Best fuel for Mk6 GTI?

[Burry]

My dealer recommended the BP Ultimate (and another brand I can't remember). He personally recommended staying away from Shell (V-Power?).

Any opinions on what is best?

[noone]

I prefer the BP premium. Have convinced myself previously that I could feel the difference (but could be wanting to feel it).

I've seen a few threads on this, they all seem to say the same:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=22180&highlight=fuel

[Treza360]

There have been stories on the occasional bad (read old) batch of V-Power causing issues with cars. As long as your local Shell tops up their supplies regularly you'll be fine.

I prefer to stick to one brand but as you long as you stick to any of the major four and 98 RON you'll be fine.

Also have a search, this topic has been discussed/argued since time began.

Cheers,
Trent

[Corey_R]

I saw an episode of 5th Gear once where they took the same Subaru WRX STI and ran it with various fuels, including BP Ultimate. It showed more power on the dyno and significantly better economy.

I'm not sure whether the UK fuel relates to Australia, but there are enough people who say that their car runs smoother on it and have more economy in Australia that I'd tend to believe them.

Shame they're not affiliated with a Supermarket.

[Nath]

Always makes me laugh when I read about one fuel being better than another, to be honest I think it has more to do with the Servo and supplier and the cleanliness and upkeep of the equipment that supplies the fuel for the most part.

A quick story.

Whilst posted up in Cairns with the Navy a few years back we were sitting around talking to the techo (fuel operators) that provide the diesel that the ships ran on, at the time a fuel tanker was along side (Mobil or Caltex cant remember exactly) anyway we happened to be there to witness all of the fuel trucks in Cairns from all servos (not just the branded one of the ship) rock up and take their fuel. Leason here was its not always the specific brand advertised in smaller points.

Also as an exercise some engineering types that I served with undertook some testing on fuels to determine quality etc, and sourced standard unleaded and premium unleaded as it was at the time. They performed some tests bascially to assess the RON of each fuel and low and behold none of the fuels were as advertised. From memory, and this is going a while back, Caltex Premium was the worst, coming in around the low 90s, with their standard unleaded around mid to high 80s, mobil was slightly better whilst Shell was the closest to reported with around 95 for their 'premium' supply.

Based on this it was easy to see why high performance Jap cars were rarely brought to Aus as the fuel wasnt up to scratch, it was a while ago, going on 7-8 years so I'm sure its all improved with V-Power etc.

Personnally I use V-Power more for a convienience factor but its the fuel I have always used, and the local shell is a much newer and better presented station that the competitors.

[Burry]

Thanks for the answers!

I was interested to see if people use and recommend 95 RON since VW specify that on the Mk6 rather than the 98 RON fuels that I believe the Mk5 required.

(BTW - I did do a search before posting and couldn't find anything in the Mk6 forum for the GTI. Many of the other links seem to be in the Polo forums.)

I might try out the BP Premium that noone recommended and see if I can notice any difference to the Ultimate.

Cheers.

[bigmouthmedia]

Thanks for the answers!

I was interested to see if people use and recommend 95 RON since VW specify that on the Mk6 rather than the 98 RON fuels that I believe the Mk5 required.

(BTW - I did do a search before posting and couldn't find anything in the Mk6 forum for the GTI. Many of the other links seem to be in the Polo forums.)

I might try out the BP Premium that noone recommended and see if I can notice any difference to the Ultimate.

Cheers.

I've heard the same Burry - 95 RON can run in the MK6 cars, 98 will obviously give you better economy though....and I believe Shell's 98 is 91 or 95 with additive (whatever it may be called). BP & Mobil are the ones I've heard are top shelf - but I won't know until I get the car, and I don't know what the 'full tank' will be on delivery yet !

[brad]

My dealer recommended the BP Ultimate (and another brand I can't remember). He personally recommended staying away from Shell (V-Power?).

Any opinions on what is best?

