Hi all,

So within the past week or two, I have been getting lower than usual MPG on my 1.6 petrol (non-TI-VCT duratec) Focus MK2.5.

Also I have noticed that when idling - the trip computer reads 0.3 gallons/hour most of the time, when the engine has warmed up. In the past, it has ALWAYS read 0.2 gallons/hour.

Usually it has always been Shell or Esso unleaded fuel for me, however my last tank was filled mostly with Sainsbury's fuel. So I don't know if its just my car, or whether the Sainsbury's fuel is subpar.

So my question is:

Does anyone have any MPG variations with a similar engine to mine, while using supermarket fuel vs. BP/Shell fuel?

Re sainsburys fuel or any fuel from supermarkets. It is purchased from the same depots as shell bp etc. the cost of refining fuel is expensive and no retailer would attempt to do it,

I think it may be the car. Have you tried an ecu reset. Or even using redex to clean out the injectors.

Mine I have to say runs better on shell or esso, I normally lob supermarket fuel in but by circumstance it is filled with shell and it idles smoother and runs better for it

Sent from my Gen 1 WAP phone

The fuel is not the same that's fact supermarkets buy it from who is cheapest it meets standards but its usually got far less or more cleaners in it fact I get better mpg from shell fuel or Tesco 99 fact many breakdown companies advise people not to use supermarket fuel due to running issues fact its proven supermarket fuel in tests gave the car less than standard horsepower dye to its poor burn leading to higher fuel usage lower mpg

Yeah, I don't care where it comes from but I know shell vpower and tesco/ asda fuel are night an day, its not just perception its the truth, supermarket fuel makes my car sound like a bag of spanners, even adding 2 stroke doesn't help it, vpower is significantly quieter, vpower with 2stroke is silent!

You can do a blind test on me if you like, supermarket fuel it crap

Does the same apply to supermarket diesel

we use Supermarket diesel in both our cars with no issues its the petrol that differs along with any od the v and super diesel

shell bp etc put different addatives in their fuel tankers at the depots where as asda tesco dont because of the costs all most addatives do is clean the engine giving it a leaner burn hence better economy /power however by using the likes of redex or other addatives will probably do the same

it was reccomended that you use an addative at least one a month just to clean out the crud in the engine

as much as anyone wants to argue the fact fuel is fuel its just the addative that are put in the tankers before delivery there is a set standard to fuel and it is regulary tested to see that this standard is maintained

so in reality there is no point is saying this is best or that is best its a personal choice and what works for your car

i swear by cata clean as i think it is awsome others dont but it has got my emissions to almost 0 for my Mot's and helped with my fuel economy

Thanks for the replies everyone. The car is regularly serviced, and had its spark plugs changed fairly recently too. Perhaps I just need to wait until the tank runs out, refill with Shell, and see if the economy improves.

Is there anyone else with a petrol Duratec engine that notices a difference in economy/how smooth the engine runs?

I spoke to my local terraclean guy about having it done and what to do to keep it good, he said he would happily do it but do myself a favour an not put crap in it in the first place as did my local ford specialist.

Fuel may come from the same crude oil but lets face it, supermarkets are in the business of keeping costs as low as humanly possible, your interests are not theres, its like vodka, you can buy stuff that is vodka but will likely put you in hospital if you drank it.

The shell I have in the car sounds better, drives better and lasts better than supermarket fuel and if that is all down to additives, then I haven't yet found one that is as cost effective as just buying vpower and works the same with supermarket fuel.

but as they say, each to their own, at the end of the day its your car, your money and your choice :)

although saying that, sainsburys fuel used to always last longer than Tesco and asda when I used to buy the stuff all very curious considering they are as cheap as each other

Makes no difference to my 1.0 ecoboost what fuel I put in , a,(unleaded obviously and not diesel. Ha hs)ll runs fine and same economy