Diesel quality

[seashawgal]

6c a litre difference diesel at Aussie world compared with BP and Caltex etc.
The owner assures me that at Aussie world has a cetane of 55.7 and BP grarantee one of 55. What about vortex diesel is it better? It may clean the injectiors but if I put an agent in periodically that should compensate. Looking for ways to save money but also want to do the best by the engine.
My mechanic says there is a big difference in quality of LPG as well and BP and Caltex have the best LPG. He should know because he's changing the filters and reckons he can see the difference.
Thank you for you input and knowledge on this important topic.

[bugsytwoshoes]

I recently bought a new Isuzu Mux and the salesman advised me that BP had the cleanest diesel and to use BP. I have seen the BP advert on TV but am I better off using BP or is this a lot of BS.

[Cape Crusader]

G'day
Info from someone knowledgeable in the industry would be good to hear?
I can only offer my own anecdotal experience. Last year I bought a new ranger and got in the habit of filling at a convenient independent servo, but after it started to idle roughly, almost stalling on a couple of occasions, I switched back to BP and after a couple of tank fulls it came good. This also happened quite a few years ago when my wife had a petrol vehicle and we were filling at an independent. Could have been a coincidence on both occasions I guess
I've also read that BP and Caltex is the best, could just be marketing I suppose
Cheers
Rod

[Chimo]

Cetane levels seem to run between 46 (the min allowed) and low 50s with 51 being common.

Much of our diesel seems to come from Singapore
Some is refined in Aust.

Puma appears to use the Singapore stuff, the others ?

I used Neumans now Puma ex their depot where the B Ws filled and was happy with it. Now use puma that gets deliveries from the depot I used to use.
All sorts of info and people reports on the interweb but who really knows and will they tell you anyhow.

Happy Motoring and as long as you don't pick up a load of water and crud enjoy another day above the green!

Cheers
Chimo

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/environment-protection/fuel-quality/standards/diesel

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/mobile.spark?p=topic&topic=63028784

[StevenM]

Being a high km user 60k / year and through experience I now use and fill up only at BP or Caltex. If desperate will do only bare minimums to get me to a Bp or Caltex.

[Dignity]

Seashawgal, I prefer the BP/caltex, personal preference as it is related to my consumption comparisons. Try BP at Glenview at the Mooloola turnoff on the way to Landsborough, always cheaper than most of sunshine coast on most of their fuel range and similar price to aussie world fuels. I've also installed a secondary filter in my vehicle for water and crud.

[docaster]

Caltex or bp, maybe shell. Never puma. Ive been told puma comes from brazil

[docaster]

And i did get a belly full of water once from puma a few years back. Innsurance took care of it, admitibly a storm had gone through the day before but dozens of cars were caught

[jclay1773]

I have a 2.8ltr prado on 60 000km. Did 33 000km travelling Aus last yr so obviously filled up at average servos. 90% of my other fills are at Aussie world on sunny coast. Never had an issue.

[TheRealAndy]

The fuel you get at the bowser is more or less the same for all manufacturers, in fact most will come from the same refinery especially here in Queensland. You wont be able to measure any increase in performance objectively.

One cannot be said the same for the tanks it goes into at each servo.

A good servo will test the fuel for water, they use a paste on a dipstick that changes colour in the presence of water.

[scottar]

The fuel you get at the bowser is more or less the same for all manufacturers, in fact most will come from the same refinery especially here in Queensland. You wont be able to measure any increase in performance objectively.

One cannot be said the same for the tanks it goes into at each servo.

A good servo will test the fuel for water, they use a paste on a dipstick that changes colour in the presence of water.

And, in addition as advised by a friend in the game, even when there were multiple sources, if one was running short on a product they would source from the opposition as required.

[Moonlighter]

There is always lots of debate about this. The grey nomads are always discussing it.

I think the best idea (applies to both diesel and unleaded) is to try to buy from a outlet that is selling high volumes of fuel and is reasonably new, with the hope that the fuel will be fresh and clean from those outlets.

[TheRealAndy]

There is always lots of debate about this. The grey nomads are always discussing it.

I think the best idea (applies to both diesel and unleaded) is to try to buy from a outlet that is selling high volumes of fuel and is reasonably new, with the hope that the fuel will be fresh and clean from those outlets.

This about sums it up. You cant tell the grey nomads, once they have an idea in their head its right and you are wrong!!

Some will claim they can measure the performance difference, but the only way to do it repeatably is to have a test engine on a dyno where all things are equal.

[tunaticer]

The cleanness of fuel is a complete furfy these days.
All cars have fuel filters that should be changed each service.
They are there to catch dirt etc.
It is part of regular maintenance schedules. You pay for it in every service already.

If you are concerned about your fuel check it's additives and octane ratings and ignore the crap about dirty fuel.

Several fuel companies add injector cleaner to the fuel, but you can bet both your nuts it would be so low a percentage that it's effectiveness is marginal and sales of a "superior" product are good.

[Moonlighter]

Not sure I can agree in the cleanliness issue - get a load of crap fuel on board, and the filters are quickly clogged up and you are going to have problems.

Its happened to friends of mine with modern diesel cars, and its happened to members on this forum on their boats. Filters can only cope with so much crap before insufficient fuel gets thru.

[Cape Crusader]

It's interesting isn't it. The penny dropped for us after our car was intermittently running rough and a friend mentioned he didn't use the servo up the road anymore because their car ran rough every time they filled there (quite a few years ago now). Aha, that's it, use brand name, no more issues. Then read comment from people in the know about how the fuel is all the same. So, start filling the ranger at a high turnover independent last year and same thing, change and all good. Just a coincidence i guess? Maybe some unrelated issue that went away after changing brands. The correlation was close enough for me to take note, but if it's wide spread many more people than just me would have an issue.
Cheers
Rod

[tunaticer]

It is normally water contamination from servos that causes the problems, seldom "dirt".
Water destroys filters by closing the holes for the fuel to pass through.
Any brand and any grade of fuel gets water in the underground tanks, none are impervious to it.

Comes down to which servos best manage that issue rather than any brand or grade.

[rickmarlin62]

I have a rodeo xtra cab 4x4 2.8turbo diesel..it has 560.000 ks on it..i get 5/8% better range with bp fuel...always its my work vehicle and tows my boat//I do a lot of kms..I have tried other brands and always go back to bp for better performance/less smoke and soot/more kms per tank...rick