Shell V Power Diesel / BP equiv - any benefit?

Daviddac

Member
Hi everyone

I'm shortly to get a 1.2tdi .Has anyone got any advice on whether it is worth ever running a tank or two of the higher priced shell or BP diesel to help clean the engine up / give the thing a bit of clean? Just wandering if this is worth doing once in a while or on a regular basis. On economy, I'm guessing it won't improve it one bit?. Thanks for your replies.
 
Welcome to the forum! Where are you importing your 1.2TDi from? There are a couple of 1.2 owners on the forum I'm sure they'll be able to offer you lots of input related specifically to the 1.2.

As to BP Ultimate/ Shell Optimax diesel fuels - well personally I run my car on Sainsbury's budget diesel and every now and then give it an "Italian Tune Up" to clean out the pipes. I also sometimes buy a bottle of Millers Diesel Additive, but to be honest, who knows whether any of these additives really do anything...

Either way, congratulations on bringing another 1.2 to the UK - they're amazing cars. Have you got yourself a Fuelly account for tracking MPG?
 
Thanks for the reply.I'm going to run a tank or two through it.I'm getting the car from Germany.It's a seriously light A2 with virtually no options at all.It doesn't even have a stereo or speakers from the factory.
 
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Hi there!
Very jealous of your trip to Germany! I am planning myself a 1.2 import quite soon....where about you picking yours? I spotted two dealers that seems to have quite a nice assortment of 1.2 in great shape. Not cheap, but I guess if you go down this route you want to pick the best you can get....:p

Keep us posted on the progress!

Andy
 
I read that it is prudent to go for the higher-spec version of these fabulous cars! I remember that air-con if absent on the so-called "3-litre" type A2. I don't think that I'd like to be without that! I think that there are other omissions, too? I would easily get used to LHD .... I drive to Europe frequently! Hey, that "auto" box, too! That is a rarity!. Alderley Edge?..... My Son-in-Law has a shop there! Maybe I'll see your A2, Eh?

David
 
Personally I think it has advantages albeit objective research shows no benefits of Vpower etc. I would certainly run the car on the main brand fuels anyway rather than supermarket jungle juice. You may also want to research the forum on the benefits of using 2 stroke oil additive too. An italian tune up also does wonders for any car but particularly a diesel.
 
I would certainly run the car on the main brand fuels anyway rather than supermarket jungle juice.

I don't think it really matters either. All fuel is made to a standard, and it all probably comes out the same refinery. Dan mentioned Sainsbury's - isn't their fuel supplied by BP? Their 97RON super unleaded is great value (135.9 last time I checked), sometimes stick a tank of it in my car.
 
I disagree, having driven an average of 20k miles annually in diesels since 1987 and tried a range of fuel sources I personally will not use supermarket fuels anymore.
 
For a huge Geographical area, all fuel sold at every filling station will have the same Refinery origin .... unless there is an overlap of those areas ... So for a considerable area, you will be buying "Shell" raw petrol, regardless of the station you visit .... B.P., Texaco, Sainsburys, etc. What makes the fuel you actually buy, distinctive, is the additive package added to that fuel during loading onto the tanker, at the Refinery. So, for instance, if you purchase "Shell" petrol or diesel, you will be getting a modern, "state-of-the-art" package, which is a result of Shell's immense expertise and Research Facility (Shell Global Solutions, Elton) If, however, you purchase your fuel from a Supermarket, then you will only get an inferior, even 3rd. generation, additive package! Your car will still run O.K., but if you cherish your A2, and expect to keep it for a long time, then why not make the effort and put a decent fuel in the tank? The one sure way to keep your A2 running, though, is regular and quality oil changes! I only use fully synthetic, "quantum" oil, to the full V.A.G. specification, and below 10,000mls between changes ....

David
 
Thanks for all the replies, I am probably going to end up putting shell in it more often than not, though just regular stuff most of the time
 
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Well I have come round to thinking there's a big element of snake-oil to all these fuel additives in recent years. I guess it's just impossible for any of us to do a proper controlled test comparing one fuel vs. the other, comparing additives or not. I've tried them all to be honest, at various times I've paid through the nose for BP Ultimate, I've run numerous tanks of Millers Additive with Cetane Booster or Redex equivalent, I've even had several tanks where I've run 200ml of 2-stroke oil in with the diesel, but most of the time these days I'm just going for the lowest-price, which is Sainsbury's City Diesel. It conforms to the BS standards and today it's a good 4p/litre cheaper than the BP or Shell "normal" diesel in their garages which are both no more than 100m away from the Sainsbury's garage.
 
