Petrol/diesel quality between different brands. Advice needed.

[kikie]

I searched and came up with a lot of threads about diesel and petrol but not one thread about the quality of different brands.


* Is there a difference in quality between standard petrol/diesel and high quality petrol/diesel?


* Is there a difference in quality between branded petrol/diesel and generic petrol/diesel.


The price difference between 95 and 98RON is rather high here in Belgium and I was wondering if it is better the use 98 instead of 95.
A Ford technician told me on numerous occassions that it is better to use 98 for my car (a Ford Duratec 3.0 V6), but I wonder. Using 98 saves fuel, it's better for the motor and the car runs better. These are the things he told me.


It seems that all the petrol stations use the same basic fuel but it's the additives added afterwards that makes the difference, at least in price, in quality, I'm not sure.



Are there members who know more about this subject? I made the same thread on a Belgian forum and I got a lot of posts. 90% of these posts are off topic, so no help there.

 

[Dennisch]

While I drive on LPG, I notice a serious difference driving on a tank full of Shell LPG compared to LPG from a white or "cheap" brand.

I get better km/l, slightly more power and the engine just feels like it runs smoother.

The only way for you to be sure about it is to test it yourself, drive a month on brand A, then brand B etc. etc.

 

[Ibonibo]

Some cars are optimized for 98Ron so they run better, even get one or two hp more.

I saw a test by the ADAC where they tested a Subaru, an Evo, and a normal Peugot first on 95 then on 98.

Only the Peugot didn't benefit from 98 as it wasn't optimized for it.

My cars actually need 98, I risk trashing engines on 95.

Between brands, yeah there are differences in the additives. Normally they are marginal.
You can fill your tank on a no-name station without a problem. I noticed though that my engine runs smoother on Shell than on Aral some years ago. The problem with Aral is gone now though...

 

[niky]

It'll depend on the engine and depend on the gasoline.

RON matters more, but some brands have additive packages that give above and beyond what the simple stated RON label declares. Then there are those who have better quality control.

The only way to find out if it's worth your time is to run a few tanks of each and calculate the difference in economy. Mind you, it takes a few tanks for the car to "adjust", sometimes.

-

As for diesel, I've heard that a higher cetane number makes for quieter idling and smoother low rpm running, but nobody can commit to better performance and economy from "premium" diesel, and in the real world, results seem to show it's not worth fueling up with the stuff regularly. Maybe run a good diesel with a better detergent package every few tanks to clean the system, but that's about it.

 

[Vegard]

 

[kikie]

The question that has been bugging me for quite some time is; is it better for the engine to use 98 (in my case for instance) instead of 95? I mean, is there going to be less wear and tear of internal parts of the engine when using 98?

If the price difference wasn't that high, I'd definitely use 98 all the time.
On the lid of the fuel filler cap is written that I have to use a minimum of 95 RON/ROZ.
The car's manual states that the use of 98 doesn't warrant any advantages but doesn't do any damage.

After writing this post I started reading the previous posts and it seems that it is more important to use 98 than branded petrol? I guess I should listen to the technician. After all they know better.

 

[Bopop4]

Ignoring the octane rating, the more expensive fuels have better quality and are more consistent with the additives etc.

 

[Joey D]

The question that has been bugging me for quite some time is; is it better for the engine to use 98 (in my case for instance) instead of 95? I mean, is there going to be less wear and tear of internal parts of the engine when using 98?

It's best to use whatever the owner's manual says. My car says I can use 87 or 93 if I want better performance.

 

[kikie]

That's the problem, my car's engine is not mentioned in the manual. The manual mentions the diesels, the 1.8 litre, and the 2.5 V6 engine but nothig about the 3.0 V6 Duratec engine.

My Ford dealer says that in Belgium, 95RON petrol is in fact lower than 95 and my car's motor needs at least 95, so I have to use 98 to get at least 95. Hence this thread about the quality between different brands and if it is really so that 95RON is in fact only 92 or 93RON.

I have already destroyed an engine and since I have installed a brand new engine, I wonder what I have to do to keep this engine healthy for a much longer time.

What about this?

 

[Famine]

In order:

* Is there a difference in quality between standard petrol/diesel and high quality petrol/diesel?

Yes.

* Is there a difference in quality between branded petrol/diesel between generic petrol/diesel.

Yes.

The price difference between 95 and 98RON is rather high here in Belgium and I was wondering if it is better the use 98 instead of 95.

In your specific case, yes. Remember, I also had that car

It seems that all the petrol stations use the same basic fuel but it's the additives added afterwards that makes the difference

More or less, yes.

at least in price

Not necessarily.

in quality

Very much yes.

My Ford dealer says that in Belgium, 95RON petrol is in fact lower than 95

No.

What about this?

No.

 

[kikie]

All of you, thank you for helping me out.

In order:

* Is there a difference in quality between standard petrol/diesel and high quality petrol/diesel?

Yes.

* Is there a difference in quality between branded petrol/diesel and generic petrol/diesel.

Yes.

The price difference between 95 and 98RON is rather high here in Belgium and I was wondering if it is better the use 98 instead of 95.

In your specific case, yes. Remember, I also had that car

My Ford dealer says that in Belgium, 95RON petrol is in fact lower than 95

No.

Thank you.


Simple and straight forward. Exactly what I wanted to know.



Yes, I remember you had the same car.

Good to know that 95RON is in fact 95RON.

 

[GTV0819]

I'm not good in this, but is EES, or European Emission Standards, applied in your country?

Other than the octane rating, in some countries, I know that they also classify the fuel as Euro I to Euro V. Depending on the brand of the fuel, it also shows some difference, like if one brand has petrol that's a Euro IV and the other one is also petrol but is Euro V already, the Euro V is better because it's like cleaner and gives better performance on your car. I think someone can explain this better than I did.

