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nobby

I have seen in print in an upmarket weekend newspaper motoring section when writers have complained about poor performance from their cars (petrol and diesel) that they should consider not using supermarket fuel but go over to Shell/BP etc.
And I have seen followup letters thanking the columnist for his advice and the vehicles now runs ok. Make of it what u will but I run mine on BP now.
A friend who runs a works Transit diesel had no end of problems with worn out fuel pumps and was told to stop using supermarket fuel....and the problem ceased to recur!!!
regards
nobby

Anonymous

Good point Nobby, BP now sell an ultra low sulphur diesel with additives. Here is an extract from their site:

BP Cleaner Diesel

BP Greener Diesel is an ultra low sulphur diesel which emits 90 percent less sulphur dioxide and nearly a third less particulates and black smoke than standard diesel.

BP Greener Diesel contains our advanced diesel additive formulation enhancing the performance of your car. These include:

* An improved lubricant that protects the fuel pump and extends engine life
* An ignition improver, which improves combustion, reduces white smoke and noise, and increases fuel economy
* A powerful detergent that keeps fuel systems and injectors clean
* A corrosion preventative that protects the fuel system from rust
* An anti-foam additive that reduces fuel spills and speeds up refuelling.

http://www.clean-vehicles.com/bp/

Nuff said Very Happy

Jim

Drifter

I think the poor quality of fuel purchased at some petrol stations is more likely to be due to poor handling regimes in the distribution and haulage and also at the petrol station rather than the brand. As far as I know the downstream refineries whether owned by Taxaco or BP refine the fuel to very tight quality grades. If is often the case that although the petrol tanker is BP or Tesco, the fuel comes from the nearest refinery, even if owned by Texaco. There is arrangement for interavailability between refineries and the wholesale price is based on forward speculation on the Amsterdam spot market.

The reason why the supermarkets sell fuel cheaper is that they sell as a loss leader to entice people to bring their cars to the supermarket. Poor quality of fuel is more likely to be due to poor storage conditions.

Branding is a funny issue. I remember when extra low sulphur Diesel was first introduced to the UK it was marketed as something special and peculiar to a specific branding, but any motorhomer would know that this fuel grade was available for years in France as they had tighter environmental controls. When unleaded petrol was first launched in the UK it had already been compulsory in most other European countries for years.

I can't imagine what part of my plastic tank, rubber fuel lines, and aluminium engine block and stainless steel fuel injector would be susceptible to rust. Also, I don't think including a surfactant to the fuel is going to negate any possible storage contamination. Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age but I do think sometimes that all this greener branding and cleaner fuels bit is a load of marketing puff.

I suppose the best solution is to convert LPG. All the carbon atoms are converted to C02 and all the hydrogen atoms are converted to H2O. Nothing more and nothing less. I suppose this is the only really green fuel (other than the CO2 issue).

Drifter

Anonymous

Supermarkets do indeed sell fuel as a loss leader and all fuels must conform to an ISO standard. However the standard sets out a minimum not a maximum parameter. Fuel supplied to supermarkets meets the minimum standard but own branded fuels often exceed them.

This can present problems especially for petrol engines which are usually tuned using a branded fuel. Pre ignition, burnt exhaust valves, loss of performance and economy can be experienced. Diesel engines are less susceptable to these problems.

I worked for a well know oil company for many years and they only put the additives in their own fuels. Whether they are beneficial is a matter for the consumer to decide. Oil companies spend millions of pounds to improve their products, it's not just marketing hype.

Jim

Anonymous

In this month's Camping and Caravanning Club magazine David Bellamy is encouraging us to frequent local shops when camping rather than the supermarkets in order to boost local economies & eat fresher food.

Seems like a good idea to me, I frequent one of the local farm shops regularly when at home & shall look for them when away. Very Happy

Anonymous

Here's one site sriters idea of the pros and cons...

http://www.thesite.org/youthnet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=290&a=2924

Personally we think there's a place for both. We like the predictability and convenience of the supermarket. However we also appreciate the price, unique products, and social experience offered by local shops.

banjo

You're right, Benandlizzie, there is a place for both but I think that supermarkets have effectively killed off the local shops in many villages.

It's not such a problem for those of us who are mobile and can get to the supermarkets but those who don't drive are severely restricted and end up having to rely on others to take them shopping.

For a lot of people, especially the elderly, who value their independence, that's a big blow to their confidence.

The scale of the problem varies but the village shop/post office/whatever, is the place where people meet and chat and is the lifeblood of the village.

I'm spoilt for choice, having three large (and Asda, Queensferry is HUGE) supermarkets on my doorstep but I always buy fruit and veg and other basic stuff locally - makes me feel better Laughing

- my stand against the multinationals!

banjo Cool

Drifter

I think shopping in Calais explains how silly the UK supermarket setup is.

If you go to the Calais Tesco you can buy their apples, which are French, which have been imported to the UK, bagged and barcoded in their packing plant, moved accros the UK Tesco warehouses, then exported back to France to be sold at the Tesco store in CitiEurope in Calais.

Four kilometers down the road is the French chain of Auchan (ex Mamouth) and in this French hypermarket they franchise out the Fruit and veggie area to a local Farming cooperative. You can buy your apples grown fresh in northern France direct from the farm, with the convenienece of a hypermarket.

Now, I wonder why the the owners of supermarkets in the UK make big political donations to the political parties that make up the government ?

Drifter.

bsb2000

I also agree with benandlizzie, there is a place for both but also agree with Ken, if I have to buy chillie's and garlic from a supermarket they charge the earth for a very small quantity, the local fruit & veg shop (Sadly closed now) used to charge pennies for a good handfull.

Moving onto the DIY stores, I can buy cheaper, better quality decking from a local timber yard than the stuff the big stores churn out.