Best Diesel Fuel for Car

Archi on 12/06/2015 - 15:02

I don't think this has been asked or discussed anytime of late,

with increased number of diesel cars, 4x4 and SUV's on offer and in circulation, what is the best diesel fuel we can purchase for our cars?

there has been discussions else where regarding sulphur in the fuel at 10PPM parts per million as an indication of environmentally, low emission fuel. it also serves as lubricant to engines.

also what is the difference if anyone knows between

Caltex vortex diesel
BP ultimate diesel
shell diesel 10
mobil special diesel (at 7 eleven)

what does everyone use regularly?

will the same fuel perform the same regardless whether it is a car or a 4x4.?

I use to drive a car that will only take 95 octane or higher and found the old mobile fuels and shell 95, i felt that they gave the best feel (drive) and overall efficiency. I guess not all fuels are made equal.

Automotive

Comments

  • StewBalls on 12/06/2015 - 15:52
    +1

    I'm also interested in this, I've noticed a modest difference in fuel economy between the cheap stuff I've gotten from independents vs the BP/Caltex/Mobil/Shell fuels.

    • hashtagbargain on 12/06/2015 - 17:04

      Which ones do you think are better/worse?

      • StewBalls on 12/06/2015 - 20:41

        I was buying from a couple of small independents who were frequently 10-20c cheaper than the big names, but I was finding that I was getting on average 50-100km less mileage per tank than the big boys with pretty similar driving habits. Their prices are now pretty much at parity with the rest anyway, so I'm just buying where convenient ATM. I haven't really been able to discern a difference between the major brands though.

        There was a scare a few years back with unscrupulous independents flogging cheaper heating oil as diesel, IIRC poor fuel economy was a symptom & engine damage was the net result, so it was a real worry there for a while…now, I'm not sure if this still goes on, so take that bit of trivia with a grain of salt.

        Maybe someone could PM the user Copie, he's a truckie & knows shitloads about fuel in general, surely he can shed some light on this topic! ;)

        • tomclancy on 13/06/2015 - 00:18
          +1

          Maybe someone could PM the user Copie

          Done :)

  • PLANT on 12/06/2015 - 21:18

    BP I'm told from other threads is the best….

    • tomclancy on 13/06/2015 - 00:16

      Are they posts specific to diesel? Anything I've seen on the interwebs recommending BP is always unleaded related.

    • MATTDAMON on 13/06/2015 - 19:38
      +3

      Sniggers, BP fanbois.

      If only you knew.

      Ok for a start OP.

      All Diesel available for consumer purchase is 10ppm sulfur diesel (also known as Dist10 or U-DL10) so doesnt matter what servo or company you buy from its always going to meet that specification (along with a whole lot of other specs as per the 2001 fuel standards act)

      Anyways to the difference of brands. The 'premium' diesels are almost exactly the same, its an anti foam additive/nemo additive mix that is injected into the downstream during the road tanker loading process, the base diesel itself is exactly the same as regular diesel (as they are dispensed from the same loading arm) the additive amount is quite small 2-3L per 8000L or so.

      Your biggest thing to watch for is Biodiesel, now under Australian law diesel is allowed to have upto 5% bio diesel and not be marked as so (under the 2001 fuel standards act, which ive linked at the bottom)

      I cannot say which companies do and do not add Bio to their regular diesel mix (as it breaks several CIF agreements i have to adhere to as part of my job) but you would be surprised at just how widespread B5 biodiesel is (and yes this does include 'premium' blends of diesel)

      As for independents vs the big 4, chances are it all comes from the same terminal anyways, given that the majority of our fuel products is now imported, its far more common then you think (thanks recepitical agreements)

      Personally, i just buy from whoever is cheapest at the time (which around newcastle is usually Metro between 10pm-3am) they get their fuel from BP/Caltex/Mobil (silverwater) anyways.

      http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/6b9b93a…

      • tomclancy on 13/06/2015 - 21:29

        Thanks for the response Copie.

        Your biggest thing to watch for is Biodiesel

        Why do you say to watch for biodiesel? If we knew where bio5 was sold should we avoid it? Sounds like you don't think its an issue but first you said to watch for it. I'm confused.

        • MATTDAMON on 13/06/2015 - 21:54
          -1

          Its not so much an issue (its been out and about for years and being consumed without any real side effects) Its just one of those things, you cant really watch for it per say since its not marked.

      • Archi on 13/06/2015 - 22:38

        thanks Copie,

        appreciate the info and input.

  • PLANT on 13/06/2015 - 20:41

    So Copie how the hell can you be traced on Ozbargain……just login on a dumb account and post the bloody info….take you tin foil hat off for pete sake!

    • MATTDAMON on 13/06/2015 - 20:48
      -1

      Not worth the risk.

  • PLANT on 13/06/2015 - 21:02

    On reading your post it seems you know the answer but choose to ignore "biodiesel" having a negative effect as later you state they all have it as the diesel comes from the same tank?
    Oh I worked it out SHELL has biodiesel!

    • MATTDAMON on 13/06/2015 - 21:07
      -1

      bio5 doesn't have any negative effects, chances are you have been using Bio 5 and you dont even know it (as you cannot tell by smell or look or feel)

  • nzthunderboy on 19/08/2015 - 00:12

    MYTHBUSTER

    • Biodiesel combusts badly in my engine
      Incorrect
      Biodiesel has a higher cetane number (which means higher ignitability) and actually combusts more completely because it has a higher oxygen content.

    • Biodiesel will destroy my fuel lines and gaskets
      Fact
      Biodiesel is a good solvent and will clean out the bad diesel fuel residues left in the fuel tank and lines. Because it is such a good solvent, this means that rubber fuel lines and gaskets might be degraded – but since 1990, most vehicles don’t have rubber fuel lines and gaskets.

    Source Biofuels Association of Australia

    Basically stay with big brands, Additives are good. and most carry 10PPM

    • MATTDAMON on 21/08/2015 - 16:00

      They all carry 10ppm, since thats the legal requirement.

      Also you will find that just about all cars have rubber lines in their fuel system, they certainly are not hard lined to the motor (because they need to account for motor flex on engine mounts)

    • altomic on 24/08/2015 - 23:42

      Lol : source- biofuels association of Australia.

      And according to the Australian Tobacco Industry….

  • srhardy on 27/08/2015 - 15:35

    Cheap diesel is promlematic, it often cheap for a reason! Shell diesel is the worst fuel for contaminents! I know, my cars had 2 fills and its coff'n&fart'n after filling. Never had the problem with VORTEX at woolworths/BP.

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