Shell V-Power diesel - waste of money..?

[Hugo Nebula]

IMHO, yes.

One of the claims is that it can improve your miles per gallon. To this end, as an experiment, I've been filling up with V-Power diesel. To get an accurate picture, I resolved to fill up three tanks-full to get an average. Today was the third fill, so I'll wait to see, but the results so far aren't good. An average of 39.7mpg, compared to an average of 40.6 for the previous three.

Performance-wise, I'll be buggered if I can tell a difference. Any difference may just be a placebo.

 

[jimbo_h]

What do you normally put in? And what sort of daily do u do to get 40mpg?

 

[Benzy]

Iv never noticed a difference in mpg or performance between shell v power, Bp ultimate and standard Tesco crap

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

 

[jimbo_h]

I've always used tesco crap and get regular 49+ mpg on my 80 mile daily, still goes pretty quick as well

 

[rik_t]

I have never noticed any difference, but then never really used it for longer stints. Maybe if its used for a considerable duration it may have an effect.

 

[Matthewd91]

Not got a leon but ive been using bp ultimate diesel in my ibiza for a few months and im seeing about 50 miles extra per tank than standard tesco diesel.

 

[Hugo Nebula]

What do you normally put in? And what sort of daily do u do to get 40mpg?

Whatever's the cheapest. I will fill up with Shell if it's no more than a penny/litre than anyone else, otherwise it's the supermarket's.

During the week I mostly drive around town; a crawl into & out of Manchester, and some stop-start for my job. At weekends, a 80 mile round trip at 80+ mph, and maybe a 'spirited' drive into the country. I regard my MPG as to be expected given the way I drive, and it's about par with the urban MPG in the official figures.

I had hoped that "posh diesel" would give a >3 MPG improvement to justify its 6% premium, but it's not looking like that.

 

[benj1989]

Quite mixed feelings towards this.

Sent from my LG-P920 using Tapatalk 2

 

[csd_19]

If you're still running the car with the DPF it should need a regen less often on V-power diesel, it has less tendency to soot when it burns and hence fill up the DPF.

From Wiki:

V-Power Diesel is Shell's version of an enhanced diesel fuel, similar, say to BPs 'Ultimate Diesel'. Like BP Ultimate Diesel, Shell V-Power Diesel is designed for modern compression-ignition diesel engines, to facilitate enhanced engine performance along with increased engine protection, for more consistent operation and engine longevity.[3]
V-Power Diesel is a blend of regular petroleum-based diesel and synthetic diesel, created using gas to liquids (GTL), along with some extra additives designed to clean the injection system and improve injection pump and injector lubricity.
One characteristic of V-Power diesel is that it is a lot clearer and odourless than normal diesel, mainly due to the synthetic GTL component.
The fuel is slightly less dense than regular diesel so, per volume, the unit energy is actually lower than regular diesel. This is offset, as the fuel tends to ignite more readily (and thus has a higher cetane rating) than regular diesel, and a side benefit of this is that it tends to produce less soot during combustion."

 

[AndrewJB]

i always ran my FR TDI Stage2+ on Shell Fuelsave diesel

 

[bobak]

I've tried she'll v-power diesel and bp ultimate diesel. Normally just use esso or tesco diesel (no DPF) and frankly the only difference I noticed was the bp stuff which was extremely slight, in fact it felt like it ran worse on vpower, maybe my imagination.
My old Ibiza 1.8T 20V used to looove vpower petrol

 

[thePHILosipher]

ive run vpower religiously for the past year and a bit, and i tried putting the normal tesco shite in as a test and i noticed the difference straight away, car was alot less eager and smokes alot more

 

[LukeFR]

Personally never seen a difference previously, always use Supermarket fuels. Been fine for last 13k.

 

[Nath.]

ive run vpower religiously for the past year and a bit, and i tried putting the normal tesco shite in as a test and i noticed the difference straight away, car was alot less eager and smokes alot more

HHHHHHhhmmm, Funny this, because when people who believe in this stuff come on here they say that the improvement will take a few tank fills to see the difference whereas when you go back to the so called shite stuffyou noticed the difference was instant.

Not got a leon but ive been using bp ultimate diesel in my ibiza for a few months and im seeing about 50 miles extra per tank than standard tesco diesel.

HHHHHHhhhhmmmm, you do realise that Vpower diesel has as good as zero difference in the cetane level. it's just extra detergent, so how can extra detergent give extra mileage straight away?


You can get way more than 50miles extra from a tank by driving better and driving better is free.

I'm in America at the moment and I have a 3.6liter petrol hire car, it's brand new and I filled it up with the cheap shite (85 ron) 3 times, then had 2 tanks of the so called good stuff (92 ron) and it made no difference. Remember that 85 to 92 is a lot more than 95 to 98.

 

[majesty78]

I always fill premium, but to be honest, if I have to fill up urgently with some discount diesel, I can hardly notice any difference.

Rather put some 2 stroke oil to the diesel fuel, has more effect than premium diesel fuel imho....

 

[Alzak]

I got my leon for 2.5 years first 1.5 year I used just standard shell diesel but from some time I filled my car just with V-power I can see massive improvement in MPG about 40-50 miles more on one tank ...

I use to was one of this person who just laugh from people who waste money on "premium" fuel but it makes difference

 

[dukebox9reg]

HHHHHHhhmmm, Funny this, because when people who believe in this stuff come on here they say that the improvement will take a few tank fills to see the difference whereas when you go back to the so called shite stuffyou noticed the difference was instant.




