Shell Diesel Super dooper V power - any good?

[welshie_miles]

Filled my TDCI Chavwagon with Shell Diesel premium today, 7p a litre more expensive than the vanilla diesel. Nothing special noticed on a trip to Nottingham and back, tho to be fair I had a quarter of a tank of French diesel left in the tank, so the car will probably go on strike.

My question is, can anyone with experience and wimshed any light on whether it's worth it from time to time? I tried the petrol varierty Shell VPower in my MK 3 Golf and that flew noticeably quicker.

Cheers!

[InstructorPiggy]

not noticed difference with the Diesel to be honest....

but shells normal diesel is better (for me, my opinion) than others.

Big difference with the petrol Vpower tho...think i said before here, my bike refuses to run on anything but V!

[welshie_miles]

not noticed difference with the Diesel to be honest....

but shells normal diesel is better (for me, my opinion) than others.

Big difference with the petrol Vpower tho...think i said before here, my bike refuses to run on anything but V!

Your bike has expensive tastes then eh!

[InstructorPiggy]

Your bike has expensive tastes then eh!

you say that...but speaking to most bikers...unless its a basic two pot 500 honda or 125 suzuki, they all much prefer the ultimate/V power....

same would likely be true of sportscars....true sportscars...like Ferrari!

due to the high power/tuned nature of the engine...we are talking 110bhp from 600cc here!

and 45-50mpg!!

[FMC]

to be fair i don't think our paltry diesel engines are going to be too sensitive to the differences, but the improved lubricants in the Shell fuels will definitley help the mnotor.

My brother's last Subarus were mapped on V-Power and would seriously run like a pig if he dared put anything else in in, because it was so finely tuned it was super sensitive! But the good ole 89bhp Ford TDCi won't have too much trouble - hell, you could probably run it on chip fat from the local chippy and it'll probably go ok

[DONFRAMAC]

to be fair i don't think our paltry diesel engines are going to be too sensitive to the differences, but the improved lubricants in the Shell fuels will definitley help the mnotor.

My brother's last Subarus were mapped on V-Power and would seriously run like a pig if he dared put anything else in in, because it was so finely tuned it was super sensitive! But the good ole 89bhp Ford TDCi won't have too much trouble - hell, you could probably run it on chip fat from the local chippy and it'll probably go ok

I have it on good authority from the Manager of our Ford dealership, who were BP for decades, that BP V-max diesel is the tops, but is only delivered within about 150 miles of a refinery, so he was quoting a garage in Perth getting supplied from Grangemouth.

That garage of mine can no longer get BP, but have Esso 95 Ron. the other Esso filling station in town (Thurso, at Northern extreme of Highland Region) stocks Super-Unleaded, so bikers from all around the county go there for fuel.

My Ford garage does a good trade in "FORTE" brand fuel additives, for diesel and petrol engines, for use normally in servicing, to help in system-cleaning & decoking/cleaning injectors/lambda probes/EGR valves etc. They do not alter the octane or cetane rating, but are very effective, and well worth £8.50p +VaT, for a plastic bottle (400 ml), that treats 100 litres of fuel. There is even a version of the petrol additive that is designed to tackle the sticky-valve problem that early Zetec engines with hydraulic tappets were prone to.

I used the diesel additive for 8 years, every 3 months, and now use the petrol version in my '58 reg Mk 6.5 Fiesta 1.25.

This stuff is normally "trade-only", and I only discovered it in 2001, when my Rover 25 TD got its 1st service, and I queried the bill with the foreman, and was told that they used it at every annual service on diesel vehicles, having also used that same brand of engine-oil-flush. (oil-flushing is done to clear the hydraulic tappets or similar capsules used for timing-belt tensioners-- look up your Ford Haynes manual for these;-- all Rover engines were equipped with tappet capsules, K series & 2 litre TD, and Ford/VAG use them for timing belt/chain tensioners, instead of springs, so clean oil is needed--- 6-monthly oil changes advised.)

[T55]

Have tried V Power Diesel and found absolutely no improvement in power or mpg at all. Not surprising really when the cetane rating is actually less than Shell Diesel Extra which is the same price as "standard" diesel. Shell Diesel Extra is now my fuel of choice, the cetane level is higher than most supermarket fuels and the price is fairly equivalent if you look around. However, the most noticeable improvement I have seen in performance was when I used BP Ultimate Diesel, but at a price premium of course!

