NSW Diesel Fuels

[MW103DSG]

I have recently bought a new VW 103TDI and will need to add fuel at some stage. I wanted to know if there are differences in the type and quality of diesel fuel supplied at service stations in NSW and when I get a few kms on clock other states.
This is my first diesel vehicle and wanted to know if there are variations in diesel grades. With petrol - Unleaded, ethanol, premium unleaded etc. Diesel ???

Are there any recommendations for this engine or just look for the pump that starts with D.

[The_Hawk]

I stick with BP since their diesel is 10ppm sulfur, which is about as close to the euro standard as you can get in Australia. From memory others up to 150ppm.

For reference the euro standard is no more than 5ppm.

You don't happen to drive a new blue Multivan and were parked in Bradbury this morning do you...???

[MW103DSG]

I stick with BP since their diesel is 10ppm sulfur, which is about as close to the euro standard as you can get in Australia. From memory others up to 150ppm.

For reference the euro standard is no more than 5ppm.

You don't happen to drive a new blue Multivan and were parked in Bradbury this morning do you...???

No to Blue Multivan question.

So what levels of sulfur are verboten?

[Greg Roles]

The biggest issue is if you have a MK6 with the DPF - particle filter in the exhaust. Poor quality fuel can cause this to clog prematurely, and it's an expensive item to replace. No way in hadies I'd use anything but premium diesels ( BP first, then Caltex Vortex second ) in a DPF equipped car. If your car doesn't blow any smoke or get a sooty rear boot lid, it has a DPF.

[GoLfMan]

The biggest issue is if you have a MK6 with the DPF - particle filter in the exhaust. Poor quality fuel can cause this to clog prematurely, and it's an expensive item to replace. No way in hadies I'd use anything but premium diesels ( BP first, then Caltex Vortex second ) in a DPF equipped car. If your car doesn't blow any smoke or get a sooty rear boot lid, it has a DPF.

mate everytime I use Vortex diesel (only premo diesel in Melb!) I recon my car soots more!

I just stick to BP diesel, but then again Im blessed with NOT having a pesky DPF

[rathcore]

diesel fuel

I've have a TDI Golf for almost 2 years. I have been using the cheap Woolies shop a docket diesel around Brisbane, and had lots of problems with hard to start in the mornings. I talked to the Techs at VW. They said the car was OK. I recently changed fuel to BP and Vortex Premium Diesel. Problem solved! Is there that much difference between diesel brands? Whats the best for my TDI? I've noticed that Vortex premium fills the tank a lot more than the other brands. I can expect 1010Kms (per tank) from Vortex premium, and about 850 from other brands.

[gldgti]

its not just new diesels you can tell the difference - even in my old 1.5 IDI diesel I could always tell the difference between certain servo's and brands.

find a station that you can fill at regularly that you like and stick with it, is my view. I would agree that sticking to the premium brands is a good idea. more soot is not necessarily bad (for the engine) particularly if it otherwise runs well and gets better fuel economy - but there is always the dpf issue to think about.

I get the best smoke/noise/fuel economy from 100% pump bio-diesel from a Metro service station, but unfortunately VWA doesn't warrant your car to be run on Bio.

[jazd]

As I understand it the BP has two diesels - Ultimate Diesel and standard diesel. Am I correct in saying their standard diesel is 10ppm sulfur but the Ultimate version has a higher cetane number as well as 10ppm? Unfortunately the Ultimate Diesel is not available in NSW at the moment.

Given that I have a BP and Caltex servo nearby I think my preferences should be:
1. BP Ultimate Diesel (when its available)
2. BP Diesel
3. Caltex Vortex Premium Diesel

[rathcore]

I'd stick with BP Ultimate diesel for any car built in Europe. Their standard is: sulphur 5ppm and cetane 51. BP Ultimate is: sulphur 5ppm (typical) and cetane 52 (typical) Standard Diesel can be 500ppm for sulphur and cetane of 40 to 46. No contest!