HHHHHHhhhhmmmm, you do realise that Vpower diesel has as good as zero difference in the cetane level. it's just extra detergent, so how can extra detergent give extra mileage straight away?


You can get way more than 50miles extra from a tank by driving better and driving better is free.

I'm in America at the moment and I have a 3.6liter petrol hire car, it's brand new and I filled it up with the cheap shite (85 ron) 3 times, then had 2 tanks of the so called good stuff (92 ron) and it made no difference. Remember that 85 to 92 is a lot more than 95 to 98.

a change of octane in a N/A engine especially a low strung one for example a yank engine makes no difference at all.I for my pennies worth with my car being mapped i believe the car does run a little better on the more expensive stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQghB4asSnI

 

[thePHILosipher]

HHHHHHhhmmm, Funny this, because when people who believe in this stuff come on here they say that the improvement will take a few tank fills to see the difference whereas when you go back to the so called shite stuffyou noticed the difference was instant.

My experience was going the other way from using the priumum fuel for ages and then using the budget fuel, and yes within 100 miles of using the budget fuel I did notice the difference, but maybe it was my mind playing tricks, but I can assure you I noticed a difference. I'll be filling with vpower again next time around and lets see if there is a difference

tapaspoke on Xperia Arc S

 

[csd_19]

The fuel is slightly less dense than regular diesel so, per volume, the unit energy is actually lower than regular diesel. This is offset, as the fuel tends to ignite more readily (and thus has a higher cetane rating) than regular diesel, and a side benefit of this is that it tends to produce less soot during combustion."

HHHHHHhhhhmmmm, you do realise that Vpower diesel has as good as zero difference in the cetane level. it's just extra detergent, so how can extra detergent give extra mileage straight away?

I think Shell quoted VPD as being 1-2 cetane points higher than normal diesel (so around 53) whereas BP Ultimate diesel is rated around 55. Normal diesel is around 51. Higher cetane numbers mean the fuel burns more readily and therefore more smoothly. VPD is also advertised as a greener fuel therefore the corresponding drop in soot levels. I think the base fuel BP Ultimate is developed from is more dense, seems to be higher mpg from that as opposed to VPD.

I always try to use VPD in the Volvo for its low soot properties, mainly due to the DPF. With less soot being produced the regeneration takes place less often, which means less of the mandated up to 7% bio matter ending up in the sump. Not bothered about claimed performance increases

Rising oil levels are a risk with DPFs and biodiesel due to the increased amounts of fuel injected during a regeneration. The bio part of the fuel doesn't burn like diesel and ends up being washed into the sump. On a diesel engine this may cause engine self-fuelling which can ultimately result in engine failure due to there being no way to stop the engine. Less of a problem with a manual car, just hold it on the brakes and let the clutch out in gear so it stalls. Bigger issue with an auto though...

We are forced to fit DPFs to reduce visible emissions, then also forced to use bio-based fuels under requirements of the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO), and then end up in a situation where consumers are potentially mis-sold DPF-equipped vehicles which are not suitable for their needs. DPF diesel car for short journeys to the shops? Err no.... Engine doesn't get hot enough or run for long enough to trigger a regeneration, first thing the driver knows is a DPF-full message on the dashboard. Which either requires a hasty trip to a section of dualler for 20-30 mins to get the regen working, or an expensive trip to the dealer for a forced regen. Would've been better to get the small petrol version instead.

The DPF vs biodiesel issue affects a wide selection of manufacturers, seems like a DPF-delete with mapping to remove the light is the best way to deal with the result.

 

[jimbo_h]

I think Shell quoted VPD as being 1-2 cetane points higher than normal diesel (so around 53) whereas BP Ultimate diesel is rated around 55. Normal diesel is around 51. Higher cetane numbers mean the fuel burns more readily and therefore more smoothly. VPD is also advertised as a greener fuel therefore the corresponding drop in soot levels. I think the base fuel BP Ultimate is developed from is more dense, seems to be higher mpg from that as opposed to VPD.

I always try to use VPD in the Volvo for its low soot properties, mainly due to the DPF. With less soot being produced the regeneration takes place less often, which means less of the mandated up to 7% bio matter ending up in the sump. Not bothered about claimed performance increases

Rising oil levels are a risk with DPFs and biodiesel due to the increased amounts of fuel injected during a regeneration. The bio part of the fuel doesn't burn like diesel and ends up being washed into the sump. On a diesel engine this may cause engine self-fuelling which can ultimately result in engine failure due to there being no way to stop the engine. Less of a problem with a manual car, just hold it on the brakes and let the clutch out in gear so it stalls. Bigger issue with an auto though...

We are forced to fit DPFs to reduce visible emissions, then also forced to use bio-based fuels under requirements of the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO), and then end up in a situation where consumers are potentially mis-sold DPF-equipped vehicles which are not suitable for their needs. DPF diesel car for short journeys to the shops? Err no.... Engine doesn't get hot enough or run for long enough to trigger a regeneration, first thing the driver knows is a DPF-full message on the dashboard. Which either requires a hasty trip to a section of dualler for 20-30 mins to get the regen working, or an expensive trip to the dealer for a forced regen. Would've been better to get the small petrol version instead.

The DPF vs biodiesel issue affects a wide selection of manufacturers, seems like a DPF-delete with mapping to remove the light is the best way to deal with the result.

very intresting read this. one way to sort it, get rid of the DPF???