How good is V-power vs other fuels, really?

madtoady · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:50

I've recently bought myself a new car, its a few of years old but I'm tempted to start and stick with filling it with a decent fuel? My car is a diesel but just wondered if any V-power is actually worth the extra money.

I've also heard that supermarket fuel is the worst type of fuel, is there any evidence or facts that go along with this statement?

rodenal · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:53

The civic seemed to like premium diesel, after a few tanks it was a bit quieter, no other advantages though. What I found made a decent difference was a tub of bg244 (k?) When I first got it

Lunatic Dreyfus · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:54

You look more affluent while filling up at the petrol station. I find that to be as good a reason as any of the official selling points.

You do own a diesel though and this may spoil that illusion.

Atari · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:55

I used V-Power exclusively for about 5 months when I first got the car. Then I started using the Tesco station nearer to my house and filling with Momentum 99. Have not noticed any difference whatsoever.

madtoady · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:56

Lunatic Dreyfus said:
You look more affluent while filling up at the petrol station. I find that to be as good a reason as any of the official selling points.

You do own a diesel though and this may spoil that illusion.

Wow, I'm surprised it took only 4 minutes for an 'It's a diesel' comment lol.

MooMoo444 · 10 Jul 2013 at 16:59

Just using V-Power gives you an extra 50 BHP.

Theophany · 10 Jul 2013 at 17:20

madtoady said:
I've recently bought myself a new car, its a few of years old but I'm tempted to start and stick with filling it with a decent fuel? My car is a diesel but just wondered if any V-power is actually worth the extra money.

I've also heard that supermarket fuel is the worst type of fuel, is there any evidence or facts that go along with this statement?

Supermarkets use the same refineries as BP, Esso, Shell etc, so it would appear to be a total myth. As long as you're using fuel stations with a decent turnover (and most supermarkets have) I wouldn't think anything of it at all.

V Power just has detergents in it that allegedly keep your engine 'clean' and free of deposits. I'd counter that by saying it's a diesel, it will be filthy and if you're really that bothered, bang a bottle of Redex or equivalent in the tank. V Power will do nothing compared to correct and proper maintenance of the car's engine over its lifetime.

Simon · 10 Jul 2013 at 17:49

The base fuel is the same for most fuels. The additives are what make the fuels different.

Not sure why this is so difficult/unbelievable for Internet forums.

Minstadave · 10 Jul 2013 at 17:59

Simon said:
The base fuel is the same for most fuels. The additives are what make the fuels different.

Not sure why this is so difficult/unbelievable for Internet forums.

But right, me mate gaz, he once filled his Nova up at Tesco innit and it like, literally, exploded!

Firestar_3x · 10 Jul 2013 at 18:05

Simon said:
The base fuel is the same for most fuels. The additives are what make the fuels different.

Not sure why this is so difficult/unbelievable for Internet forums.

I caught one company pumping water combined with extraday value washing up liquid into a well in Kazakhstan, I'm sure the truck said Tescos on the side.

Dis86 · 10 Jul 2013 at 18:18

To answer the OP it depends on the car...

I had a 1.4 turbo (petrol) and it would run like a bag of crap on ordinary fuels but stick some 98ron in and it was a totally different machine, very smooth, noticeable power increase and actually got 32.5 mpg (av) over 2000 miles compared to 28.1 for the previous 2000!

Tom_ed1987 · 10 Jul 2013 at 18:33

Is there any detail on the different additives, what they do, what they consist of etc etc available anywhere?

233 · 10 Jul 2013 at 18:40

On our taxis we find a bit of 2 stroke oil added at each fill quietens them right down and is supposedly good good for engine longevity can't really comment on mpg as we only saw minor differences between nasty supermarket diesel and v power diesel

Just remap it instead and enjoy more grunt and better mpgz

jellybeard999 · 10 Jul 2013 at 19:25

IMO go with whatever the cheapest fuel at the correct octane number is

danza · 10 Jul 2013 at 19:32

It is exactly THREE EXTRA RONS better.

pepsilol · 11 Jul 2013 at 09:15

Lol reminds me of Thorney and momentum.

jcr · 11 Jul 2013 at 10:20

The engine on my vag diesel was noticeably quieter on tickover with vpower but the extra price didn't justify it

Zeed · 11 Jul 2013 at 10:44

I got other question:
With current prices of petrol. WHY WOULD YOU NOT fill your car with premium fuel ??
Few yesrs back when normal petrol was lets say 85p/liter and premium was 1f.
Then Ihad psychic barrier.

Now when i see 1.38 for normal or 1.48 for vpower.
Well thats extra 2.5 on my full tank. Problem is that I already spent 65f to fill up in first place...

celliott · 11 Jul 2013 at 11:00

All depends on your car, though with a Diesel I wouldn't bother.

My MK6 GTI is noticably more responsive on vpower and sounds a bit deeper as well. It needed a couple of tanks to adjust to it though. Slight better sound, response + the cleaning benefits makes it worth it IMO.

MooMoo444 · 11 Jul 2013 at 11:05

celliott said:
All depends on your car, though with a Diesel I wouldn't bother.

My MK6 GTI is noticably more responsive on vpower and sounds a bit deeper as well. It needed a couple of tanks to adjust to it though. Slight better sound, response + the cleaning benefits makes it worth it IMO.

Sheep confirmed