Why BP

[Ryan_R]

Isn't Chevron (USA company) trying to muscle in on the Aussie market?

[Diesel_vert]

I'd say the quality of storage standards at service stations and/or freshness of the fuel is a bigger differentiator than anything.

---------- Post added at 10:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Isn't Chevron (USA company) trying to muscle in on the Aussie market?

I think you'll find that Caltex and Texaco is part of the Chevron Corporation.

[VW Convert]

I'd say the quality of storage standards at service stations and/or freshness of the fuel is a bigger differentiator than anything.

Agree 100%, I avoid dingy, low volume stations and fill up at modern, clean, high volume stations.

Cheers

George

[BottomScratcher]

Don't disagree with you Gareth, economy of scale is a huge issue for refiners in Australia and is the major reason that Shell is closing the Clyde refinery, our refinieries are very small relative to the rest of the world. I read a story a few years ago about a refinery under construction in India that when completed would have greater capacity than all the refineries in Australia combined!

The point I was making is that the oil companies have co-operative arrangements to enable them to operate nationally without having their own refineries.

As for Coles and Woolies well yes the fuel is cheaper but they offset against their grocery pricing and their strategy is to tie people to both fuel and groceries.

Cheers

George

All of the companies are members of the Australian Institute of Petroleum. The AIP sets "gate prices" for individulal terminals. In Brisbane, Bulwer Island refinery supplies Whinstanes Terminal with product. Both BP and Mobil come out of Whinstanes. To argue that one fuel is of higher quality than the other is pretty much a waste of time.

As for oil companies "being in bed together", in 1951 Iran nationalised its oil industry, then controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now BP), and Iranian oil was subjected to an international embargo. In an effort to bring Iranian oil production back to international markets, the U.S. State Department suggested the creation of a "Consortium" of major oil companies. The "Consortium for Iran" was subsequently formed by the following companies:
Anglo-Persian Oil Company (United Kingdom). This subsequently became Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and then British Petroleum. Following the acquisition of Amoco (which in turn was formerly Standard Oil of Indiana) and Atlantic Richfield it shortened its name to BP in 2000.
Gulf Oil (United States) In 1985 most of Gulf was acquired by Chevron, with smaller parts acquired by BP and Cumberland Farms. A network of service stations in the northeastern United States still bears the Gulf name.
Royal Dutch Shell (Netherlands/United Kingdom)
Standard Oil of California (Socal) (United States) This subsequently became Chevron.
Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso) (United States) This subsequently became Exxon, which renamed itself ExxonMobil following the acquisition of Mobil in 1999.
Standard Oil Co. of New York (Socony) (United States) This subsequently became Mobil, which was acquired by Exxon in 1999.
Texaco (United States). This was acquired by Chevron in 2001.

The major oil companies became known as The Seven Sisters. They were in bed together then, and as evidenced by their "co-operative arrangements" they are in bed together now.

[gavs]

The simple answer was that up until 18 months ago, BP Ultimate was the only TRUE 98RON petrol because 98RON was the minimum octane rating for BP Ultimate. All the others were calculated over an average RON which added up to an average of 98RON.

Nowadays, who knows. That's why BP was the best. If you truly want the best, give avgas a go

[BottomScratcher]

If you truly want the best, give avgas a go

It's an older thread, but if anyone is thinking that running 100LL Avgas, or 100/130 Avgas might be fun to try, consider that they're leaded fuels, so even if you can afford the non-aviation use price for Avgas (about $3 p/l), and you can find someone to sell it to you for non-aviation use, it's a lot of hard work and money to put something through your engine that's going to stuff your catalytic converter, and have a computer doing flips and twists trying to figure out what it's supposed to be doing.

[Transporter]

It's an older thread, but if anyone is thinking that running 100LL Avgas, or 100/130 Avgas might be fun to try, consider that they're leaded fuels, so even if you can afford the non-aviation use price for Avgas (about $3 p/l), and you can find someone to sell it to you for non-aviation use, it's a lot of hard work and money to put something through your engine that's going to stuff your catalytic converter, and have a computer doing flips and twists trying to figure out what it's supposed to be doing.

That must be what the car hire company Budget use in their hire cars. I didn't bother with refueling, when I returned the car, let them to take care of it and they've charged me $3.30/L . I recon, the next time, I just put some regular unleaded in their car, saving them the cost of the tow truck and the expensive repair bill.

[phaeton]

I use Shell V Power (no dockets biased) in my Jetta, I believe its runs better than BP.

[BottomScratcher]

That must be what the car hire company Budget use in their hire cars. I didn't bother with refueling, when I returned the car, let them to take care of it and they've charged me $3.30/L . I recon, the next time, I just put some regular unleaded in their car, saving them the cost of the tow truck and the expensive repair bill.

I was in Darwin recently and had hired a Hyundai i30 from Europecar for my time there. To say fuel in Darwin isn't cheap is a bit of an understatement. On the way to the airport for my outbound flight I pulled into a servo that I have a discount card for intending to fill the car up before returning it so as not to get slugged the rental company fuel charge. I'd already sussed out where the fuel cap was, but didn't I feel a goose when I couldn't open the fuel cap cover.

After about 4 or 5 people asking me in a dry, sarcastic manner, "Hire car is it mate?" I gave up. I went to the Europecar desk at the airport and told the attendant that I attempted to fill it up, but the outer flap over the fuel cap wouldn't release. I had expected them to think that it was a novel excuse, but would slug me the charges anyhow. The girl took the keys from me, went out to the lot, tried it, came back, and said, "That's the second one this week". Seems it's a bit of an issue on some i30's. Anyhow, when the statement came in I was only billed the pump price.

BTW, nicely appointed car the i30, but wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.

[brimway]

Very few car rental outlets have on-site fuel, so one of their employees has to drive the "unfueled" car to the servo, fill it and record the details. The company has to run an account, monitor the purchases and apply them to a rental contract.

This is why they apply an incentive ie $3/l to renters to refuel the car prior to return. Car rental staff will tell you that they would be delighted if it was the renter who refueled the car and not one of them.

A bit off topic but car rental companies don't care whether its BP, Shell etc. Vehicles that require PULP, eg Europcar's Audi fleet, they use regular ULP.

[RRRRIT]

ive only ever used BP as i use to own a 500hp r33 gtr and never had an issue that said when i put in vpower it ran like a micra no power at all.
although if you get a bad batch of fuel well then your just unlucky, word of advice never fuel up when theres the tanker as he stirs up the old fuel which sits at the bottom.

[cylinderhead]

Anyone used united's 100 octane fuel?

[RRRRIT]

i wouldn't use united BP is a much better quality fuel and 98 octane is more than enough for Australian delivered cars since they detune them for the climate

[gldgti]

Anyone used united's 100 octane fuel?

Yeah, used in my carb. mk1..... awesome