 | Home > Off Topic > Maybe a Complete guide to Supermarket fuel any comments |
 
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5112   
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Had a bit of time on my hands today so I thought I would have a go at trying to find out if Supermarket fuel is as good as branded with the facts available or is the fact that some think it is not, just a myth.
Sorry for the length of the piece but there are some good details in it. It’s an everyday debate between some people, who will swear that their Land Rover runs better on fuel from XYZ Company and those who say that all fuel is the same and they just buy the cheapest supermarket fuel. The problem is that most people don’t know how the fuel business works. So let’s start with the simple bit. Premium fuels, such as Shell Nitro and BP Ultimate fuels, these are not the same as regular diesel fuels, we all know that. These ‘super fuels’ cost several pence per litre more than regular because they use a different, more sophisticated package of additives for cleaning and lubrication, and have a higher cetane rating Cetane ratings describe the way a fuel burns inside an engine. Broadly speaking, the higher the rating means a fuel will burn more efficiently and effectively inside your engine. This may improve performance and economy slightly – although not all drivers will see a noticeable difference. No supermarkets presently offer their own diesel super fuels at the pumps, in truth this is because the main suppliers will not allow them to buy the fuel with their secret super package of additives at the refinery. So is the regular diesel sold by supermarkets the same quality as that sold by branded fuel companies like Shell, BP, Esso, Texaco and Total? Let’s start with some known facts: All diesel fuels sold in the UK must conform to the relevant British Standards. This means that they should all work in roughly the same way and you can mix them freely in your Land Rovers fuel tank. The standard diesel that’s sold on garage and supermarket forecourts is a mixture of two things base fuel and an additive package. The base fuel is the same for all companies including supermarkets – in fact it usually comes from the same tanks at the local fuel refinery/distribution centre. What varies is the additives package that goes into the fuel. These additives recipes are a closely guarded secret amongst fuel companies and combine of extra ingredients that help keep the engine clean and improve lubrication inside the engine cylinders. Each fuel company has its own additive package. So it is possible (but not common) for some Land Rover owners to feel that their car responds better to the additives used by one fuel manufacturer over those of another. So what About Supermarket Fuels? There are all sorts of stories that go round about supermarket fuels, but the fact is that supermarket fuel tankers are filling up from the same tanks as branded fuel tankers e.g. Shell, BP etc. so the chances are that most of the time, the fuel they sell is the same. However, one common story about supermarket fuel is that some supermarkets don’t have a regular fuel supplier. Instead, they buy odd lots of fuel from wherever it’s cheapest though supermarkets deny this. If this does happen and supermarkets swap their suppliers it can lead to supermarket fuel having a more variable set of additives than branded fuels. However Tesco state that their supplier is always ESSO as do Sainsbury. Morrison says their supplier is Total. Right so what do the Supermarkets say Tesco There are minor differences between the additives in regular diesel fuel sold by the different UK retailers. However, I can assure you that it is not correct that Tesco fuel contains inferior additives. In most cases, it will be the same type and dosage of additive that is contained in fuel sold at branded filling stations. I can also confirm that Tesco diesel fuel does not contain less cold flow improver additive in winter compared to branded diesel. Morrison’s Our diesel is supplied to us depending on our stores locality by one of the refiners and blenders that operate in the UK. We only source from established and reputable refiners and blenders Our diesel fuels are manufactured and guaranteed to British Standard EN590, precisely the same specifications that will be found in fuel from branded sellers such as BP, Shell, Esso and Total. These current specifications permit up to 5% renewable content in diesel such as Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (vegetable oil). European law requires all road fuels to contain such renewable feed stocks. Also in relation to the winter fuel I can advise that Cold flow additives in our Diesel guarantee the properties of Diesel down to minus 15 degrees centigrade. The argument Supermarkets state their specifications; on the other hand they are the Minimum requirement specification. So supermarket diesel meets EN950 specification, as I see it that does not automatically make it the same as branded fuels, which may exceed the specifications set for EN950. So the supermarket argument could be flawed. However every refinery or blender of diesel must meet the British Standard and every production batch is tested and certified before release into the supply chain. Typically, at any refinery or oil depot you will witness the tankers of all branded retailers and supermarkets filling from the same common wholesale tanks. So why is Supermarket fuel cheaper, it is because they sell such vast quantities and their operating costs are spread over higher volumes? Plus they also sell thousands of other products so can afford to offer fuel at a discount and offer as a loss leader. Conclusion All diesel filling stations use a standard ‘base’ fuel which is supplied from the same refineries across the UK no matter what pump it will end up being pumped from into your tank. So going off all the known facts, specifications and statement from various supermarkets, it would appear that supermarket regular diesel is the same as branded fuel, the additive package while slightly different in supermarket fuel is on paper just as good as those added to branded diesel, these additives can affect the MPG and general running of the vehicle that some drivers may experience more extremely in some brands than others including supermarket fuel, but in some cases you may not even notice any difference at all. BUT the fuel is all from the same refineries which all meets the same British Standards, so you can use any diesel to fill up your Land Rover knowing it’s all of the same base’ fuel. Supermarkets have recently come in for bad press with the quality of their fuel; however, this is due to contamination in their holding tanks and not on the quality of their base fuel. So there you have it on paper virtually no difference at all with standard diesel from Branded or Supermarkets. Premium diesel has a better additive recipe, but you pay for it and many swear by it, but you cannot compare super fuels with regular supermarket diesel. Personally I use any fuel. both branded and supermarket, but I always add Millers and my engines run sweet. So what do us, the people who use all the different fuels think? For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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25th Jun 2015 2:42pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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Here we go again....
