[Sayek]

Hello fellow direct injection engine owners.
Wanted your views on using supermarket fuel vs Shell V Power

I normally use Shell V Power as there is a Shell station next to my workplace. But like many people been forced to work from home since Covid outbreak and no Shell station close to home so been using Tesco Ultimate 99 since April.

Am i ok to continue using the Tesco fuel or should switch back to Shell V power.

We all know how sensitive these injectors so would these supermarket fuel kill these injectors early

[MrSweet1991]

Originally Posted by Sayek

Hello fellow direct injection engine owners.
Wanted your views on using supermarket fuel vs Shell V Power

I normally use Shell V Power as there is a Shell station next to my workplace. But like many people been forced to work from home since Covid outbreak and no Shell station close to home so been using Tesco Ultimate 99 since April.

Am i ok to continue using the Tesco fuel or should switch back to Shell V power.

We all know how sensitive these injectors so would these supermarket fuel kill these injectors early

I'm sure there's a YouTube video comparing the premium fuels and I think the conclusion was, while it does make a difference, it doesn't justify the cost. Instead, running some Fortex or another additive would be better and more cost affective. At least that's what I came to find when I was researching the same thing

[Chapperss]

No Scientific data on this, personally I think the Tesco 99 Ron (thought it was called Momentum?) is the best out of the supermarket premiums.

Always try to top up with that stuff - Don`t have many Shell stations near me at all so haven`t tried it in a while.

[Chappers 71]

I always use Shell Power in the 35i although I usually only spend around £40 a week on petrol.
The cars still running fine at 120,000 on its original injectors, not stating that's down to the V Power but I'm not going to jinx it by putting different fuel in there

As for supermarket petrol my old e36 328i used to like Tesco Momentum 99

[rasa bmw]

i used to use momentum in a tuned focus st mk2,,,only because the remap required it,,otherwise id of been putting good old asda in,,nver had any running probs ever with asda fuel.but at the end of the day shell make it anyway ha ha..diesel fuel though now

[dephrank]

I only buy the regular Unleaded Petrol (Shell Only) because that's what the manufacturer specified for my car. The V-power premium isn't necessary unless you have a high powered engine.

[Sayek]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Will empty a bottle of Redine S1 fuel cleaner and for peace of mind

[Sayek]

Originally Posted by dephrank

I only buy the regular Unleaded Petrol (Shell Only) because that's what the manufacturer specified for my car. The V-power premium isn't necessary unless you have a high powered engine.

I stopped using regular unleaded on this engine. Only use higher octane fuel.

I found with regular unleaded the engine makes knocking sound if accelating under load.
With Shell Vpower or Tesco super unleaded no knocking sound. Also the engine is slightly more responsive with the higher octane fuel

[dephrank]

Originally Posted by Sayek

I stopped using regular unleaded on this engine. Only use higher octane fuel.

I found with regular unleaded the engine makes knocking sound if accelating under load.
With Shell Vpower or Tesco super unleaded no knocking sound. Also the engine is slightly more responsive with the higher octane fuel

Interesting. I know that knocking sound all too well. Had it whenever I bought Asda fuel on my old car. I'll put some V-Power in this weekend and see if the car behaves differently. Thanks for the feedback 🤝

[nick46]

I've tried the super fuels in most of my cars and never noticed a difference at all (except to my wallet!). The only fuel I found that made a difference was asda regular unleaded. When I used that in my old Focus 2.5ST the fuel economy went through the floor. Switched back to sainsburys regular unleaded and all was well again.

[dephrank]

So I put V-power Unleaded in mine and noticed the car is lot quieter and used up less fuel so far. Not sure what the long term gain/loss is as my car is a 4-pot engine but the car now drives as if it just had a service. Almost like it's in Sport Mode. It wants to take off all the time.

[Silver Streek]

I've been using V-Power or BP ultimate Diesel for years. My last 320D E46 used to run noticeably smoother and quieter with it. I ran that car to about 220k miles with no issues at all with injectors which were original to the car. My current car is E90 LCI 325d (early LCI so M57 diesel engine) with this one again it runs smoother and quieter but with the addition of 1 or 2 extra mpg, does feel a bit more sprightly too. On the odd occasion when i have to refuel with "normal" supermarket fuels it does not run as well for definate.