[FMC]

However, the most noticeable improvement I have seen in performance was when I used BP Ultimate Diesel, but at a price premium of course!

Does that extra performance equate to a higher mpg sufficient to warrant the extra cost per litre? i.e. is it therefore cheaper, or as cheap as regular, but with a bit more bang for the buck?

[Javiatrix]

So what's better for the engine... Shell Vpower or BP Ultimate? And we're talking unleaded here, cheers! ;)

[AndrewL]

Standard supermarket fuel all the way for me. Why don't you try and tank of each and compare the difference? Maybe that will give you a better idea. :)

EDIT. For some reason read the original post after I posted and realised that you already have! Let us know the results after you've drained the tank.

Also, lol at "chav wagon". Recently I have been told that my car is "chavtastic" and "looks like a barbie car!?".

[Hook]

I'm a 'bzzagent', and currently enrolled in one of their bzz campaigns involving Shell vpower. I've got some discounts etc, and I've been quite happy with it. It seems to have increased the mpg, but that could just be my engine wearing in. It's supposed to be less smokey as it is a GTL fuel (http://www.shell.co.uk/home/content/gbr/products_services/on_the_road/fuels/v_power_diesel_pkg/advanced_performance_fuel/advanced_performance_fuel.html) and I haven't noticed the engine smoking as much on these colds morning, which it did when it was -3 on Morrisons diesel.

Whether there's a 7p difference I don't know, but the £2.00 vouchers on 20 litres of fuel are negating it at the moment :-"

If anybody wants any vouchers to give it a try, drop me your address and I'll try post you some. You'll just have to let me know what you think so I can 'bzz' about it.

[FMC]

I'm a 'bzzagent', and currently enrolled in one of their bzz campaigns involving shell vpower. I've got some discounts etc, and I've been quite happy with it. It seems to have increased the mpg, but that could just be my engine wearing in. It's supposed to be less smokey as it is a GTL fuel (http://www.shell.co.uk/home/content/gbr/products_services/on_the_road/fuels/v_power_diesel_pkg/advanced_performance_fuel/advanced_performance_fuel.html) and I haven't noticed the engine smoking as much on these colds morning, which it did when it was -3 on Morrisons diesel.

Whether there's a 7p difference I don't know, but the £2.00 vouchers on 20 litres of fuel are negating it at the moment :-"

If anybody wants any vouchers to give it a try, drop me your address and I'll try post you some. You'll just have to let me know what you think so I can 'bzz' about it.

MOney off Shell sounds good to me - but what's "bzz" and am i likely to !Removed! my postman off by signing up for sackfulls of junk mail if i give you my address?

:)

[Hook]

MOney off Shell sounds good to me - but what's "bzz" and am i likely to !Removed! my postman off by signing up for sackfulls of junk mail if i give you my address?

:)

Hah no... it's not like it goes on a database or anything. It just goes on the front of the envelope that I stick some free coupons in. I don't work for them, just get free stuff in return for spreading the word about the odd product I get to test. I once got the entire range of bryylcream for free :D

http://www.bzzagent.co.uk

[FMC]

Hah no... it's not like it goes on a database or anything. It just goes on the front of the envelope that I stick some free coupons in. I don't work for them, just get free stuff in return for spreading the word about the odd product I get to test. I once got the entire range of bryylcream for free :D

http://www.bzzagent.co.uk

lol

YHPM ;)

:D

[T55]

Does that extra performance equate to a higher mpg sufficient to warrant the extra cost per litre? i.e. is it therefore cheaper, or as cheap as regular, but with a bit more bang for the buck?

Personally I don't think so, it made about 2 mpg difference in my car when I resisted the temptation not to use the slight increase in response.

[greenymk7]

iv tried them all now supermarket, bp, bp extra and Shell.

best for me so far.........sainsburys :D

[KeithC]

End of the day, in a low powered car such as the Fiesta, whether it is diesel or petrol, you aint gonna notice any power gains as I would imagine thye are all set up to run on low octane fuel and it's doubtful whether the ECU can adapt to higher octane ratings like a lot of high performance cars.

