Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

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markhowes
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I try to use Shell V Power Nitro petrol when I can but it's not always possible/convenient so my question, to those who know about such things, is:

Most other outlets also sell "premium" fuel (Esso Energy Supreme, BP Ultimate, Tesco Momentum99) etc. etc.) but how much better for our engines are they? Are they all, or some, a good substitute for the Shell V Power Nitro version?

 

Arnie
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

I think that with V-Power Nitro, the petrol is similar to the top offerings of other premium brands, with zero ethanol, but there is variation on the Octane number, with the BP Ultimate version being the highest at 100 (shell is at 99). Both contain high perfromance polyethylene based detergents to keep the fuel system  and engine clean

With diesel, I read the best two were Shell and BP, with the BP diesel having marginally better lubricity. The diesels of these two are manufactured from a gas-to-liquid process from natural gas and are therefore cleaner than hydro-cracked diesel from oil. Similar top products from other brands may be comparable.

cox.adrian
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

  i find with my 617a it runs crap on modern eco brands

  it likes the old style heavy oil  

Russ280
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

cox.adrian wrote:

  i find with my 617a it runs crap on modern eco brands

  it likes the old style heavy oil  

 

Try putting a splash of 2 stroke oil in each tank full Adrian.

 
I'm not falling for the placebo effect, it really makes a difference in older diesel engines.
Arnie
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

The low-sulfur varieties of diesel have low lubricity, as sulfur compounds are actually a good lubricant. 'V-Power' versions of diesel have no sulfur, but added lubricity compounds which make them much better. Some people have started to add 2-stroke oil to try to replace the lost lubriciy, but scientific tests have shown that the addition of 2-stroke oils damages the fuel injection system due to the zinc they contain.

http://www.fuelexpert.co.za/2strokeoilindiesel.php

http://www.fuelexpert.co.za/2-stroke-oil-in-diesel-technical-study.php

...the use of 2-stroke oil in diesel is potentially harmful to modern diesel injection equipment. Trace amounts of zinc, an element which is found in most 2-stroke oils, are well known to cause injector nozzle fouling and the study measured high levels of injector fouling when the test engine was running on diesel dosed with 2-stroke oil....'

Maybe old. mechanical OM617 injectors have nozzles large enough not to clog, but seems it would be risky on newer cdi to use 2-stroke oil additive.

But then, perhaps not all 2-stroke oils contain zinc or other metallic compounds:

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=76845&start=810

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/180848-diesel-economy-56mpg-cdi.html

 

The safest bet many be Just to use a good quality fuel like shell V-power or BP ultimate, which is actually has the highest lubricity of all diesels.

http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-country/en_au/products-services/fuels/ultimate-fuels/BP_Ultimate_Diesel.pdf

'

 

Simon666
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)
Hi For what its worth, the mechanics I use (mentioned before - live in the pennines - farmers diesel land, but also rally cars) have said exactly as Arnie advises - Shell or BP premium diesel as the old engines (1985 617 recently swapped for a 1982 617a) need lubrication not just the engine, but especially the fuel pump.. They also feel - and I would back this up - that it works out about the same cost as you get a bit more MPG - all relative on a 30 year old car I realise, and to be honest you can boot it a bit more as it definitely gives a bit more get up and go.. So my view is if you've got an old diesel especially, then this fuel will keep it going better for longer.. so why not. Ta Simon
cox.adrian
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

  IMO

          its a pain that we cant buy a sulfur compound / lead compound to add to our tanks

          as the save the planet thing is a bit of a scam

          sulfur/lead free fuel short engine life = buy new transport every not so many years

          a lot of resources go in to make a new car

          and then when you think the airline shipping industry fuel is tax free and higher sulfur/lead

           they use a lot more than joe public

          Shih  THAT OK BIG BUSINESSES

          AND THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR INDUSTRY GOING

            just a thought adrian

​         so mark pop down to deanland speak to the guys there and run on 100LL

          

spike1
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

My other car is a Honda S2000, it has to run on high octane fuel so I thought I would try Shell V power in my GD300, it could be the placebo effect but I'm sure it runs much better and seems to be smoother, 

Arnie
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Re: Petrol (maybe also applies to diesel)

This article explains more (with regards to Diesel and GTL fuel like V-Power):

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/next-generation-diesel-fuel/

 

'...V-Power Diesel is a blend of regular petroleum-based diesel and synthetic diesel, created using gas to liquids (GTL), along with some extra additives designed to clean the injection system and improve injection pump and injector lubricity.

One characteristic of V-Power diesel is that it is a lot clearer and odourless than normal diesel, mainly due to the synthetic GTL component.

The fuel is slightly less dense than regular diesel so, per volume, the unit energy is actually lower than regular diesel. This is offset, as the fuel tends to ignite more readily (and thus has a higher cetane rating) than regular diesel, and a side benefit of this is that it tends to produce less soot during combustion.