On the advice of many people, I am now using Shell Optimax in my Saab 9000 Aero, which seems to work pretty well.
However my father has just bought his first ever new car, an Audi A4 Tdi, and is unsure of which is the best diesel to use.
Is there any differenc between the diesel at Safeways where he would normally fill up, or that from the nearby Texaco, BP etc. stations?
Thanks in advance for any advice
Gavin
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With Shell, the lubricity additive is added at the refinery. With others, particularly spot bought fuel for supermarkets, the lubricity is supposed to be brought up to standard on delivery by the delivery driver adding it then. Warranty claims for fuel pumps damaged through lack of lubricity of the fuel are routinely turned down by the manufacturers. And a pump can run to £1,700. If you're not sure, add Millers DieselPower Plus which contains a lubricity enhancer, a cetane improver and a detergent. For stockists, go to www.millersoils.co.uk
HJ
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Thanks for the advice.
I will suggest he tries Shell for his diesel, but Texaco and BP are more convenient. Hopefully the fuel from there will be good.
I believe he intends to keep the car for 10 years, so he wants to take good care of it. The new Audi A4 seems very wel built, so I hope it lasts :)
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With the removel of Shell optimax throughout Europe due to the potential to damge engines(independant Dutch report)I would be very wary about using it.It has disapeared in Germany altogether.
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Andy,
Any idea what the problem is with Optimax, I haven't seen anything in the press ?
I used it for a couple of tanks in the Z28 but noticed an intermittent surge at constant-throttle so stopped using it.
Kevin...
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I have also heard bad reports concerning Optimax from France, my partners unlce used to work for BP in France and often criticised the use of agents within the fuels they provided, apparantly they can in fact have advers effects on a cars performance. I will try to find out more. But why not play safe and stick with regular diesel or unleaded and forget these added agents!
Most of these products are pure plecibo if anything at all!
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Q - does BP have the same?
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Gavin
In addition to HJ's comments about lubricity and Cetane ratings, I've found differences in the amount of foam that is generated in the filler neck whilst filling. It makes brimming the tamk tedious.
This can be a real pain and I find Tesco's Diesel particularly bad in this respect. I use BP (local) even though it's a penny a litre dearer than Tesco (also local). There is definitely a difference between the two fuels.
Ian
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When did that happen ??
M.
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I've recently tried Shell Optimax in my Merc and can't tell any difference whatsoever! Not convinced it's worth the exta 5p a litre in this case. In my diesel Audi I mainly use Texaco, but have also used Safeways, BP and Esso and again I can't discern any difference in performance, smoothness, etc. Lubricity may be an issue though. Texaco and BP are most convenient for me - any ideas as to which I should go for?
Regards
Pat
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I can't understand why people bother with supermarket fuels, with the possible exception of Safeway which is 5p a litre cheaper if you shop there (How many 5p's will you need if it wrecks your injector pump?) Tesco or any of the others are no cheaper than the oil companies and filling up at a supermarket generally involves a pain in the a*s* journey well off road and a battle with the shoppers in their 4x4's on the way out again.
As for those mini market come filling stations, the few times I have used them I have had to queue for 10 minutes at the checkout while somebody had their weeks groceries run through the scanner. No thanks.
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I've used supermarket fuel from day one , and cant tell any difference but i have a petrol engine, another minus point for diesel if you have to Pratt around looking for certain makes for fear of damaging a £1000+ pump, or resorting to fuel additives , what's going on?
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And when 25k miles down the road there turn out to be problems with the latest miracle petrol additive causing valve or whatever trouble the manufacturers are suddenly going to roll over?.
The debate starts with lack of additives in PETROL which HJ frequently refers to both on this site and in the DT column.
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I have a BMW 318 TDS when this discussion staretd many moons ago in the Telegraph,I contacted my local BMW dealer and they advised me not to use any additives. However I took HJ's advice and changed from supermarket diesel to Shell.
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Help!
Whats this about Optimax damaging engines? After all the rave reviews on this very site I started using it in my new Megane 1.6 16v (cant really notice much dofference, but the thing goes like stink and is doing 42mpg - good enough for me!) - now Ive got doubt in my mind...
Hopefully HJ can shed some light?
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If there's a problem with Optimax, please let's know about it chapter and verse. I've been using it since last September with no ill effects, so what are the ill effects reported in Holland and France?
HJ
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can't say if it's Bible truth but there is some genuine concern regarding Optimax, please see link below...
www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t24359.html
apparently Shell are still carying out extensive tests with Optimax, but then again this is understandable as innovations are always being made and the fuel used in unusual conditions.
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Irrespective of the name on the pump the fuel could well have come from the same refinery.This was stated as part of the concerns with Vauxhall engines;the fuel had additives added as tankers left the refinery but it was upto the driver to add them;sometimes he put too much or vice-versa.
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I suspect that for every car that has done 200k trouble-free miles on Shell, you could find just as many which could make the same claim for BP, Texaco, City Diesel, Esso, etc (pro rata with the amount of each sold).
Is there REALLY any difference? Where is the non-anecdotal evidence? Is HJ sponsored by Shell?
I think we should be told ;-)
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So, lets try and find out from the gurus in this country - is Optimax a good or bad thing?
Its seems these guys have a far greater choice of 'premium' fuels than we Brits do - lucky them - and rather nice cars to run it in too!
But what about us folks, running every day cars (like HJ's Mondeo) - should we use Optimax or not. 5p a litre mores is a lot to pay if it could reck our motors!
Id rather loose the extra pep and keep the thing alive. Whats the verdict please, HJ? What does the 'industry' think?
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