But, it all depends on what you are happy putting in your car. Personally, I'd prefer the premium stuff because of it's cleaners and additives over the supermarket stuff just like I'd use premium oil as well instead of the cheapest on the market.

You pays your money and you take your choice.

[dikodixon]

Personally I don't think so, it made about 2 mpg difference in my car when I resisted the temptation not to use the slight increase in response.

Dont get confused, Shell V power petrol is a performance enhancing fuel and is advertised as such, Shell V power diesel is a GTL fuel and is marketed more of a detergent. cleaning the engine, S-max forum comments on actually getting less mpg from V-power. BP ultimate diesel is a performance enhancing diesel and is also marketed as such.

[Jonny87]

something else that guides me when I'm buying fuel is the age of the petrol station. The petrol is likely to be better from a brand new tesco station than some 40 year old Shell station with an ancient rusty tank full off poo under the forecourt

I don't reckon people will ever agree on which petrol is best because nobody really knows for sure what the difference is apart from the octane, the 'additives' aren't disclosed by the manufacturers.

imo: brand spanking new garage with a squeaky clean tank = clean fuel, old garage with a rusty old tank of grot = not so clean fuel

[FMC]

something else that guides me when I'm buying fuel is the age of the petrol station. The petrol is likely to be better from a brand new tesco station than some 40 year old shell station with an ancient rusty tank full off poo under the forecourt

I don't reckon people will ever agree on which petrol is best because nobody really knows for sure what the difference is apart from the octane, the 'additives' aren't disclosed by the manufacturers.

imo: brand spanking new garage with a squeaky clean tank = clean fuel, old garage with a rusty old tank of grot = not so clean fuel

Whilst i am inclined to agree on the principle, the fact that all cars have a fuel filter leads me to believe that what you are talking about makes no difference ;)

Also, aren't petrol stations regularly inspected/examined by the DOT to take fuel sample? (or did i just dream that up?? )

:)

[Jonny87]

Whilst i am inclined to agree on the principle, the fact that all cars have a fuel filter leads me to believe that what you are talking about makes no difference ;)

Also, aren't petrol stations regularly inspected/examined by the DOT to take fuel sample? (or did i just dream that up?? )

:)

I dont think they are regularly inspected by the ministry of transport, otherwise we wouldn't have seen that massive fuel contamination incident a couple of years back. It was clear in that case that fuel filters didnt help the problem either.

I think that some local authorities examine the pumps under the weights and measures act but I dont think they all do. To check they are dispensing accurate quantities of fuel...

[KeithC]

I dont think they are regularly inspected by the ministry of transport, otherwise we wouldn't have seen that massive fuel contamination incident a couple of years back. It was clear in that case that fuel filters didnt help the problem either.

I think that some local authorities examine the pumps under the weights and measures act but I dont think they all do. To check they are dispensing accurate quantities of fuel...

Plus, when you are looking at the rusty auld tanks, that's on the outside, the petrol sits on the inside of the tank and I would imagine it'd be treated so it doesn't rust. ;)

[Mark M.K]

Another point is, i'd always go to a busy fuel station because their fuel would only be in the underground tanks for 1-2 days max. Where as the little quiet local petrol station in a village etc would of had fuel in the tanks for a good few weeks. This is where it picks up dirt from the bottom of the old fuel tanks which will end up in your tanks ;)

[Jonny87]

Plus, when you are looking at the rusty auld tanks, that's on the outside, the petrol sits on the inside of the tank and I would imagine it'd be treated so it doesn't rust. ;)

Maybe so, but folk are always banging on about the so-called crap that sits in the bottom of a cars petrol tank, has to come from somewhere, unless Ford pre-craps all the tanks before sale?

Plus modern stations use plastic tanks, I saw them changing the tank at the esso at the end of my road a couple of years back :)

[KeithC]

Maybe so, but folk are always banging on about the so-called crap that sits in the bottom of a cars petrol tank, has to come from somewhere, unless Ford pre-craps all the tanks before sale?

Plus modern stations use plastic tanks, I saw them changing the tank at the esso at the end of my road a couple of years back :)

To be honest, in over 20 years of motoring I've never had any fuel tank/filter related problems with any car I've had.