Change of Diesel Fuel, Remarkable Difference

[eestison]

Hi All

I have had my 2.0TDI for nearly two years now, and up to this point have run it only on BP ULSD (50ppm sulfur and the now available 10ppm sulfur).

Yesterday my local BP had run out of diesel, so i fueled up with Shell Diesel and the difference in performance has been remarkable. The car picks up a hell of a lot faster, and there has been an improvement in the immediate avg consumption... even with a heavy right foot.

I was always under the impression that BP offered the best product (meets DIN EN 590 standard, as in the vehicle handbook), but now i am not so sure (??).

As a point to consider, both service stations are relatively new - and with more than one diesel bowser. So it is unlikely that the BP reservoir is any more fouled than the Shell reservoir (yes?).

Interestingly enough the BP ULSD datasheet claims a higher cetane rating (typical 51), than the Shell datasheet (49).

http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9014507&contentId=7027516

http://www.shell.com/static/au-en/downloads/fuels/tds/shell_diesoline_50_tds.pdf

[Transporter]

Hi All

I have had my 2.0TDI for nearly two years now, and up to this point have run it only on BP ULSD (50ppm sulfur and the now available 10ppm sulfur).

Yesterday my local BP had run out of diesel, so i fueled up with Shell Diesel and the difference in performance has been remarkable. The car picks up a hell of a lot faster, and there has been an improvement in the immediate avg consumption... even with a heavy right foot.

I was always under the impression that BP offered the best product (meets DIN EN 590 standard, as in the vehicle handbook), but now i am not so sure (??).

As a point to consider, both service stations are relatively new - and with more than one diesel bowser. So it is unlikely that the BP reservoir is any more fouled than the Shell reservoir (yes?).

Interestingly enough the BP ULSD datasheet claims a higher cetane rating (typical 51), than the Shell datasheet (49).

http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9014507&contentId=7027516

http://www.shell.com/static/au-en/do...ine_50_tds.pdf

Thanks for that information. I also buy only BP diesel for all 3 diesel cars we have. Golf V TDi average economy is 6.7L/100km (calculated from fuel receipt)- 80% short trips.
I'll switch to Shell for while to see if i can get better fuel economy.

[95vr6]

I only use Bp in mt T5, i have tried mobil, very simular in economy and power. Caltex And shell is a different story, up to 0.5 to 1 litre more per 100k's.

[Transporter]

I only use Bp in mt T5, i have tried mobil, very simular in economy and power. Caltex And shell is a different story, up to 0.5 to 1 litre more per 100k's.

Mobil diesel is a choice of the dealer in Adelaide. I found out that BP is better but some BP or other petrol stations are probably cheating and play with the counter at the stand. In my T5 the firs fat line from full at the fuel gauge represents 200km of driving or more when the needle is at the middle I've done 400km or more. I've done 45,000km and behavior of the fuel gauge is the same it is almost aritmetic and when there is 1/4 of the tank left trip meter reads 600km or more but here is the interesting thing. The fuel gauge needle reads 1/4 tank left and when I calculate the fuel economy I used more fuel than fuel gauge needle reads. I can only explain it that I've paied for more litres of fuel than I have in the tank. Once i filled up jery can and put 25.5l of diesel in the 23.45l jery can.

[95vr6]

Mobil diesel is a choice of the dealer in Adelaide. I found out that BP is better but some BP or other petrol stations are probably cheating and play with the counter at the stand. In my T5 the firs fat line from full at the fuel gauge represents 200km of driving or more when the needle is at the middle I've done 400km or more. I've done 45,000km and behavior of the fuel gauge is the same it is almost aritmetic and when there is 1/4 of the tank left trip meter reads 600km or more but here is the interesting thing. The fuel gauge needle reads 1/4 tank left and when I calculate the fuel economy I used more fuel than fuel gauge needle reads. I can only explain it that I've paied for more litres of fuel than I have in the tank. Once i filled up jery can and put 25.5l of diesel in the 23.45l jery can.

My first line from full is 200/220 ks, half tank is 500ks city or 600ks highway. At refill time 850ks city , 930/950 highway and all i can squeeze back into the tank is 75l.

