v power vs ordinary(supermarket) unleaded

[bigfella2901]

maybe i should cut an arm off as i weigh around 16st haha hoping to go up to 18/19st in future so may have to srip back seats out

 

[Slimy]

I think you've picked the two extremes for the poll. Most cars will be fine with normal fuel, but not from a supermarket. I personally use super unleaded, or at the very least branded normal. I've had far too many problems from all supermarket fuel to ever use them again.

 

[JamJay]

I use Tesco 99 or Shell V-Power, I can't say that I notice a difference in performance between either. I get bonus points which ever I use, Clubcard or V-power Club, it all counts towards money off a fill-up every 3mths .

 

[tom0311]

I used tesco 95 at the end of last month to save money after being on momentum 99 previously. The economy was exactly the same and so was the performance. I don't notice any difference between v-power, momentum or tesco 95 to be honest.

 

[leons_ leon]

I use v-power as recommed, always have always will take a look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDHwCWdrtdg

 

[truCido]

rolling road tests... http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Test_Results_Update.shtml

In simple terms, Shell V Power is near identical to the Optimax product that it replaced, in power and ‘feel’ terms it continued to out perform all 95 octane fuels and we’d still recommend owners of all performance cars use the highest quality fuel they can find. However the performance offered by the fuel was sometimes inconsistent.

The Tesco 99 fuel again outperformed V Power in all the tests but the differences between the two fuels were marginal and we doubt most people would tell the difference in their cars on a day to day basis. However the Tesco fuel was the most consistent.

The BP 102 fuel showed the best gains in terms of ‘feel’ and performed better on the dyno and on initial fill up, when the fuel was fresh the power gains were noticeable even above the Tesco 99 fuel. However the gains seemed to dramatically diminish over time or with increases in engine bay temperature a feature which we are continuing to test.

Bottom line? Use the Tesco 99 fuel where you can find it, it offers the best, most consistent performance of the fuels available and it’s cheaper than V Power. If you can’t find a Tescos that sells it then go for Shell’s V Power. If you’re feeling really flush, have a point to prove on a rolling road day (days where car enthusiasts compare their cars power on a dyno) or want to extract the maximum potential out of the car on a track day then the BP 102 fuel is worth a go, just bear in mind that £150 a tank would pay for a good proportion of tyres or some decent driver training.

 

[t0m]

V-Power everytime, but then my Shell is 1-2mins up the road and I have a V-Power club card because of repeated use.

I get sent fuel vouchers etc so easy decision for me.

I'm sure if I didn't live near a Shell I would try out other alternatives though. Sainsbury's super is meant to be ok and cheaper than V-Power not too far away from me.

 

[rsmith]

rolling road tests... http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Test_Results_Update.shtml

There we go, But peeps slate it cause it has Tesco in the name.

 

[JamJay]

I have no idea where Tesco 99 is refined but according to all my research it has the cleaning agents in it associated with high octane fuel so should be every bit as good as V-Power.

Here's a more in depth review: http://www.tesco.com/momentum99/files/Tesco-Momentum-99-Fuel-Report.pdf

Fuel Specs: http://www.tesco.com/Momentum99/productBenefits-specs.asp

 

[t0m]

How much are people paying for Tesco 99? I found no difference in my car when I did have to use it so it is good stuff. I just noticed a bit more soot around the exhaust tip than usual.

I might give it a go with a club card if it's alot cheaper than my local Shell's V-Power.

 

[JamJay]

It's 134.9 around my way which is the same price as V-Power here too. I just choose to use Tesco as it's where I do my shopping and the points I collect with food added to the fuel points make for a better saving. V-Power always when out of the area though as Shell garages are plenty.

 

[t0m]

It's 134.9 around my way which is the same price as V-Power here too. I just choose to use Tesco as it's where I do my shopping and the points I collect with food added to the fuel points make for a better saving. V-Power always when out of the area though as Shell garages are plenty.

Cool, cheers for the info.

I know of one near me which sells it so may start trialling it with repeated use on the car.

 

[Mart]

My car doesn't even know what other fuel tastes like, V-Power since new or Optimax as it was then.

All I can say is that after 9 years, with the few mods I got listed below, its putting out 186bhp still. Thats all I need to know about V-Power.

 

[flappy]

rolling road tests... http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Test_Results_Update.shtml

Good read! Marketing does play a large part in peoples opitions. It is nice to see some independant testing

 

[Dabbalz]

Where did i say i didn't notice the difference????! i had 4 Leon's now and know every inch of them, natural driver, LOL, your having a laugh.

Please back up your claims of cleaning your tank/injectors, or are you just repeating Shell's marketing rant from there website. I can post pics of injectors run on 95oct for 50k and there spotless

V-power is better, don't get me wrong, but it only marginally better and peeps are filled with a lot of internet myths and misinformation in addition to fuel snobbery, uhhh i only put the best in my car, but at the same time they probably drive the $hite out of the gear box.


