[justa]

Anyone else here have a 320d that doesn't seem to like V-Power ?

Using v-power on my daily trip to work its doing 33.6 mpg - piss poor for a diesel but its a 7 mile trip that takes 30 mins.

Using Shell Fuel Save doing the same journeys it was averaging 37.8 mpg - still poor but I am aware that modern diesels only seem to return good mpg when they get up to speed - on the m'way I can do 50 mpg at 75-80 mph.

The car doesn't seem to run any better with v-power either - my last car (Honda Accord CDTI) loved v-power

Anyone else noticed this ?

[Baby Dave]

Mine feels slot smoother when I use v power the mpg has also gone up. As it's £1.40 a litre I only use it every so often. It's back to Asda for the time being

[milesr3]

Yep, my 535d doesn't like V-Power diesel either. It hesitates on light throttle at low rpms, which I put down to the lower calorific content and different burn characteristics of the Gas To Liquid fuel.

Mine runs best of all on Shell Fuelsave diesel and second best on Sainsbury's City Diesel plus millers.

You may be interested to know that Fuelsave diesel has a higher typical cetane rating that V-Power anyway and is much better VFM.

[toxicnerve]

Weird, I've just started using V-Power (switched over from Fuel-Save) and to be honest, I'm not sure I've really noticed a big difference...car seems "fine". By that I mean it seems completely normal....

[zltm089]

I use the tesco momentum one....

currently looking for a fuel with at least 91 octane...will try v power next week....

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by zltm089

I use the tesco momentum one....

currently looking for a fuel with at least 91 octane...will try v power next week....

Eh? 91 octane? The standard fuel is 95 and the premium is 97 or 98.

[the_rangdo]

Octane or cetane?

[swanseahammer]

My 320d (177bhp SE E90) runs smoother on V-Power, no better mpg than standard diesel but no worse either. These days I run it exclusively on V-Power - when I've used standard diesel previously (especially Tescos) it's sounded very agricultural. Probably lubricates the engine better but I'm no expert in these things.

My standard commute is very similar in length / time to the OP but get just under 40mpg on average.

[CarAbuser]

I don't understand how some people are getting such low mpg with the 320d, I reset my counter after my last fill and its sitting at 47mpg, that's about 400 miles of country roads with a heavy foot.

[magic77]

I find shell normal is very good for my 177 320D but Vpower just makes it smoother and more responsive, next best thing is local Sainsbury most likely as its one of business stations around so always have fresh fuel

[Walesy]

Mine doesnt seem to like Shell fuel at all since they went to this new fuel saving diesel. Tried it a few times and the car just doesnt seem right, dunno if it to do with the remap or what but I stick to Esso or BP these days.

[magic77]

weird mine is the opposite put in BP and car feels lumpy and sluggish maybe its down to the supply

[Em135eye]

Mine feels fine with all diesel that I've stuck in it so far.

I try and use Shell where possible but occasionally it has to be something else - not many fuel stations left in Cornwall - loads have closed!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by milesr3

Yep, my 535d doesn't like V-Power diesel either. It hesitates on light throttle at low rpms, which I put down to the lower calorific content and different burn characteristics of the Gas To Liquid fuel.
Mine runs best of all on Shell Fuelsave diesel and second best on Sainsbury's City Diesel plus millers.

You may be interested to know that Fuelsave diesel has a higher typical cetane rating that V-Power anyway and is much better VFM.

Quite common for reports to show fuel (particularly the V-power diesel) runs different, in same model engines. Shows all combustion is not equal. Whether a car is off of optimum parameters, or there is some 'tuning' issues, hard to say. I think the condition of the injectors could have a part to play here, injection pressure and spray patterns are likely the sensitive part of getting correct combustion.

HighlandPete

[Em135eye]

And air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, road conditions, etc, etc.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

And air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, road conditions, etc, etc.

Let's assume those factors are the same for the different fuels.

HighlandPete

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Let's assume those factors are the same for the different fuels.

HighlandPete

Ermmm - you know what I meant

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Eh? 91 octane? The standard fuel is 95 and the premium is 97 or 98.

Thats where i get confused!...What about the tesco one then? it says 99? ....

In the USA, the tuners mention using at least 91 octane....and the "top" one being 93....


Does that mean we have much better fuel than them?....

[strongdeo]

There is so much inconsistent feedback from different drivers here! No wonder people just tend to use the cheapest fuel. I mimagine less than 5% of the population use the V power or more expensive products.

[the_rangdo]

I use it, the nearest garage to me has V-Power at 132.9 and Shell-Save at 130.9

2 miles away those prices at 140.9 and 132.9 respectively.

On a massively scientific test (1 tankful of Shell-Save just to see what it's like) I found I got slightly better mpg on V-Power and it felt smoother and more responsive.

For the sake of 2p I've opted to be a diesel-snob

[milesr3]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Quite common for reports to show fuel (particularly the V-power diesel) runs different, in same model engines. Shows all combustion is not equal. Whether a car is off of optimum parameters, or there is some 'tuning' issues, hard to say. I think the condition of the injectors could have a part to play here, injection pressure and spray patterns are likely the sensitive part of getting correct combustion.

HighlandPete

To be fair it could also have been something to do with my car not reaching optimum running temperature too as I haven't tried V-power since getting my 'stats sorted (or since Fuelsave came out for that matter - don't see the point of V-Power any more). The car is also better on light throttle when running at the right temperature regardless of fuel.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Thats where i get confused!...What about the tesco one then? it says 99? ....

In the USA, the tuners mention using at least 91 octane....and the "top" one being 93....


Does that mean we have much better fuel than them?....

Nope, the Septics just use a different standard so the same fuel will have a different octane rating.