Short and sweet, the SVX happily runs virtually exclusively on BP Ultimate diesel, which in addition to all the additives that come with that premium fuel, is also B0 (B zero) here in Switzerland. So double good stuff. 
Must admit, all road diesel in Switzerland is B0, as that renewable rapeseed, palmoil, etc. biodiesel crap was never approved here. Smart cookies, those Swissies. 
Eric  Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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25th Jun 2015 8:07pm |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443  
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I believe that gilarion has the definative explanation to the debate. diesel is a product that is being retailed to the customer and the source is open to all sellers. Yes the supermarkets are in it for a quick return with little input on their side, they're not going to add anything as it will eat into their profit margins, roadside garage forecourts give the consumers a choice as that is their main sale, fuel, basic for those that just want fuel and the 'super premium' at a higher price for those that want it.
I fell victim to the dreaded diesel bug again this morning which resulted in me taking the pump out of the tank and by sloshing it around disperses the blockage in the pump but I believe that it's not necessarily the quality of the fuel delivered to the garage I think it's more the storage at the selling point. We all know that any liquid that isn't pure will settle and begin to seperate and you don't exactly see the forecourts putting big spoons in the tanks and giving them a big stir round. Generally I will fill up with diesel from a garage whether supermarket or roadside station that has a high volume through the pumps and hopefully I get a reasonably freshly delivered batch. There are allways the dangers that a recent delivery will have stirred no end of sludge from the bottom of the tank and I think that that is where the bulk of poor running of engines comes from, it's not the diesel but what comes through the nozzle from the tank. |
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25th Jun 2015 9:37pm |
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| LRmud Member Since: 22 Oct 2014 Location: IV12 Highland Posts: 198  
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Good post by Gilarion.
I have a friend who manages a chain of small garages/filling stations, who will swear that you only get what you pay for. Also, I like to support local business / small independents so don't mind paying more to "the little guy". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989 Defender 90 Toyota Aygo & Honda FR-V |
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26th Jun 2015 1:52am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006 
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We have found that with our vintage tractors we can't run modern gasoil as they are both difficult to start and belch loads of black smoke so we have to get the proper red diesel from a little independent who has it supplied raw as it were from Immingham I believe. That said most of my road fuel is now petrol for the jimny and that is perfectly fine with asda own brand and on the odd occasion I do get branded it doesn't make any perceptible difference. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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26th Jun 2015 4:19am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665  
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+1. Supermarkets will strangle & monopolise the fuel sales in the UK if WE let them. Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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26th Jun 2015 6:36am |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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I just fill where and when I need it , so just mix good and bad + dash of 2t with either
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26th Jun 2015 7:26am |
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| JMG Member Since: 16 Apr 2014 Location: Surrey Posts: 222 
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I try never to spend anything in a supermarket, I believe they have killed the independent trader and they won't get any of my wedge. Same with coffee shops, indies every time. Same with servicing come to think of it.
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26th Jun 2015 9:42am |
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| steventheplumber Member Since: 29 Apr 2014 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 767 
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Try to buy local, it still operates an attendant service.
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26th Jun 2015 3:12pm |
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