Hope this helps.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I started running my '97 328i on "Super Unleaded" which was I believe Shell V-power something or other, after a couple of fill-ups, the car definately felt a little smoother and pulled a little better, it wasn't a night and day difference, but it was noticeable. Not a particularly scientific answer I realise, but there is a difference IMO

Also to echo what Dennisch said about LPG, I used to run a 525i on LPG, and the one time I didn't gas up with Shell LPG, the economy dropped through the floor - although the performance was pretty iffy most of the time anyway.

 

[kikie]

I'm not good in this, but is EES, or European Emission Standards, applied in your country?

Other than the octane rating, in some countries, I know that they also classify the fuel as Euro I to Euro V. Depending on the brand of the fuel, it also shows some difference, like if one brand has petrol that's a Euro IV and the other one is also petrol but is Euro V already, the Euro V is better because it's like cleaner and gives better performance on your car. I think someone can explain this better than I did.

Hope this helps.

The Euro I to Euro VI is the standard of emissions of cars, not fuel.

My car is a Euro IV and BMW 1-series has Euro VI motors, which is the standard from september 2014.

It's not wise to install an LPI installation in the Mondeo due to soft valve seats.

 

[Dennisch]

Also to echo what Dennisch said about LPG, I used to run a 525i on LPG, and the one time I didn't gas up with Shell LPG, the economy dropped through the floor - although the performance was pretty iffy most of the time anyway.

A bit of offtopic but how did the BMW cope with LPG overall? I want to buy a kit for the E24 but I hear spooky stories about the engines not liking it.

 

[GTV0819]

The Euro I to Euro VI is the standard of emissions of cars, not fuel.

My car is a Euro IV and BMW 1-series has Euro VI motors, which is the standard from september 2014.

It's not wise to install an LPI installation in the Mondeo due to soft valve seats.

Oh, okay.

But the fuel does contain those Euro, too. And may also differ for each brand. That was I'm trying to say.

 

[kikie]

I have never heard of Euro 1 to Euro 5 fuels. I thought it was only for cars.

 

[MatskiMonk]

A bit of offtopic but how did the BMW cope with LPG overall? I want to buy a kit for the E24 but I hear spooky stories about the engines not liking it.

Well, the car coped fine to be honest, the system was a bit 'glitchy' sometimes, refusing to stay on LPG, but that was probably more to do with LPG installation than the way the car handled it. It also blunted the performance somewhat. I'd usually only run it on LPG on a cruise, if was out for a 'recreational' drive I'd just leave it on Petrol. In the UK it's a 50% saving on fuel cost at the pump, but reduction in mpg's of 10-20%. I would't do it had it not saved me hundreds at the pmups...

... and, in my humble opinion... an E24 shouldn't be modified in any way! I think it will rob the car of some of its charm, and the M30B35 is already a little lazy (or at least it was in my 635CSi Auto (compared to my E28 M30B28 Manual)), LPG might make it feel a little too sluggish.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

It also blunted the performance somewhat.

Are you using vapour or liquid injection?

 

[eight6er]

I've seen a few tests over the years and shell usually come out on top. Their 98ron was better than 99ron from some other brand (Maybe Tesco). They tested on some turbo engine and saw how much power they could get out of it before it started pinking. There was other parts of the test but that's the only bit remember.

Many cars I've owned are meant to run on 100 ron, but they've done fine on 95.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Are you using vapour or liquid injection?

'Were',... at 253,000 miles the clutch failed, whilst it was parked up I forgot to tax it, so the government kindly took it away and crushed it for me!

It was a vapour system. I think (aside from a dodgy thermostatic control valve (it think)) it was an alright system, but I don't think it was 'tuned' quite right, IIRC come MOT time the emissions always caused a problem. It was a few years ago now.

In my limited experience, I'd only recommend LPG if mileage was a concern. It's fine for every day driving, but to fit it to something performance orientated, I'm not so sure.

 

[niky]

You can tune an LPG SGI kit, and the high octane will allow some mad boost... especially if you mix it with gasoline (some kits allow LPG "enrichment" instead of "replacement" of gas... less savings, but more reliable). But it's an added layer of complication.

I've seen a few tests over the years and shell usually come out on top. Their 98ron was better than 99ron from some other brand (Maybe Tesco). They tested on some turbo engine and saw how much power they could get out of it before it started pinking. There was other parts of the test but that's the only bit remember.

Many cars I've owned are meant to run on 100 ron, but they've done fine on 95.

In my experience, it's not really the under-speccing of RON... more like Shell gasolines are more consistent. Some brands here, the gasoline varies from station to station and even from tank to tank at the same station. Running Shell fuels keeps the knock counters on hot turbocharged builds happier.

 

[niky]

You can tune an LPG SGI kit, and the high octane will allow some mad boost... especially if you mix it with gasoline (some kits allow LPG "enrichment" instead of "replacement" of gas... less savings, but more reliable). But it's an added layer of complication.

I've seen a few tests over the years and shell usually come out on top. Their 98ron was better than 99ron from some other brand (Maybe Tesco). They tested on some turbo engine and saw how much power they could get out of it before it started pinking. There was other parts of the test but that's the only bit remember.

Many cars I've owned are meant to run on 100 ron, but they've done fine on 95.

In my experience, it's not really the under-speccing of RON... more like Shell gasolines are more consistent. Some brands here, the gasoline varies from station to station and even from tank to tank at the same station. Running Shell fuels keeps the knock counters on hot turbocharged builds happier.

 

[kikie]

Which petrol is best?

I use lukoil.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukoil