[swanseahammer]

I always fill up with V-power diesel in my 320d. No extra mpg but engine runs much smoother. The car sounds and runs like a taxi on the few occasions I've used standard Tesco diesel; standard Shell diesel better but v-power best. BP ultimate is ok as well

[russtic]

Can't say I've noticed any difference between Vpower and Tesco 99. However both make a big difference with normal. I am, however, running JB3 on map 7.

(No diff. in MPG btw)

[golfsting]

Originally Posted by russtic

Can't say I've noticed any difference between Vpower and Tesco 99. However both make a big difference with normal. I am, however, running JB3 on map 7.

(No diff. in MPG btw)

Map 7, that needs the high Octane to run good. So if the tesco fuel was no good I suppose it would show on your motors performance basically rite away.


Just that I have read that the 99 Tesco momentum is crap and does not have the same additives as shell. I used to use it and I switched to shell regular and my mpg did go up to 25mpg from 22mpg. However now with the JB+ I started using the tesco 99 again, but went back to the V power as it does feel quicker plus I get nearly 300 miles to 11 gallon, unlike 250 to 11 of tesco??

Just not sure about the tesco stuff, atleast you know wi shell its been tested to the max and its good.

[335i E92]

Originally Posted by golfsting

Map 7, that needs the high Octane to run good. So if the tesco fuel was no good I suppose it would show on your motors performance basically rite away.


Just that I have read that the 99 Tesco momentum is crap and does not have the same additives as shell. I used to use it and I switched to shell regular and my mpg did go up to 25mpg from 22mpg. However now with the JB+ I started using the tesco 99 again, but went back to the V power as it does feel quicker plus I get nearly 300 miles to 11 gallon, unlike 250 to 11 of tesco??

Just not sure about the tesco stuff, atleast you know wi shell its been tested to the max and its good.

+1 Mine only ever drinks V Power for the same reasons

[DavS1]

Tesco and V power are the same having tested both on the RR, BP Ultimate doesnt seem to be any better than unleaded (with regards to horse power or det limit).
We had a tuned renault 5 with an Omex ECU that we mapped for V power, the chap couldnt get V power one day he was bringing it in to stick it on the RR before a top speed event so he filled it with Ultimate. Car was detonating its t*ts off, aborted run..drained tank, stuck V power in and it was back to full power and no signs of det! that's how much different we found it to be on that one occasion, there have been others so I wouldn't put it down to a mistakenly filled Ultimate tank with normal 97ron.

Simple answer is, if you drive your car hard and want the extra performance then yes it is needed/worth it. If you drive like miss daisy and aren't interested in performance, then no...97ron unleaded will be fine as the car can run safely on that, the ECU just retards the ignition.

From a safety point of view, i.e. less chance of det, V power will bring you further away from the cars det limit if say for instance it was over boosting slightly and the ECU couldn't control the boost for whatever reason...

[wezzie]

hey dudes be under no illusion there is no difference between sainsbury,tesco,bp,shell
it all comes from the same turminal weather it be normal or super unleaded fast or slow diesel its only down to refinement and additives.

[DavS1]

Surely after refinement /additives etc it is different? :s

[78WJM]

Originally Posted by wezzie

hey dudes be under no illusion there is no difference between sainsbury,tesco,bp,shell
it all comes from the same turminal weather it be normal or super unleaded fast or slow diesel its only down to refinement and additives.

True, but those refinements and additives do make a significant difference, as shown by Imran's link.

[russtic]

Little old 2006 but an interesting read re high performance fuels and tesco 99
http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/t..._Results.shtml

[golfsting]

read that link, hence the thread started. Did you read the bad reviews also.
I agree wi Dav, if your running a turbo car and your interested in keep the performance a 100% V power is the way to go, as it has many different additives in there to keep the engine lubed and protected. If you are running a nor aspirated car doubt it will make any real difference.

I just bang in 60 note of V power after my tesco momentum ran out today, and already the car feels more powerful is holding boost longer and pulling at high and low end much better.

Dyno charts again will confirm the data and my right foot.

Tesco no more.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by DavS1

Tesco and V power are the same having tested both on the RR, BP Ultimate doesnt seem to be any better than unleaded (with regards to horse power or det limit).
We had a tuned renault 5 with an Omex ECU that we mapped for V power, the chap couldnt get V power one day he was bringing it in to stick it on the RR before a top speed event so he filled it with Ultimate. Car was detonating its t*ts off, aborted run..drained tank, stuck V power in and it was back to full power and no signs of det! ...

My experience exactly with the Impreza on a tune.
So bad I thought the BP Ulti was a bad batch and tried months later.
Same crap response and got det warning.

For that reason alone I never use anything except Shell VP, loves the stuff.

The only way to tell is to datalog your ignition timing on WOT pulls on the road and see whats occuring...

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by wezzie

hey dudes be under no illusion there is no difference between sainsbury,tesco,bp,shell
it all comes from the same turminal weather it be normal or super unleaded fast or slow diesel its only down to refinement and additives.

They may all use the same batch of base fuel from a refinery etc but additives unique to the pump brand are added with the base fuel as it is despensed into road tankers, these give the product specific octane improvement and all the other guff they talk about.

Saying they 'are all the same' is like saying 'all beers/bitter/pils/lagers are the same because they are made principally of water and alcohol'


That's why you see all the different branded tankers leaving and/or filling at the same terminal.

A shell refinery for example, makes base fuel to sell to everyone, not just their own products.

Back OT - V power all the way...... any company that calls their fuel 'momentum' to try and appease the tree huggers won't get my dosh.

Don't be woosses Tesco - put 'power' in the name and give it a red logo!

[creepy coupe]

Nowt wroing with Tesco's 99 ron, whatever name they call it. From my experiences my 135i, 335i, Cayman S and M3 have all ran better on it over shells "Max Power brigade" and Tesco's is 4p a litre cheaper than sheel around here.

[doughboy]

I'd had tried to find Tesco 99 recently, but had failed thinking they don't sell it at those Tesco express garages round us, now I know why - it's now called 'momentum' FFS!!

The '99' isn't mentioned (or its in print so small you can't see it) and its got a freaking green swirly logo!

How is anyone supposed to spot that when looking for decent performance fuel?

I think they've got their demographic wrong with that one.


That said, I'll give it a go next tank to see.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I'd had tried to find Tesco 99 recently, but had failed thinking they don't sell it at those Tesco express garages round us, now I know why - it's now called 'momentum' FFS!!

The '99' isn't mentioned (or its in print so small you can't see it) and its got a freaking green swirly logo!

How is anyone supposed to spot that when looking for decent performance fuel?

I think they've got their demographic wrong with that one.


That said, I'll give it a go next tank to see.

It annoys the fcuk out of me why Tesco insist on having a large sing on the end of each pump island stating "all grades" only to find that group of pumps doesn't have the full fat version.

[doughboy]

At least with V power you can see the nice red & yellow logo from way off.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

At least with V power you can see the nice red & yellow logo from way off.

Not made any easier these days since the now call their diesel V Power

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Not made any easier these days since the now call their diesel V Power

But the diesel pumps are easy to spot, the big pile of sand and plastic gloves on the floor gives it away, and the cue of taxis helps

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

But the diesel pumps are easy to spot, the big pile of sand and plastic gloves on the floor gives it away, and the cue of taxis helps

[wayne71]

The diesel pumps are easy to spot because nobodies at them, we're all out driving whilst your filling up (again)

[DavS1]

I've 'Heard' that Tesco is supplied by Shell, so their 99 ron is the same as V power...have no evidence to back this up other than it seems to be the same as V power in terms of performance on the rollers...