I have the similar BZB engine in my car. Have done 37,000km and in order of preference it likes:

• Shell V-Power
• MObil Synergy 8000
• Caltex Vortex98
• BP Ultimate

Shell is a stand out winner; Mobil a close 2nd; the other 2 about equal. But it runs fine on all 4 (none are bad fuels).

edit: read your post #6. My car gets better fuel economy on 98, so I've only tried the (minimum recomended) 95 ron once or twice. The saving in cents is offset by the extra fuel used so it works out only about $50 over the 25,000km I drive every year.

Not sure why every worries about the price of fuel in these cars - they are so economical that fuel is one of my lesser expenditures. Depreciation is about 300% worse.

[wdong]

i used to work in mobil when i was a student, i found the fuel produce more power than Shell, we all has the same feel, even now, but the fuel runs out quicker than Shell, and lots customer complained about Shell's unleaded, they told me its ****! my manager told me that because Mobil add more Octan than Shell, that's why feel more power! i use Shell more often just because i can have 4c off...

[triode12]

I too used to work for ExxonMobil's Singapore refinery. Tankers from BP would also fill up at the refinery.

A servo owner in Cairns many years back told me that he would buy petrol from whoever was the cheapest that week. He was a independent Caltex servo owner.

So the difference you are experiencing may just be a placebo effect.

[docjames]

I have never put anything other than BP ultimate in my MkV - it is refined to the higher octane rating, then has cleaning additives added.

The others are refined to slightly better than 91, then octane boosting additives added, then cleaning additives added.

In theory, all are 98. I know which one I prefer.

[Maverick]

Shame they're not affiliated with a Supermarket.

It's a benefit, you don't have to put up with tight arsed pricks queuing out onto the roads on Tuesdays to buy fuel, you don't have them taking ages to pay whilst looking for their coupon(s), you don't have all the stupid promotions and you don't get asked if you have a discount coupon or flybuys or other loyalty card.

Anyone who thinks it was a good move when Coles and Woolies aquired all those service stations is delusional! I refuse to use Caltex and Shell out of principle and only use BP Ultimate.

[Corey_R]

Last time I filled my car, I didn't have to queue on a Wednesday morning when the petrol was at it's cheapest all week, I used my 14c off 'voucher' (yes, forteen cents), and paid right at the pump and didn't even have to walk inside...

If only BP had that

But yeah - I'm not delusional, I know it's business and I know why they're doing it. Although Woolworths didn't purchase all those service stations. Woolworths do own many, and had them under their own name, but when Coles went out and bought most of the Shells, Woolworths used that as leverage to 'team' with Caltex. Sneaky buggers. Managed to do what Coles did but with only a fraction of the outlay.

[iBoost]

I've always put either Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate in my cars and have not noticed much difference between the two.

I think I'd rather the piece of mind and the extra benefits of using 98 such as more power and economy than risking using a dodgy batch of 95 fuel, regardless of whether the Mark VI can run on 95.

[brad]

It's a benefit, you don't have to put up with tight arsed pricks queuing out onto the roads on Tuesdays to buy fuel, you don't have them taking ages to pay whilst looking for their coupon(s), you don't have all the stupid promotions and you don't get asked if you have a discount coupon or flybuys or other loyalty card.

Anyone who thinks it was a good move when Coles and Woolies aquired all those service stations is delusional! I refuse to use Caltex and Shell out of principle and only use BP Ultimate.

Can't work out why people continue to queue on Tuesdays - Wednesday evening is is the price increase day around here (Hurstville NSW).

My local BP is a cow of a place to get into and on a daily basis charges 6c per litre more for his fuel without even considering any other coupon discounts. Plus he is so quiet that he wants to have a chat about local happenings & you get stuck talking crap. I'd rather deal with the Indian dudes at Shell that simply offer me a special in full expectation that I will say no. It's quick & painless & the Indians know what a Skoda is

Don't run a Loyalty Card Mav?
I'm on Flybuys linked to a Coles Source Card. I get at least $400 worth of Coles Gift Cards (to spend on fuel if I want) every year with our household spend.

Oh, BP constantly want to talk me into a Citibank Card.