Cheap supermarket petrol

Bam Bam · 23 July 2010, 20:05

Does anyone use/trust the cheap supermarket petrol in their boat? I prefer to use Shell or Total as they seem to be better quality than the cheap chemically blended stuff from the likes of Asda or Tesco etc and I get more MPG out of the car and feel confident using it in the boat rather than the supermarket stuff. I have a Tesco petrol station within a minutes drive but I don't quite trust putting the cheap unleaded in the boat tank. Has anyone used the higher octane super unleaded available from supermarkets and would it be ok for running an outboard?

Poly · 23 July 2010, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam Bam

Does anyone use/trust the cheap supermarket petrol in their boat? I prefer to use Shell or Total as they seem to be better quality than the cheap chemically blended stuff from the likes of Asda or Tesco etc and I get more MPG out of the car and feel confident using it in the boat rather than the supermarket stuff. I have a Tesco petrol station within a minutes drive but I don't quite trust putting the cheap unleaded in the boat tank. Has anyone used the higher octane super unleaded available from supermarkets and would it be ok for running an outboard?

the ordinary "cheap stuff" from the supermarket will be fine, especially in a simple 40HP engine... ...americans run their boats (and their cars) on stuff much poorer than a UK supermarket sells.

In fact supermarket fuel which is turning over regularly becuase of high customer levels will possibly be better than "stale" dockside fuel in many places.

HUMBER P4VWL · 23 July 2010, 20:34

Used all sorts, never noticed any difference.

DJL · 23 July 2010, 20:39

I filled my last boat up with what must have been 1000's of litres of Tesco petrol and never had any problems. That was a Merc 60 EFI 4-stroke.

New boat lives in a marina which makes getting to Tesco tricky.

My car hates Tesco diesel though, lumpy running and difficult to start. Runs perfectly on Shell or BP diesel.

Nos4r2 · 23 July 2010, 22:57

Odd, seeing as it all comes from the same refineries and storage depots...

Andy B · 23 July 2010, 23:57

im waiting for LIDL and ALDI to start selling fuel

chewy · 24 July 2010, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Odd, seeing as it all comes from the same refineries and storage depots...

Depends what additives have been put in.
I know the "city diesel" can make some cars run lumpy and the Ultra low sulphur fuel isn't great for lubricating pumps etc. On the diesel cars I've had I added a bit of 2 stroke oil as it acts as a cleaner and lubricant, runs quieter too.

Regards supermarket fuel and outboards you'll be fine. Tesco 99 was voted the best fuel for the price although in an outboard I doubt you'd tell any difference.

The super unleaded 97-99 Octane is aimed more at tuned cars where the ECU is mapped for that fuel.

Tim M · 24 July 2010, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

On the diesel cars I've had I added a bit of 2 stroke oil as it acts as a cleaner and lubricant, runs quieter too.

Interesting; you think it makes a real difference? I might try this in the disco

Ian Austin · 24 July 2010, 10:49

Tesco fuel is supplied by Esso.

chewy · 24 July 2010, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Interesting; you think it makes a real difference? I might try this in the disco

It did on the Audi I had. I run about 200:1, if you google it theys quite a bit on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Austin

Tesco fuel is supplied by Esso.

Esso only do a 97 Super Unleaded though.

Rogue Wave · 24 July 2010, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Odd, seeing as it all comes from the same refineries and storage depots...

how would you know ? you some sort of Tanker driver ?

The supermarkets can afford to maintain their fuel deluvery systems properly and some guys, sorry person, job is on the line if it doesn't happen.

in a stand alone franchise every time the delivery system is maontained it eeks into the profits so it soesn't happen as regularly

The other great thing about supermarket fuel is that the Auto pumps in Asda and Tescoe's aren't fussy about what and how much fuel they dispense into what container

sarahscottiedog · 24 July 2010, 16:41

I work in the Esso Oil refinery at Fawley, near Southampton, dominating the Solent sky line and all the fuel lorries fill up from the same tanks, Shell, Esso, Tesco etc...... they have arrangements to reduce the distances they have to transport the fuel from each of their refineries to the Petrol station. Funnily enough Tesco dont have their own refinery they just buy it from other Refineries !

Bam Bam · 24 July 2010, 19:00

Thanks for the info, I filled the boat with Tesco super (99) this morning and the engine started first turn of the key. The one thing I did notice though is that after five hours of fun I still have a third of a tank of petrol left. It may be more expensive than normal unleaded but it seems to give more MPG which is what I notice when I put it in the car.

chewy · 24 July 2010, 22:39

I know on Super Unleaded you get around 10% more mpg, and better performance

You need a knackered old Yam 55 Bam Bam, go like stink them engines!

MikeCC · 26 July 2010, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Odd, seeing as it all comes from the same refineries and storage depots...

According to my brother (who works at a BP fuel depot) it's the same base fuel but different additives fed in each tanker according to final destination.