have noticed a real difference. The engine is quicker to respond and smoother, completely unlike the previous times. One explanation could be that at 24k miles, my car has benefited from the cleaning property of the fuel, where before this was less significant.

This got me wondering - is there anything to prevent petrol stations passing off ordinary diesel as the premium version? Is fuel grade tested at the pump, are sales of premium/ordinary audited against supply, or is this a potential lucrative scam which will almost always go undetected?

[Watsey]

Good question. We'd hope that independent testing and the need to preserve reputation would keep the fuel companies honest, but we know that greed and the need for ever-better financial performance can soil their intentions (VW).

I notice subtle differences between BP Ultimate and Shell V Power Nitro, and a massive difference between premium diesels and supermarket (not my choice; dealer filled). I stick with premium - I haven't compared branded regular and branded premium. For a few quid per tank it's not a major factor in the overall 'cost of life' !

[xenon]

Originally Posted by JD6

is this a potential lucrative scam which will almost always go undetected?

Yes IMO. Stations run as franchises and so they pretty much do what they like. My local Texaco is run by card-scamming arseholes.

[Wills2]

I often wonder what you're getting (other than your card skimmed) I always try to fill up at a local shell station on V-power, I find BP and others super to be rubbish and not worth the money.

I remember the test 5th gear did showing that only V-power made a meaningful difference BP ultimate made almost no difference even compared to the supermarket fuels. (this was a petrol test)

[Watsey]

I've only tried BP Ultimate recently but have noticed a couple of differences compared to Shell V Power Nitro - Ultimate makes the engine run smoother; V Power provides better economy on my predominantly short journeys. I'll be doing a few hundred miles this weekend and will do a brim-to-brim on Ultimate and see what I get.

[....,,,,..,,..]

I think a lot depends on turn over of fuel.

Our local BP one, is exceptionally busy and has very regular deliveries, so fuel not sitting around for long.

[creepy coupe]

My Sister used to manage a Tesco filling station, so I asked her. She said they never did tests to confirm fuel grades as it was deamed unsafe to be faffing with fuel. She suggested I ask Tesco customer service, so I did, and they came back with this reply.

Dear Del

Thank you for contacting us.

I have looked into your query and I can confirm that the Petrol Filling Stations do conduct tests on the fuel to ensure the fuel is correct.

Thank you again for taking time to contact us.



Kind regards,



Adam Hale

Tesco Customer Service

Tesco Customer Engagement Centre

So the plot thickens..

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Dear Del

Thank you for contacting us.

I have looked into your query and I can confirm that the Petrol Filling Stations do conduct tests on the fuel to ensure the fuel is correct.

Thank you again for taking time to contact us.

Yep, sounds like the standard corporate platitude if you ask me.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Yep, sounds like the standard corporate platitude if you ask me.

I fired him a reply along the lines of " i know someone who works for you and they are not required to check, can you advise when this is carried out"?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Brigand

I think a lot depends on turn over of fuel.

Our local BP one, is exceptionally busy and has very regular deliveries, so fuel not sitting around for long.

A very valid point considering diesel fuel deteriorates over time.

Could be one of the reasons users get differing results. Say a forecourt doesn't have a fast turnaround for the premium fuel (due to the cost difference), the fuel ages, Cetane value (a key difference in a premium diesel) drops. The user may find no difference in engine refinement, noise, mpg, or performance.

Aging of stored fuel is a concern for users of back up generators, pumps, etc., where diesel fuel may deteriorate before it ever gets used. Use of old fuel often results in poor starting, poor running, engine noise, excessive emissions and even catastrophic failure.

We'd hope no forecourt is that bad for aged fuel, but I do suspect some premium fuel tanks will not be refilled that regularly.

HighlandPete

[je suis Paris]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

A very valid point considering diesel fuel deteriorates over time.

Could be one of the reasons users get differing results. Say a forecourt doesn't have a fast turnaround for the premium fuel (due to the cost difference), the fuel ages, Cetane value (a key difference in a premium diesel) drops. The user may find no difference in engine refinement, noise, mpg, or performance.

Aging of stored fuel is a concern for users of back up generators, pumps, etc., where diesel fuel may deteriorate before it ever gets used. Use of old fuel often results in poor starting, poor running, engine noise, excessive emissions and even catastrophic failure.

We'd hope no forecourt is that bad for aged fuel, but I do suspect some premium fuel tanks will not be refilled that regularly.

HighlandPete

As does petrol.

Not that anyone with any sense fuels their car this way.

In the old days, we used to drain the fuel out of the carbs on motorcycles when being laid up over winter to stop the floats sticking.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by je suis Paris

As does petrol.


In the old days, we used to drain the fuel out of the carbs on motorcycles when being laid up over winter to stop the floats sticking.

Indeed. My Honda 750FA must have had its float bowls made of strange metal.As it turned the petrol off in a few days if not used.

[je suis Paris]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Indeed. My Honda 750FA must have had its float bowls made of strange metal.As it turned the petrol off in a few days if not used.

Yep.

My GSXRs used to have the same problem.

As did my YZF750SP. 40mm slide carbs with accelerator pumps on a 750cc bike

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by je suis Paris

Yep.

My GSXRs used to have the same problem.

As did my YZF750SP. 40mm slide carbs with accelerator pumps on a 750cc bike

Ouzo will do that to mag alloy

[RobUK]

Reply from Shell... (basically I asked how I can be sure that what comes out of a V-Power Nitro+ nozzle is just that)

Thanks you for your enquiry

At Shell we are extremely proud of our fuels and the supply and distribution of Shell fuels is strictly controlled. It is the responsibility of our Trading & Supply arm, who manage the Shell fleet of road tankers to deliver Shell V-Power Nitro+ to the site.

The systems and processes we have in place are coordinated and controlled centrally, ensuring that the correct fuel is delivered into a dedicated tank on a site so that customers receive the correct fuel.

Some sites can receive up to two fuel deliveries a day and the end to end process of the supply and delivery of fuels is designed to work without distracting unnecessarily our forecourt staff from the very important job of serving our customers.

I hope that gives you the reassurance that you were after and the confidence in our supply of Shell V-Power Nitro+, our latest generation of premium fuels and a product that we are particularly proud of.

Once again, thank you for contacting Shell UK.

If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to email us back.

Yours sincerely,

Karla

Shell UK Oil Products Ltd
Brabazon House
Threapwood Road
Concord Business Park
Manchester
M22 0RR
United Kingdom

[creepy coupe]

Slightly more in depth than my reply from Tesco.

[Kal101]

Interesting all the comments about aged fuel in the tanks etc never thought about that to be honest

Tried v nitro in place of regular fuel save at my local and felt no difference so gave up.

However after using BP standard went back to regular shell at a different station and the car felt way smoother and punchier.

Regular shell station is now being dug up and tanks replaced so wonder if I'd been getting dreg ends.

Never use supermarket again though.