Diesel Fuels and Driving Range - Which Servo, Which Fuel?

sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 09:47
Last edited 28/03/2018 - 10:11

In true Oz Bargain fashion, fuel range means a lot to us.
I have seen posted on the net so many people saying they only use BP Ultimate (Diesel or Petrol) as it gives them the best range.

This thread i'd like to talk about Diesel and the claims about BP Ultimate being a fuel that gives more range consistently
(as voted by random people that post on the net)

I have 2 thing to add to this

  1. There different BP service stations, ones owned and operated and filled up by BP with BP Tankers and those run under licence (the majority it seems) which owned and filled up by independent tankers. EG: Matthews Petroleum (BP partners apparently)

  2. After keeping a Fuel App and logging every single tank of fuel for the passed 12 months
    I can't say any servo or fuel is better or worse than another!

I fill up mostly at BP, but also APCO and Caltex from time to time.

I've had my best range on BP, Caltex and APCO
Ive also had my worst range on BP and APCO.

My best ever economy was Woolworths Caltex 9.47L/100ks for a 100 Seires Landcruiser
Ive also had my worst range from BP in Bairnsdale, VIC…

All driving is done with around the same weight in vehicle, same driving conditions regarding wind and driving speed.

I'd be very interested to hear from others on their thoughts of different Service Station Brands or the Different fuels they sell.
Unless you keep an accurate log over time (IE: Fuel App or other calculations) i'm not really interested in what feel is better.
Or what you vehicle computer says….

I interested cold hard facts, that have been logged.

For mine, after 12 months of data logging, i can not say one servo is better than another, nor one fuel grade better than another.

Anyone else care to share their findings?

I ask, as there are people that swear by BP Ultimate Diesel, that it gives them more range every time.

Thank you.

Automotive

Comments

  • DarkOz on 28/03/2018 - 09:55

    We tested Caltex and Shell years ago and found that Caltex is better for our car. We usually fill up on 95 but sometimes 98 as it is supposed to clean the fuel system as well.

    • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 10:10

      I didn't know Diesel came in 95 and 98

      • Baysew on 28/03/2018 - 10:47
        +5

        You changed the title from "Fuels and Driving Range - Which Servo, Which Fuel?" after DarkOz made their comment.

        See revisions.

      • TheOneWhoKnocks on 28/03/2018 - 11:18
        +2

        We know you changed the title tho.

        • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:26
          -1

          Yes, because it seemed people did not read the thread, which said DIESEL ;)

          The post content remained exactly the same.
          For those Post Nazis out there

        • DarkOz on 28/03/2018 - 13:23

          @sweetnipples: TL;DR

  • Ryanek on 28/03/2018 - 10:13

    All petrol is pretty much the same, the only difference is the additives each company adds to it after the refining process. In WA for example, doesn't all the petrol comes out of the BP Kwinana refinery?

  • Peter Enis on 28/03/2018 - 11:05
    +2

    But BP Ultimate BUSTS DIRT!! IN JUST 2 TANKS!!!

    • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:07
      +1

      Sounds like a marketing tactic to me :)
      Making the assumption i run dirt in my tank, rails and injectors ;)

      • Peter Enis on 28/03/2018 - 11:17
        +2

        Honestly I just fill up at the local 7/11 because its closest to home.

        • MathNerd on 28/03/2018 - 14:41
          +1

          And has price locks.

    • Oz8argain on 28/03/2018 - 11:07
      +1

      brainwashed

    • Cluster on 28/03/2018 - 11:12
      +2

      I regularly refill my car with soil from around the house, and then must use BP's magic fuel to bust it.

  • Cluster on 28/03/2018 - 11:10
    +2

    I've tracked fuel usage on my diesel i30 since new and have found no difference in products between BP, Costco, Caltex, and the cheapest diesel I could find at the time. My average long term use is 4.9L/100km, and sometimes a fill to full will only be 4.6L/100km. It's tempting to think 'great! The last fuel used was awesome!', but what invariably happened is the pump cut off a little too early and the next refill will be around 5.2L/100km.

    If you pay attention to the marketing claims none say "our fuel delivers better fuel economy because it contains more energy per litre". That's the only way one fuel could be superior to another in fuel economy. They imply it by stating their additive package will clean fuel injectors and maybe other deposits, but if your vehicle is already in good condition you should see no benefit.

    • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:22

      Great response, thank you Cluster.

      The only additional thing i can add, is old tech low revving Diesels and new Modern High Tech Diesels
      Not sure if some fuels work better with modern diesels and make nexc to no difference with old diesels
      You answer seems to have put that to bed.

