Tesco unleaded Vs Shell Optimax

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:11 am

I'm taking the challenge this week, instead of filling up with my usual 76.9p a litre unleaded from Tesco (and getting the club card points) I filled it up with Shell Optimax unleaded I noticed an immediate change in performance when I left the forecourt as my car was running on the red when I went in there.

What I'm interested in is if it makes the car more economical, Its cost nearly Â£4 more to fill the tank with Optimax than with Tesco fuel.

See how it goes, anyone else noticed a change in fuel economy

Cheers

Adam

felyx · Post by **felyx** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:24 am

Some petrol stations sell texaco supreme 97 ron ( not 95 ron standard unleaded) but optimax is the highest in the UK i think at 98ron, some guys i spoke to in the states can get 104 ron but this cost $2 a gallon more. and yes i did definatley notice the difference with supreme or optimax. sainsbury's in bristol sell their Super Unleaded at 79.9 a litre not bad!!

cheers felyx

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:53 am

Tesco fuel is shit!
I will probably get flamed for saying that.
But honestly I have used Tesco fuel and been shocked by how bad it made things run, I have heard the same from at least 10 other peope.
Sainsbury's fuel seems to be one of the best (same supplier as BP I believe).

johnd · Post by **johnd** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:06 pm

I definitely notice a difference with Optimax in my turbo and have the peace of mind that the engine will be running a little cooler.

If it's good enough for Ferrari.......

Might try some with some octane booster (methanol) in

John

ICFM · Post by **ICFM** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:16 pm

There was a BP tanker filling up the Sainsbury's in Chichester last night.

Iain

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:50 pm

Yes I can confirm that Sainsbury's are supplied by BP.
Its also the cheapest for a 30 mile radius round here too.

dbsvolvos · Post by **dbsvolvos** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:14 pm

putting methanol in the tank is not such a good idea , i think ive said this before , i can get octane booster in big enough quantities , on a collection only basis , that can be mixed up to 103 octane from normal unleaded .

that booster will be cheaper than the super unleaded itself .

lee · Post by **lee** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:30 pm

The best way to convert to optimax is to drain the tank as much as possible. Then change the filter and fill her up.

Doing it the any other way takes ages to work. You can feel that the car pulls better but there is actually nothing to write home about until the whole system is flushed.

Older cars seem to run better on BP ultimate rather than optimax. This is only useful for those lucky few who have the early ES

As for MPG it has reduced. This is due to me booting it more

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:27 pm

I use Shell Optimax usually, but since I realised that Sainsbury's in Bristol were only 79.9 for Super Unleaded I have switched. I can't say I've noticed anything special, but then I've used Super since I've had it, it's supposidly slightly better for the engine.

As for Tescos, my local don't even sell Super, so stuff them!

(as I write Sainsburys Regular u/l is up to 79.8, so I guess I'm back to Shell assuming they aren't charging the ridiculous 86.9 of a week or two ago.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:21 am

Sainsbury's has been consistently at 80.9p/litre for super for many many months now, wherewas shell has been fairly stable, fluctuating between 84.9 and 86.9 for Optimax.

There's a Texaco near here that sells super, and it has been very consistent in it's pricing at a very steep 96.9p/litre!!!!

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:29 am

WAAA

You trying to give me a heart attack? IS that what I'll have to pay to fill up with optimax? I pay 82.9 here

Ad

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:35 am

Umm, OK, so filling up here will cost an extra Â£1.20 then for a 60 litre tank - when you're already paying >40 quid, does that Â£1.20 really make that much difference? I don't think so, unless you're on the breadline, whereby I'd suggest you shouldn't be using high octane fuel anyway!

I never understand why people make a fuss over 1, 2 or even 3p a litre varience! But that's maybe just me

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:41 pm

Oh Iâ€™m always paranoid about how much fuel is and how much I use. But thatâ€™s just me

Ad

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:33 pm

I am much the same, I always keep an eye on it. I don't mind spending a few extra pence a litre, but it does add up if you need to fill the tank every week. Cost me Â£50 last night

And it's 83.9 at the moment for Optimax, but when it was 79.9 for Std they wanted 86.7, it's not really that good that I'd wanna pat 7p a litre more for it.

Turnipman · Post by **Turnipman** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:54 am

Ok just got back from a long weekend on super unleaded, very very pleased with results the car felt... well pleased that I was treating her. Pulled nicely idled better etc. The MPG didn't suffer on the motorway, around 35 but round town, the average dropped to 11.2 which was fooking crazy cos I can normally get 25 or above. So the decision is to only use superU when I feel like treating me and my car.

Turnipman

P.S. How do you get a picture next to your name when you post something?

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:19 pm

go into your profile, the button is at the top, go right to the bottom where it says 'Avatar' you will need to link a picture from another source on the web.

Ad

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:33 pm

Oh Iâ€™m always paranoid about how much fuel is and how much I use. But thatâ€™s just me Very Happy

Ad

Not surprised with it pouring out like that!

Richard joked that when you were following, your petrol would be degreasing his oil.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:58 pm

it's not really that good that I'd wanna pat 7p a litre more for it.

I agree, the good stuff like 9p more about here which is a piss take

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:23 pm

JohnTurbo wrote:
Oh Iâ€™m always paranoid about how much fuel is and how much I use. But thatâ€™s just me Very Happy

Ad
Not surprised with it pouring out like that!

Richard joked that when you were following, your petrol would be degreasing his oil.

Glad I could be of service to him

I'm going to get the car lifted up tomorrow to see what is going on underneath

Ad

Breeze · Post by **Breeze** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:29 pm

I usually get either the Tesco stuff or the premium Unleaded (whatever its called from BP) which is 97 RON, and use it with REDEX, usually not that impressive. Occasionally I use Optimax and it does seem much better on things like acceleration, though not sure about fuel economy.

I would reccomend putting in redex whenever you fill up, but only in VERY SMALL quantities, putting in loads just ruins everything and costs money. I find I get much better economy with redex.

Volvo 480 Club Europe

Tesco unleaded Vs Shell Optimax

Tesco unleaded Vs Shell Optimax

PETROL