[Chapperss]

100% can notice the difference in premium`s vs regular and even between the premiums with Momentum and probably Shell (as i`ve said previous not tried shell for over 10 years) being at the top for responsiveness and economy.

That's on cars both tuned for high Ron and not.

The manual says 95 RON is minimum grade for 335i

It`s my understanding with the premiums is that you are paying for the increased RON value (detonation/knock resistance) as these are better refined fuels. I`m sure there is a load of marketing gumpfh saying extra additives this and that but, in a nut shell, its just better knock resistance.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Silver Streek

My current car is E90 LCI 325d (early LCI so M57 diesel engine) with this one again it runs smoother and quieter but with the addition of 1 or 2 extra mpg, does feel a bit more sprightly too. On the odd occasion when i have to refuel with "normal" supermarket fuels it does not run as well for definate.

+1 on this. Though unfortunately the 1 or 2 extra mpg isn't worth the price hike. I just make sure to fill up with Shell diesel (or BP if I don't find a shell), with the assumption that either of these *should* have the best standard fuel. My M57 330d does definitely run quieter/smoother on premium fuel though.

[Sayek]

Originally Posted by dephrank

So I put V-power Unleaded in mine and noticed the car is lot quieter and used up less fuel so far. Not sure what the long term gain/loss is as my car is a 4-pot engine but the car now drives as if it just had a service. Almost like it's in Sport Mode. It wants to take off all the time.

Glad you noticed the difference

I owned my N43 just over 5 years and have tried both grades of fuel. With unleaded fuel it drives ok..but if you switchback to unleaded after a few tankfull of V Power you will notice the downgrade.

[Sayek]

Originally Posted by Chapperss

100% can notice the difference in premium`s vs regular and even between the premiums with Momentum and probably Shell (as i`ve said previous not tried shell for over 10 years) being at the top for responsiveness and economy.

That's on cars both tuned for high Ron and not.

The manual says 95 RON is minimum grade for 335i

It`s my understanding with the premiums is that you are paying for the increased RON value (detonation/knock resistance) as these are better refined fuels. I`m sure there is a load of marketing gumpfh saying extra additives this and that but, in a nut shell, its just better knock resistance.

+1
I noticed little knock with 95 RON unleaded..never noticed on V power or Tesco Super unleaded.

[nomiS330d]

I’m going to Scotland from s. Yorkshire next week and will be doing some touring about so having read a couple of posts saying expensive diesel definitely makes a difference I might treat my M57 330d to a few tank fulls. I have used it a couple of times and didn’t really notice any difference if I’m honest.
As for petrol, the biggest difference I ever noticed was when I had a couple of turbo’d jap imports. They were still tuned for Japanese fuel which I believe is or was higher octane than our standard petrol and were absolutely gutless unless I used Tesco 99.

[Tambohamilton]

Most noticeable difference will probably be just when you out your foot down; on standard fuel you'll get a split second of diesel rattle as the turbo spools etc...on premium it'll just get under way smoothly.

[Sandy335]

I have it on good authority (from a chemist at a rival oil company), that V-Power is the only pump fuel produced from highly refined base fuel stock, all of the other "supers" are base unleaded stock with additive packages added. I build and tune N/A race engines for a living and even compared to the race fuels I’ve tried, my engines are certainly sharpest feeling on V-Power.
I'm happy to pay the extra for the sense of insurance it gives me on the HPFP and injectors, during lockdown when I tried BP Ultimate (closer garage), I had misfires on cold start and it felt duller at part throttle, no question.

[Tambohamilton]

I'm sure I also read something somewhere about shell vpower diesel being GTL (gas to liquid), which results in better fuel due to chemical processes that I don't understand.

[rasa bmw]

yeh but shell make it for likes of asda,,same refinery,,,ive never noticed any difference with derv in any car,,,as long as car is keep serviced,,air/fuel/oil filters etc etc done 100's of thousands of miles on asda fuel for 20 years at least...also see get to see my sister as she works there ha ha

[Tambohamilton]

That doesn't mean that you get vpower at asda. You could well get something very similar to fuelsave, but I think it unlikely you'll get vpower.