And your claims of the car handling better on a half tank of fuel, LOL again, the wind moving across you car would make more difference as would the heat in your tyres Marginal, your driving a Seat Leon not an F1 car. Run V-power if your wish, its certainly not bad for your car, but i do think its not as good as Shell would have your think, they all need an marketing angle, this is there's.

You Did say "Really, extra weight, give me a break" pointing out to me you don't feel the difference.
I feel the extra weight (lower power to weight) and notice the difference on handling, it might only be slight from the one change but i notice every change. The fuel in your tank sloshes about moving the weight in the tank to the left or right or to the front (braking) or rear (accelerating) making your car want to move in that direction, this happens on a much larger scale when you drive a tanker carrying liquids.
Yes the wind makes a difference but everything that makes a slight difference add together to make a huge difference overall.
You don't need to be driving an F1 car to feel what the car is doing. My Ibiza Cupra 20VT (180bhp) is a fairly light car compared to some so adding weight becomes very obvious. Now My RX8 (231bhp) weighed more but had higher power and was less noticeable (although i never filled it to the brim). My Colt CZT (189bhp) was lighter than my Cupra and it suffered badly from extra weight. My Celica VVTi (140bhp) was heavy'ish with low power so also suffered greatly especially the handling.
How can you explain that away when thats what i've experienced??

Why would shell also team up with Ferrari to make V-Power when they already had Optimax. If there were no benefits then i doubt Ferrari would put there name to it being the company it is and Shell would have stuck with an improved Optimax and advertised that as it would have cost them millions less.
Again, why have i experienced more improvement on every car i've run on V-Power after a few fill ups, not just straight away??

V-POWER ALL THE WAY FOR ME!

 

[rsmith]

You Did say "Really, extra weight, give me a break" pointing out to me you don't feel the difference.
I feel the extra weight (lower power to weight) and notice the difference on handling, it might only be slight from the one change but i notice every change. The fuel in your tank sloshes about moving the weight in the tank to the left or right or to the front (braking) or rear (accelerating) making your car want to move in that direction, this happens on a much larger scale when you drive a tanker carrying liquids.
Yes the wind makes a difference but everything that makes a slight difference add together to make a huge difference overall.

I suggest your make some handling modification/improvements if you are noticing a half a tank of petrol having an impact on your handling/performance. And by your previous commend only running a half a tank of petrol actually decreases handling over a full tank if thats your theory as your center of gravity is moving about.

 

[mrdavies]

this may seem stupid but , i have a standard 1.6 s leon would choosing a certain fuel make a difference for me? even for just cleaning benifits? i normally use tesco fuel but it seems as if i use it quicker than if you use standard shell petrol. any recommendations/non-recom ? thanks all .

also would anyone recommend using red-x to give my engine a clean? and what is the best method of doing so with red-x

 

[Dabbalz]

I suggest your make some handling modification/improvements if you are noticing a half a tank of petrol having an impact on your handling/performance. And by your previous commend only running a half a tank of petrol actually decreases handling over a full tank if thats your theory as your center of gravity is moving about.

You should actually notice it more with mod's as this improves the feel and connects you with the car more so i don't understand where your coming from with that
AND it's a full tank having an impact, not half.

The tank would have to be absolutely full to the brim (no air at all) for that to be the case, which a few miles after you've filled up it won't be and brimmed would be worse than half full still as the weight is more so it'd have a greater impact on the handling.
Also the centre of gravity would be lower on the half tank as the fuel naturally goes to the bottom of the tank (this is part of Einstein's theory of general relativity). Also an Ibiza Cupra don't roll enough to mean a half tank would handle worse than a full tank with a higher centre of gravity and more weight.
The Lotus Elise handles so well because its got a low weight and a low centre of gravity.
Also you use more fuel to pull any extra weight so your wasting fuel to carry more fuel, your also putting slightly more strain on all engine and gearbox components with more weight (which is what happens on a larger scale if towing).
End of the day we alone pay for our cars so we each choose how to treat them and have to Shell out for em when we make poor choices over the long term.

 

[Dabbalz]

this may seem stupid but , i have a standard 1.6 s leon would choosing a certain fuel make a difference for me? even for just cleaning benifits? i normally use tesco fuel but it seems as if i use it quicker than if you use standard shell petrol. any recommendations/non-recom ? thanks all .

also would anyone recommend using red-x to give my engine a clean? and what is the best method of doing so with red-x

I noticed this, was many years ago though. Even BP seemed to do less miles for the £10 (when fuel was around 60p per litre) and thats when i started using shell only. I then started buying quicker cars and used optimax and now V-Power only!
I don't bother with red -x anymore. I used to use it when i had carb'd engined cars (XR2's etc) again over ten years ago!

 

[rsmith]

LOL now your contradicting yourself now and saying peeps are putting more strain on there engines and gearbox carrying more fuel, I run 110+ octane so are u now making a poor choice!

I'm done with this conversation, it's boarder line ridiculous/never never land.