Shell FuelSave Diesel

[rsshawn]

I've used it over the last week and there's no mpg difference noticed, 80 mile round trip to work. It is the cheapest in town though & better than supermarket fuel so will keep using it.

 

[muddyboots]

DPF-equipped engines have a risk of increased engine wear due to oil dilution and also the risk of the engine "running away".

During the DPF regeneration extra fuel is injected at the end of the ignition cycle to burn off the soot in the filter. The excess fuel can wash past the piston rings and into the sump, where it dilutes the oil and reduces its efficiency. This can be detected by an increasing oil level.

Have a read of section 3.2 on page 8 of this http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/em/uksiem_20093277_en.pdf, it helps to explain about oil dilution due to biodiesel.

Also check outhttp://www.biodieselmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2290 for more information surrounding biodiesel and the problems with 7% bio and DPFs.

With the bio part of the fuel building up in the sump and causing the oil level to rise, there is also the risk of engine "run-away" where the engine self fuels on its own oil instead of diesel, and where it can't be turned off.

Interesting reading, thanks

 

[Sooty torques]

Yep, good (but worrying) reading. I like the fact that the Govt thinks "neutral wording" ie: yes this may bu&&er up your engine but don't worry about it! is a good idea...

Are DPF-equipped VW TDI's ok running on 7% bio-mix? The Govt report claims that: "...increasing the biodiesel content of diesel allowed by the standard to 7% by
volume. This was in response to revised advice from the automotive industry on the biodiesel percentage with which normal diesel vehicles are compatible."

Hmmm I just hope my 170 DPF TDI is a "normal diesel vehicle".

 

[Adam R]

Yep, good (but worrying) reading. I like the fact that the Govt thinks "neutral wording" ie: yes this may bu&&er up your engine but don't worry about it! is a good idea...

Are DPF-equipped VW TDI's ok running on 7% bio-mix? The Govt report claims that: "...increasing the biodiesel content of diesel allowed by the standard to 7% by
volume. This was in response to revised advice from the automotive industry on the
biodiesel percentage with which normal diesel vehicles are compatible."

Hmmm I just hope my 170 DPF TDI is a "normal diesle vehicle".

why dont you run it on Vpower diesel ?

 

[Sooty torques]

why dont you run it on Vpower diesel ?

Too many miles to the nearest Shell garage - last local-ish one (4 or so miles) shut a few months back. Plus kerr-ching! so tend to use Esso or BP. If I have to use any supermarket stuff, I always add a shot of Millers.

 

[rsshawn]

If I have to use any supermarket stuff, I always add a shot of Millers.

I add that to branded fuel - that's what it's always been run on. Previous owner said he got slightly better mpg and less muck out the back using non-supermarket fuel after he trialled it. Millers added around 10 miles per tank in his experience.

 

[asthpsw]

Does anyone know what the Cetane rating is? I'm going to start using Shell Fuel save once I've nearly emptied my tank - I usually use BP ultimate have done for years but last weekend got a voucher at Tesco for 5p off a litre & with it being already cheaper than Ultimate by far I decide to fill up so I reckon I got 30% Ultimate in the mixture but it is crap and is so noticable! Sounds like a bus has hesitation on accelaration & tickover is slightly uneven- starts OK but I bet it wouldn't in the winter. If it wasn't for the fact I want to try Fuel save I'd dilute with Ultimate
Paul

 

[Jim H]

I wonder if shell clame that it ignights faster that it has a higher cetane rating then Diesel Extra. I know there was a difference with Optimax and V-power petrol. (98 octane vs 99 octane)

At the moment I am using VPD, it's only because I get extra bonus points for the fuel card, if I fill up 3 times with V-Power in the next month. On Sunday V-power was 123.9 p/l and (Fuel save) diesel was 116.9 p/l.

 

[csd_19]

I emailed Shell regarding the bio-content in both FuelSave and V-D, unsurprisingly it will fall between 5 and 7% for both fuels.

"Craig,

The Biocontent will be within the standard specification BS EN 590:2009 which allows a maximum Biocontent (FAME - Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) of 7%.
For both products the level will vary depending on source but will always be in the range of 0 to 7%.
Given the requirements of the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO), which requires fuel manufactuters to aggregate 5% of biocomponent in their fuels (RFTO is a govenrment legislation covering all forecourt fuels of all manufacturers from April 2009), I would suggest that typically you would expect the level to be somewhere between 3 and 7% for Diesel Fuel.

Regards,"

Now to noise them up about the cetane rating

 

[asthpsw]

let us know what they say re the Cetane rating & how it compares with VPD or Diesel Extra. Paul

 

[jamborino]

Chances are there'll be biodiesel in any diesel you buy from any forecourt in the UK these days thanks to the RTFO, so it's a bit pointless singling out one particular product for criticism in this respect.

Shell FuelSave typically will have no more or no less biodiesel in it than any other diesel product.

Same goes for petrol, which typically has around 5% alcohol (bioethanol) in it these days,
no matter which brand or forecourt you buy from.

 

[asthpsw]

like Jamborino says the Bio content is going to be much the same wherever you get your Derv. So has anyone got any experience of the new fuel ? Even if only 1st impressions on the 1st tankfull? Any thoughts on comparision with VPD or BP U ? (which I've used for years until this last tankfull of Tesco I now run a bus engine) anyone know if Shell have released the Cetane ? (not that I expect it to be high as VPD isn't!
Paul

 

[coolypops]

Chances are there'll be biodiesel in any diesel you buy from any forecourt in the UK these days.

like Jamborino says the Bio content is going to be much the same wherever you get your Derv.
Paul

It's true that there will be bio in any diesel you buy but the amount varies.
Supermarket fuels tend to be "stretched". As in they have a greater bio content.

It's like the way fast food places fill your cup up with ice before putting the coke in, so it seems as though your getting a huge coke when really your coke is getting raped by melting ice...

 

[Dyscontinued]

I never found Premium Diesel any better. Found using Millers Additive with cheap diesel the best.

 

[S3 AKR]

I prefer the V-power mainly because I can't be arsed to mess around with the Millers and the stuff just stinks the car out. If I weren't so lazy (or sensitive) I'd go for the Millers in standard fuels.

 

[tris]

That woud work out more

 

[S3 AKR]

That woud work out more

True - but I really am that lazy and the car doesn't do an especially high mileage these days so its only once a month!!

 

[csd_19]

let us know what they say re the Cetane rating & how it compares with VPD or Diesel Extra. Paul

Righto, this response might surprise you...

"Craig,

For Fuelsave diesel Cetane is guaranteed 51 typically 55-58
For V-power diesel Cetane is guaranteed 51 typically 53-55; The benefits of V-power are not derived from the cetane rating.

Regards,
Rob."

So Fuelsave has a higher cetane number than V-power. And higher speed (i.e. modern) diesels run more efficiently with a higher cetane fuel, so would this be where the "1 extra litre" comes from?

 

[tris]

Intertesting and less money

 

[csd_19]

But without the additives that make V-power a higher performing fuel. I don't think the additives are taken into account when determining the cetane number of the fuel.

Good to see they've made the normal stuff more efficient though