Long term premium diesel users

[K1W1]

Are there any long term users of the Caltex or BP premium diesel out there and is it proving to be a benefit?

The reason I ask is that when I filled up yesterday (with standard BP diesel) I noticed that it was 7 cpl cheaper than the Vortex diesel from the Caltex down the road. Surely there isn't that much of a performance or economy boost.

[Transporter]

Many years ago I instructed my family to use only BP diesel (Premium, BP doesn't have any other diesel in SA), they never filled up anything else. Anyhow the Caltex's 8c. discount sounded very tempting, so a month ago I decided to try it in my T5 and my daughter's Golf5 TDI, (because the other 2 cars have DPF). The first impression was that there was a slight increase in acceleration in my van - yeh everyone could be affected by the placebo effect.
After using no less than 3 tanks, I'm back to BP diesel, after a few recent trips through the hills, where I noticed that it wasn't just the same as running on BP fuel.

So, IMO the BP diesel is better than any other diesel in SA including Caltex Vortex. At least in our driving conditions.
Other than that, all our diesels run without any hiccups, and never noticed the DPF regeneration or the DPF light on the dashboard while driving.

I hope that helps.

[BlackSuperb]

I have never used any premium diesel. I am locked into using Shell diesel (by the lease company) and all has been well with no issues in over 70,000km of driving. Never had a DPF light. Average fuel consumption of 6.55/100.

[woofy]

I've been using Caltex premium in the Santa Fe, just done three tanks since mid Nov though. I do it mainly as I had to use the Vortex 98 for the Skoda anyway and thought the cleaning properties might be good in the long run. Also get the fuel discounts there on it. I couldn't say a thing about economy though as the car has only just hit 1900km and well and truly still loosening up. I plan to stay on it..

[Greg Roles]

Diesel combustion is quite sooty, obviously. Using premium diesels keeps injectors cleaner, maintains the power and economy and may help prevent them from failing in the Bosch systems. Ultimately it's up to you, but no way I'd skimp the few dollars difference vs the possible downside. The other option is to run normal diesel from a reputable brand ( to avoid an algae infection ) and put diesel specific cleaner through it about every 10k's. Should even out. Putting the cheapest no name diesel in your car is playing russian roulette, some good horror stories out there about that!

[Transporter]

I tried Vortex with the diesel additive and there is still differnce between the BP and Caltex, so back to BP.
As Greg says, for a few dollars it's just not worth it.

[dazag]

in NSW we dont have BP Ultimate diesel available unless you're in Grafton ( according to the BP site ) so caltex vortex diesel is the only semi-premium diesel available. It's normal diesel with an anti-foam & injector cleaner additive, it has no cetane booster added. So basically it shouldn't give you any performance gains but should keep the fuel system clean, unless you have dirty injectors and running vortex cleans it up, then you'll notice an improvement . That's where BP Ultimate diesel is different, it has an cetane booster added in addition to anti-foam, injector cleaner.
I run a tank of Vortex diesel in the RS every 3-4 tanks to keep things clean, but I normally run the normal BP diesel from a local servo that has a high turn over of it's diesel, meaning the diesel should be fairly fresh.
When i did a trip to SA, i put 2 tanks of BP ultimate diesel into the RS, there wasn't much improvement in economy, but the throttle response was noticeably better, felt like it had better low down punch.
So if I had the BP ultimate diesel available, that's all I would run........c'mon BP pick ya game up and start distributing in NSW please!!

[K1W1]

BP premium diesel is not available yet in Vic afaik so it's a choice of Caltex Vortex premium or nothing as far as premium diesel is concerned.
I've been using almost exclusively BP standard diesel in my cars for probably 200,000 km and never had a fuel system issue so at this stage I see no reason to change and so far from what I've read in this thread there doesn't appear to be significant fuel economy or performance benefits. Price per litre is not the issue.

Prior to switching to BP I was using mainly Safeway diesel (which I think is Caltex anyway) in one of my Land Rovers for maybe 150,000km and it cost me $1200.00 for a fuel pump which I guess is one of the reasons I'm actually reluctant to go the Caltex route.

[Transporter]

Well, I remember that when 'the BP in SA was not labeled "Premium", it always had the highest CN.
So, keep using it K1W1.

I also keep every fuel docket with kms reading recorded on it and try to use the same servo, just in case.

[Mysticality]

I don't know about premium vs. normal diesel, but NEVER. EVER. Under any circumstances, use United diesel. They sent our 2010 Sorento into a -metaphorical- tailspin on BOTH occasions I filled up at a United petrol station.
Two fuel filters later, all is well again.
EDIT: There was a good 2-3 months between the two fill-ups, both at different United fuel stations. One between Bargo and Tahmoor, the other on the Sydney North Shore somewhere.

My father used to drive the Sorento on diesel from Caltex, seemed okay. After I inherited it, I started using Shell diesel, due to the Coles discount vouchers and habit from preferring the E10 there.
I now fill the Skoda and 3 20ltr jerry cans once every two weeks from Shell. Having no issues, and loving the 8c/ltr discount. (Normal price is around 152.9, in Parramatta, etc its around 135.9! What a joke!)


EDIT: 4.5L/100km avg. fuel consumption from Bowral -> Campbelltown in the Sorento on Shell diesel. MY10, 2.2ltr I4 turbo, 6spd auto.
4L/100km avg. in the TDI vRS.
1,000KG difference in vehicle weight.

[woofy]

^ Thats why I ended up getting the Santa Fe diesel recently instead of a Kluger, mines not looking that good, but its only just running in really, and on the freeway it drops down pretty quick. That engine/gearbox are a great combo. So much power as well from a little engine.

[Mysticality]

It really is a beautiful setup, and the AWD system is amazing offroad. (Yeah, I took it some places Patrol drivers wouldn't go )

After the 30,000km I was getting 750km per tank in town, 1,100-1,200km highway.
Before that it was around 600/950. I don't know what they did, but whatever it was it was amazing.

[K1W1]

I don't know about premium vs. normal diesel, but NEVER. EVER. Under any circumstances, use United diesel.

Interesting that you should say that. A friend of mine has an A4 that's about 18 months old with the 103kw(?) TDI engine. He casually asked me a couple of months ago if I had ever filled up at a particular United station near where he works (I'm in the same area and the answer was no) and said he was running late, needed fuel and filled up there on his way somewhere and how badly the car was running and how rotten the mpg was. I doubt that he has ever gone back.

[Mysticality]

Been running on Woolies 'premium' diesel for about 400k's now. Can feel no difference.
Will see if it racks up the same k's as Shell.

1,700km for 55ltr tank + 3x 20ltr jerry cans.

[K1W1]

1,700km for 55ltr tank + 3x 20ltr jerry cans.

I reckon I would go further on 115 litres of standard BP. The Safeway/ Woolworths cheap standard diesel was another brand I stopped using several years ago. The mpg from the local place (pre Skoda) was rotten.