      We have a Landcruiser 1HD-FTE and BMW X5 in the family, both Diesels.
      I watch the fuel consumption of both like a hawk.
      (both out of general interest and as a means to monitor engine condition) if one vehicle starts running higher figures, i look to see why, often it is a maintenance issue.

      Like you, i have seen ZERO difference in range with fuel based on (Brand/Type), its only ever changed from driving style or speed driven (100 vs 110 etc)

  • Cheapo Moose on 28/03/2018 - 11:25

    I can't believe you bothered to log your fuel usage for 12 months.

    Unless you're operating your vehicle in controlled conditions, your fuel economy is going to vary, even if using the same fuel.

    Too many factors come into play (service intervals, tyre pressure, temperature, humidity etc etc).

    I reckon you should just drive and not stress too much about fuel economy.

    • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:32

      Some people wish to know there range SpottyMoose, it is important when you're in remote locations
      What is so hard to believe about it? Takes an addition 8 seconds to input the data to the app.

      Gives me an accurate picture of my vehicles economy and health
      Gives me an idea if injectors are starting to fail or other issues like diesel algae, fungus, etc

      I don't worry about fuel…. I do worry about a larger group of people that quote that BP Ultimate gives them more range, everytime.
      Hence this thread

      I agree, economy is objective, head winds etc….. EXACTLY why i have done this over 12 months, to get a good average

    • Cluster on 28/03/2018 - 11:41
      +3

      I keep track of my fuel usage in my 2016 i30 diesel because I want to know when the car will save enough fuel/dollars versus a petrol i30 to pay back the $3000 price premium I paid for the car. 51,000km down, $1400 recovered, so payback is around 110,000km. It's nice to know.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 11:54
        +1

        Add the difference in depreciation to that calculation and you're probably in front now.

      • spackbace on 28/03/2018 - 12:15

        Service costs over 110,000km will be higher than petrol…

        • Cluster on 28/03/2018 - 12:23
          +2

          Every 15,000km the services cost $30 more for the diesel than petrol vehicle. From what I can gather online the petrol engines use belts and diesels chains, so there should be no chain replacement at the 100k mark on the diesel. Hyundai's service schedule book doesn't specifically say.

          In regards to resale value, it should be higher for the diesel unless Volkswagen's scandal has completely turned people off the fuel. Also there's the unknown factor of a green left leaning council/government/etc suddenly banning entry of pre Euro 5 diesels into cities. That would kill the urban used car market.

    • pegaxs on 28/03/2018 - 13:50
      +1

      @SpottyMoose:

      Unless you're operating your vehicle in controlled conditions, your fuel economy is going to vary, even if using the same fuel.

      Why you are being negged is beyond me. Apart from the "why bother with fuel logging" (I do it out of curiosity/tracking work vehicles), this above comment is spot on. Unless the vehicles are tested under identical conditions, there could be any number of variations. It may "feel" like people did the same drive, but so many other factors out there that can change between fill ups, even though diesel is less susceptible to massive variations, unlike petrol cars, there is no way to calculate what is environmental/test conditions vs fuel quality.

      The other issue is that most of the diesel in Australia comes from a limited number of sources, so the chances you are filling up with the same fuel at two different locations is entirely possible.

      I know the "butthurt neg army" (you guys know who you are ;) will be along in a moment to downvote any comment I make, so I'm not going to waste too much time explaining why "Premium Diesel" is a load of horse shit. Google it. Everyone's favourite YouTube clown, Cadogan even has a nice piece on Premium Diesel. Like E10, it will only rustle the Jimmies.

  • GG57 on 28/03/2018 - 11:37
    +1

    Would the next step in the analysis be the price comparisons between, say, Caltex and BP, combined with the economy stats?
    Whilst we use both of those brands, we avoid Shell primarily because of the price.

  • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:45
    +1

    This doesn't make thing any clearer either….

    BP (as with Mobil) don't have a refinery in NSW and are supplied by either Shell or Caltex.
    QLD - Shell & Mobil are supplied by Caltex or BP
    VIC - Caltex & BP are supplied by Mobil or Shell
    All import their own into Adelaide
    WA - Mobil & Caltex supplied by BP or Shell
    TAS - Most import their own, or supply by Caltex or Shell

  • theHMASfriendship on 28/03/2018 - 11:47
    +2

    Except for manufacturer requirements for knock resistance for petrol cars (e.g. requiring 95 or 98); the "premium" fuels are purely marketing.