When I was talking about an "additive package," I was referring to a unique formulation added at the Refinery filling-gantry for the particular final Brand of fuel. The Texaco fuel tanker will have his package, Supermarket chains, theirs. etc. Shell carry out extensive testing of their fuels and compare the performance closely with their competitors. Do you know that they even have duel-fuelled cars where 2 cylinders are supplied with the Shell test-fuel and the other two by a competitors? Then a futher test is performed with those cylinders transposed. Every time, the Shell fuel was superior by Miles! What was your experience of adding 2-stroke oil to the diesel fuel? Was it significantly quieter? Why did you not keep it up? VEE HAVE VAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK! (no offence intended to German viewers of this thread!) LOL!

David
 
When I was talking about an "additive package," I was referring to a unique formulation added at the Refinery filling-gantry for the particular final Brand of fuel.

I understand that off the shelf additives are demonstrably useless. Obviously Shell etc. have invested a lot of money and science into their additives so their fuel has the potential to be better performing?

I just don't buy this argument that supermarket fuels are poor quality though. IMO all fuels are made to a good standard nowadays, and you can pay more for 'extra-good' fuels if you choose. You aren't getting 'bad' fuel wherever you go.
 
A messy faff was my main experience! I can't honestly say if I noticed any improvement in noise or vibration or economy or soot reduction hence deciding that one bottle was enough!

What was your experience of adding 2-stroke oil to the diesel fuel? Was it significantly quieter? Why did you not keep it up? VEE HAVE VAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK! (no offence intended to German viewers of this thread!) LOL!

David
 
I can honestly say adding 2 stroke oil has made a noticable and, more to the point worthwhile improvement in smoothness, noise, smoke (passed MOT with a cold engine!), smooth shut down. Economy gains and torque are harder to determine without objective testing but both appear to have improved. It does seem to work better with a semi-synthetic oil. As for an A2 without PAS and aircon, I admire your search for economy but for me driving also has to be a pleasure and going back to basics to that extent would not do for me other than going back to an older 'classic'. Personally I would rather drive a car on the basis of bangernomics and save money that way too.
 
Maybe the secret is to have a longer test with adding the "semi-synthetic" oil to the fuel? Just one bottle may not have been enough? I know that, to start to feel the benefit of "Shell" V-power fuels, you need at least 2-3 successive fill-ups. Now, obviously, your overall fuel cost will increase, because it is no longer just the fuel (and that is expensive enough), but the added cost of those 200ml "shots"? Is there a particular oil that you have found to be favourable on effect and cost? It can do no harm to "give-it-a-go"! It is many years since I have done a bit of Research! LOL" ...... vaaaary interestink! LOL! Oh, Classic car lover .... I have for sale the ultimate Mercedes 190! absolutely everything on it AND LPG powered! Hows that!

David
 
It does need a few fill ups to get the best out of it and yes there is a small cost but the benefits outweigh that cost (for me). I simply use the cheapest semi-synth I can find. Unfortunately i do not have the sort of income and spare money i used to enjoy pre-recession. I was simply musing what i will do if I had to replace the A2 in the current climate...... it would most definately be bangernomics rules! Now sorry for the thread swerve!
 
the 2 stroke oil must be mineral based.
Most A/c engineers on the airport use 2 stroke and get between 6+10% after cleaning everything out first.
I use ultimate only cos I get 6ppl off,however with the polo TDI and its DMF the dmf light never comes on using the ultimate where it does using supermarket fuel which I had to use as the local bp was being converted to a markies petrol station.
mpg increased usually about 4-5 mpg too.

its the cleaning ability of the detergents in premium fuels, aside from Price I found Esso, then shell followed by Bp giving the better mpg.

All fuel is sold to a minimum standard,its well known that some cars and I don't mean A2's really need that premium fuel to avoid decokes/cleaning of throttle bodies etc.
my Mitsubishi was known for decokes and throttle body cleaning,Ring a bell anyone?
 
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