[Tornado T5]

oop double post...

We've had a shortage of diesel lately in Vic due to the Mobil Altona plant (50% of diesel supply to Vic apparently) having "issues" and so Mobil ran out as did most of BP which meant that Mobil supplies BP, at least here in Vic. Until lately I only used BP and except for one time it has always been the lower 10ppm sulphur grade. Last 2 tanks have been Caltex, closest to home and I used the shopper dockets as well and to be frank I haven't noticed any economy or power difference nor seen any more soot out the back whenever I "examined" my vans 70-100km/hr rolling aceleration abilities....must say I l-o-v-e that kick-down at 70....

I also wonder: if Mobil make BP's 10ppm grade as well, do they sell it themselves or only produe it exclusively for BP?

[bluey]

I thought all fuel in australia came from the same refineries. eg one refinery in one location supplies all brands of base fuel. The only possible major difference amongst similar octane/cetane fuels is in additives, which keep injectors clean.

None of the local mainstream diesel specs I could find mention adding any biodiesel yet as a cetane booster, except for caltex new generation diesel which is B2.

http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/general/report-confirms-environmental-benefits-of-biodiesel-says-caltex/56644.aspx

Surely it's more likely the different injector cleaner in the fuel is what made the running difference.

My reading on injector cleaners suggests Caltex/Texaco Techron is best (for petrol anyway). Who makes the best diesel injector cleaner???

[greygolf8]

Newcastle Caltex/Woolworths has 5% bio content due to Rutherfords local factory. Syd Caltex diesel is 100% dino is my understanding. I havent noticed huge differences between Shell/BP/Caltex, thou I should do an xls of my logbook ...

[phaeton]

Very interesting topic; someone need to do some testing

[THR]

My TDI (2.0) has only ever had Shell diesel (it has never had any other type). I get 8.3l average (5,500km so far) but 95% of that is city, stop-start traffic. I've always found the performance to be good but admittedly have nothing to compare it to.

The only other diesel I would consider is BP but I've always thought Shell was the better quality (correctly or otherwise).

[Pumpe-Düse]

My TDI mostly drinks Caltex Diesel (Woolies 4cpl discount vouchers) and has gotten its best ever fuel result (4.94L/100km) on Caltex Diesel.

Its best ever solely city driving figure (5.64L/100km) was on Speedway Diesel. Not sure who supplies them.

[THR]

I drove 250km today (from Sydney to Central Coast and back + a bit of driving around) and got 5.9l/100km (according to the MFD), which is significantly better than my average (8.3l, which has now reduced to 7.7l).

Again, Shell diesel. So my figures do appear higher, but it was also a relatively hilly journey, I was driving 110-120 (not the most fuel efficient speed), and I do give the car a bit of oomph from time to time.

[Cupra]

My 2.0 tdi averages 5.4ltr/100 from my company fuel receipts & I only use BP because of location & fuel card. I've done 50K on her now & the average hasn't changed for the last 30000. 50% of the driving is round town with the other 25k runs to my wife's work in an 80k zone.

[BeigeJet]

Hi All,

I returned Sunday a week ago from doing 4,200km from Melb to far nth coast NSW and return via Young Cowra Bathurst Blue Mtns & Pacific Hwy on the way up and the Pacific and Hume Hwy back and got 5.1/100 for the overall trip. This was three up and a full boot of luggage and stuff for the Mother in Law. I used Caltex or Woolworths Caltex because my novated lease in tied to a Starcard. One tank was 1070km from 54lt.

Any change from Caltex would mean I have to claim a reimbursement from my lease provider and really not with the hassle.

I have no qualms about using Caltex as performance was great. Mind you when they finally finish the Hume and Pacific Hwy road works (yr 2020?) the economy will drop a little because of the increased speed!

[bluey]

I figure if any particular brand of diesel has an additive package with a slight weakness, then using one brand over time could result in eventual injector clogging, because whatever can build up that is not removed by a certain additive will continue to get worse.

From that perspective, changing brands regularly could prevent problems.

Alternatively, we need some good way of non-invasively measuring injector performance to be able to tell when cleaning is necessary. Can VAG-COM tell that???