    Your car that can run on 91 will not run better on 98. Your diesel won't run better on "premium" diesel.

    • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 11:52

      Ive notice with a few country stations i go passed, they used to have just normal diesel
      Now the same pump has Premium Diesel (and the price went up 10cents), yet i think its save to say, it is the same underground tank with the same diesel in it.
      Just new stickers at the pump.

      My next question would be, where did the regular diesel go?

      • Cluster on 28/03/2018 - 12:00

        The X Convenience (former Mobil) station on Marion Road in Adelaide had normal diesel, but recently changed their signage so now it's "Special Diesel". The price hasn't gone up but people may be tempted to think the fuel has been upgraded. It's impossible to know who is telling the truth and who is playing badge engineering.

        • sweetnipples on 28/03/2018 - 12:05

          Yes, Ring Road in Melbourne has a Servo that sells Special Diesel, Normal Diesel and Truck Diesel.

          Lucky they didn't add "High Flow Diesel and Premium Diesel" to the mix.

  • singlemalt72 on 28/03/2018 - 13:22
    +2

    All you are generally going to get is "seat of the pants" feelings here and it's really not going to mean shit. Even people who drive the same route drive in slightly different conditions each time and it's really no firm base for comparison.

    Fact is that diesel comes in from overseas and it is generally the same diesel in each pump, People who say "Caltex is best for my car" or "BP runs smoother" really need to look beyond brand loyalty, there may be some small difference from station to station due to leaky underground tanks and contamination, but it is the same diesel. The premium diesels just have extra detergents and other additives that really have no evidence to display any performance gain and only show a feature of foaming slightly less at the pump.

    I know he can be grating at times, but John Cadogan is worth listening when it comes to vehicles - he knows the industry inside-out and shares a lot of info on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fKxLOTVEnI

  • whooah1979 on 28/03/2018 - 16:22

    we get 6.06km/l.

  • Euphemistic on 28/03/2018 - 16:59
    -1

    I use all different brands depending on what is the cheapest. I’ve tracked my usage and it varies from 9.55 to 11.45 averaging 10.15l/100km. 11.45 was a bit out of the ordinary, because I spent about 20km in soft sand. 9.55 included 2hrs on the highway. Normally it’s just around town. Driving variances are more than what I can see between fuel brands.

  • JimmyF on 28/03/2018 - 17:42

    I interested cold hard facts, that have been logged.

    http://www.fuelly.com/

    Find your car and see what others are getting

    My best ever economy was Woolworths Caltex 9.47L/100ks for a 100 Seires Landcruiser

    Ok… Whats your worst then?

  • CSR on 29/03/2018 - 08:20

    Premium diesel doesn't have higher octane like unleaded does. Premium has anti-foaming agents and other good stuff to clean injectors, etc. Better economy, if any, is indirect through an engine that is cleaner and burning fuel more efficiently.
    Read this.
    https://unsealed4x4.com.au/premium-diesel-worth/

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2018 - 08:41
    +1

    If you want to keep alge from growing in your diesel tank in hot environment then there are plenty of good additives available at truck shops ,
    Like Fuel Doctor ect.
    Should also keep clean injectors clean and may add to fuel economy , more so than the tiny bit of detergent in diesel now.
    Also extractors ($bought online$) and decent sized exhaust on a non-turbo engine should give +5% improvement
    I do this immediately after buying LandCruiser with less than 250 000 kms on the clock
    ( Change your oil every 5000, fuel filters at 10 000 and upgrade your air filter ,like a K&N and snorkel when you can afford it )
    Then add bullbar, steps , spotlights , big tyres ect and the economy goes backwards again

  • Ozpit on 29/03/2018 - 20:57

    I run my HQ ute on the smell of an oily rag. About once a month I soak the rag in Castrol XL, and with careful monitoring over the past five years I've noticed that I've been getting (on average) 0.021L/100km. I buy the Castrol XL at Coles, but I've been hearing that you can get better mileage soaking a rag in Mobil Super oil, which you can get at Woolies for about the same price (but when on special is about 15% cheaper than the Castrol XL). Anyone out there like to share their experiences of soaking their oily rag in different types of oil? I'm particularly interested in hard facts relating to using Mobil Super because of the potential long-term savings.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2018 - 21:39

      Do you keep this magic rag beside your bed ?

  • singingwolf on 29/03/2018 - 21:28

    Subaru told me Shell has the worst fuel and BP the best. That was based on number of customers that had been in with fuel related incidents.

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