Branded v Supermarket fuel

[Merlin5]

Apologies in advance if this happens to be an old and worn out topic of conversation, I don't come into Motors a lot.

I mentioned in another thread that I was advised not to use supermarket petrol on my Auris because it can mess things up like electronics, plus...branded fuel can give more MPG. I got this response.

Put any brand fuel in it, it’ll be fine.

Just wanted more thoughts from members here. I believe geekman is right. Because I've read this article

https://www.petrolprices.com/news/supermarket-fuel-actually-worse-branded-fuel/

plus the dozens of comment that follow it.

There are varying opinions. Some say they'd never touch supermarket fuel again because they had problems with their motors. While others say they've always used Morrisons, Asda, Tesco or Sainsburys and never had an issue and no difference in efficiency or MPG. Overall, it seems the general consensus is that there's nothing wrong with supermarket fuel. There's even a tanker driver in the comments that says he delivers to supermarkets and branded garages and he pumps out the same for both.

What about additives though, are there important additives that are added or omitted in say regular unleaded at a supermarket compared to BP, Shell or Esso that are worth considering and that make any significant difference?

For me it's much more convenient to fill up at my local Tesco whenever I go shopping plus I get Clubcard points. But if enough people said to me steer clear and just buy branded then I'll do that.

What say ye?

 

[Merlin5]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Can it be down to the condition of the storage tanks as well? There was a supermarket near here that often had complaints about fuel quality, I also had issues when I occasionally filled up there. Turns out one of their underground tanks was leaking and ended up spilling loads of petrol into the local river. Environment Agency went to town on them, rightly so.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...rol-station-lancashire-supermarket-haslingden

I don't know what underground storage tanks are made of, and if water/dirt in them can reach the pumps, I assume they have filters?

There was some comment in the article I linked where someone said that because of the high turnover of fuel being bought from supermarket pumps and basically getting emptied almost faster than they're getting filled, that the crud at the bottom of their storage tanks could be getting pumped into some cars.

 

[Merlin5]

That's a bit of a worry then. My Auris is on 98K, does that mean I need to get the EGR cleaned asap and is it expensive? Or is it a bit alarmist and I don't need to bother?

 

[Merlin5]

I suggest you go read the prius, auris and ct200h forums for head gasket failures i think it is which it causes. which is far more expensive than getting the EGR cleaned.

it's not a matter of if it will happen it's just a matter of when.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sea...s+EGR+and+EGR+Cooler+Cleanings+for+P0401+Code

plenty of videos on youtube so you can see how blocked they get, when they get fully blocked is when the head gasket goes it's always the number 3 gasket as well apparently or something like that.

https://priuschat.com/threads/what-is-the-chief-cause-of-head-gasket-failure-on-the-gen-3.188551/

there is an example of a thread.

i would get it cleaned by an indy mechanic. show him the youtube tutorial videos and say that is what you want done. how much? then i'd ask if i could watch to see exactly how much crud is in it. if it's a lot of crud then you know you want it done again in say 60K miles. if it's not a lot of crud I'd maybe leave it for 80-100K miles.

it's the only big bill you should really need to do and it's once every 100K miles. so not the end of the world. should be less than £300 IMO. it's all labour intensive. a decent mechanic for 4-6 hours. I'd expect my local indy to do it for £200 and I would supply him with 5 cans of brake cleaner and some wire brushes

i'd also try and use BP fuel where possible as Simon works there and he can testify it's decent and they spend a ton of money making it that good. you already get high MPG so spending a little more on a tank is nothing IMO. iirc it's £40 for 400 miles in mine and I believe the auris is better and the prius even more so. Mine is 100 percent city stop start driving too.

I just joined a toyota forum and asked them about the EGR and basically what you were saying including the cars you mentioned. I got this reply:

'That's good advice, but not at all relevant to your engine type, year and model ! That can be an issue on the later hybrid models (as you've listed above), but they are 1.8 engines, I've never heard of this on a 1.6! The 1.6 engine is a good one.'

 

[Merlin5]

argh you didn't mention the specific engine. yeah i'm talking about the 1.8 litre engine hybrid.

Ok no worries matey, we're on the same page now and at least my mind is at rest about the EGR!

One thing the toyota bloke did mention to me though was that it might be worth me checking the rear steel brake pipes that go behind the fuel tank for future MOT purposes, apparently they do rust.