For what it is worth to anyone, right now I would never put any supermarket petrol in a car that still has any value left in it. I know "things" change, but a lot of years ago, father of a friend of one of my kids said, and he worked in a Vauxhall dealer, that Sainbury opening a fuel station near us was the best thing that had ever happened to their workshop - not just VX but any marques started to appear needing decoke etc - he did not mean that in a cruel way - just a point of fact! I was happily using Safeway fuel at that time - but the ground swell amongst those of us that cared for our car was growing with a feeling that suprmarket fuel might not be good enough - so I stopped buying any supermarket petrol.
What you should remember is, that at the moment, there is no requirement for fuel companies to state what specification their fuels comply to - and there seems to be no intention for car makers to include a list of approved fuels, so individual fuel companies add their own secret brew to the standard refined spirit that forms the basis for what we buy. Also remember this base spirit is not what your engine needs to perform well and stay alive!
Just have a look at the pump heads the next time you fill up with petrol, all that is quoted is a BS spec number and an EN spec number, and maybe if you are lucky a RON rating.
I think what is needed is an industry agreement on the basic additive requirements and for that to get included in the quoted fuel specs on the pump head - then the individual companies could add in their own extras and give their own claims for why you should use their fuels. All these UK "made" fuels start as the same spirit and the additives get added into the individual companies tankers at the refinery - who knows what/WHO "makes" the Tesc fuel as it comes into UK ready to dispense.
I have to add, when there is a tanker driver strike, Tesco suddenly becomes a very handy place to go for (emergancy) fuel until things get going again!
What you should remember is, that at the moment, there is no requirement for fuel companies to state what specification their fuels comply to - and there seems to be no intention for car makers to include a list of approved fuels, so individual fuel companies add their own secret brew to the standard refined spirit that forms the basis for what we buy. Also remember this base spirit is not what your engine needs to perform well and stay alive!
Just have a look at the pump heads the next time you fill up with petrol, all that is quoted is a BS spec number and an EN spec number, and maybe if you are lucky a RON rating.
I think what is needed is an industry agreement on the basic additive requirements and for that to get included in the quoted fuel specs on the pump head - then the individual companies could add in their own extras and give their own claims for why you should use their fuels. All these UK "made" fuels start as the same spirit and the additives get added into the individual companies tankers at the refinery - who knows what/WHO "makes" the Tesc fuel as it comes into UK ready to dispense.
I have to add, when there is a tanker driver strike, Tesco suddenly becomes a very handy place to go for (emergancy) fuel until things get going again!
Last edited: