Where do you get your fuel (petrol)?

Post by **sirch345** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:08 pm

After talking to a guy about where do I get my petrol, I thought it would be interesting if any of you had the same thoughts as him, so I've set up a poll

He avoided supermarket fuel when ever he could

What are your opinions

Chris.

Bondy · Post by **Bondy** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:24 am

Why aviod supermarket fuel? I remember i while back someone said it had more preservitives in it and that screwed your engine..... Turned out to be aload of crap as many supermarkets buy straight from BP Shell ETC and this is exactly the same stuff that they have at there stations.

VTRgirl · Post by **VTRgirl** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:47 am

Shell bad
BP, Caltex, Ampol good
Supermarkets are for food

tony.wilde1 · Post by **tony.wilde1** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:03 am

i just use the nearest garage to whichever way i happen to be going at the time.fuels fuel aint it?

Stratman · Post by **Stratman** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:51 pm

Optimax is brilliant in the VTR - you really can tell the difference. I treat myself occasionally, but I do notice you can stay in a higher gear round the twisties and the low down pull is better.

Wildfire · Post by **Wildfire** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:56 pm

On the VTR I'll fill up wherever is nearest when the dreaded RLOD comes on..
As far as the car goes....I'll try for Supermarket every time. Its a company vehicle and I get repaid so much per business mile so the cheaper the fuel the better

Stormin Ben · Post by **Stormin Ben** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:31 pm

Stratman wrote:Optimax is brilliant in the VTR - you really can tell the difference. I treat myself occasionally, but I do notice you can stay in a higher gear round the twisties and the low down pull is better.

Interesting that Stratman coz I couldn't feel any difference at all
After looking into it it would appear that there IS no difference on such a low-tech engine as the VTR
To get the optimum out of it you need a motor with some modern electronics on it that can detect the quality of the fuel, knock sensors etc
Thats why the difference is noticeable in cars

VTRgirl · Post by **VTRgirl** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:26 pm

Wow. That's all interesting to read. Over here there are very few riders who aren't picky about their fuel. I don't know anyone who will use Optimax, in fact even our Honda dealers warn against it. Bikes (VTRs in particular for some reason) have been known to just conk out for no apparently reason when using Optimax. I'd rather push my bike than use it. Most riders steer clear of no-name brands, like the supermarket stuff or lesser known servo's & stick to the main-stream. And probably about half will always use the high-octane stuff.

Obviously if it was a work vehicle, you wouldn't care, but with my Storm, I only use the top octane and a fuel additive as well. I find I get at least 30kms or so more per tank than most of the others.

I spent about three tank-fulls riding with another Stormer with a similar riding style when I had a 16L & she a 19L. Her fuel light was coming on before mine each time.

shaun1978 · Post by **shaun1978** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:08 pm

if the higher octane fuel was a bit cheaper i'd use that , but i always keep my eye out for the cheapest , ive experienced problems with tesco fuel before though...... rough idle and bad acceleration.... as for the car its a TD and i cant tell the difference between one and another so the cheapest always goes in that as well . I just wish we didnt pay so much tax on fuel then maybe i could run the best.

MrMastodon · Post by **MrMastodon** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:25 pm

I can never decide whether to do for the good stuff or not. Logic says that the octane rating is the fuels resistance to detonating - the higher the octane, the harderit is to detonate. Thats why high comression engines will benefit.

But the VTR isn't high compression at all, so surely it'd only make things worse?

can someone who knows come and explain it to me?!

Are there other benefits beside octane rating to optimax etc? Do they really keep your engine clean? Does it matter?

Aarghh.... help.....

Stratman · Post by **Stratman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:48 pm

The higher octane rating will be less susceptible to knock, or pinking as we used to call it. That will affect higher compression engines. If you put higher octance fuel in a low compression engine it won't make the slightest difference.

Optimax and the like have different additives, not directly linked to the octane rating, which are purported to make a difference

Interesting that Stratman coz I couldn't feel any difference at all

Well, all I can say is - I do

Also, IMHO, if you use additives and the like, whilst you may get a few extra miles, surely the cost per mile isn't worth it and you'd just be better off stopping a bit sooner?

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:36 pm

ive tried literally every type! I cant say i noticed any different with optimax!

Stock 95 here is about .84-6p a litre so thats all good. I like being a student sometimes lol!

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:12 pm

Unless tuned to the position where the engine can use a higher octane rating (high compression head, ignition advance, race cams etc etc) then it is wasted money. In standard tune it won't make any difference although you might think it does. Placebo effect blah blah.
Have played a lot with this on my modified Caterham 7 to find rolling road results etc. with programmable ECU, wilder cams, oversize valves and fully ported, skimmed head, throttle bodies, modified injectors etc etc Difference was 4 bhp up at 8,000 rpm (200+ bhp) with Optimax. In the grounds of RR error.

I use whatever petrol station is within five minutes of 'the light' coming on Chris !!! Paranoid? Me? Yep. The VTR seems like a right old lump to push anywhere.

I used to use 100LL in a car. Yep. One hundred octane low lead

It was used in a Triumph 1500 with 65bhp. Why you ask? Well as an aircraft engineer we had to often drain down tanks and were unable to use the fuel again so it had to go somewhere!!! All for private airport and restricted land use of course; ahem!!!

I even used to dilute it with what was then two star. Often had the pump person use the speaker to tell me I should be using 4*.

eric 49 · Post by **eric 49** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:41 pm

my mum used to be a manager at a BP petrol station a few years ago .she had to sort out the fuel deliveries and got to know the tanker drivers over the years she worked there.
They told her that the fuel was all the same when it went in to the tankers but the better quality brands (BP, shell, etc,)then added additives , the cheaper supermarket brands didnt ad any, or if they did it was much lesser quality additives.
but i have never noticed any differance in any bike or car ive had so i just fill up anywhere.

Squiffythewombat · Post by **Squiffythewombat** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:20 am

chris u reminded me of my friend who put aeroplane fuel in his scooter, it went stupidly quick for about 10meters and then blew up with a bang! His boot was melted to the glowing red engine lol!

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Where do you get your fuel (petrol)?

Where do you get your fuel?

Where do you get your fuel (petrol)?