Tesco Petrol

amacca

Anyone heard any adverse stories about the quality of tesco petrol?

Uncle was saying lots of engines are being ruined by it


I reckon its just the usual baseless unfounded claptrap I hear knocking around the place on a regular basis.


For one thing I presume the quality of the petrol has to live up to a certain standard and is tested by independant body? Tesco preumably wouldnt want their product to get a bad name.


On the other hand, I have heard of a garage (not tesco btw) that was fined (supposedly) for putting extra sulphur in the petrol (whatever economic benefit that would have for them I don't know) so it is possible you are not filling your car up with what you think you are at times.

Gary ITR

I got blocked injectors after using Teco Petrol for a prolonged period, my fairly fresh fuel filter was destroyed too. I heard that Tesco don't carry out basic maintenance as often as they should on their tanks and pumps.

This could also be coincidence and claptrap. Maxol E5 FTW

Drummerboy08

My experience of Tesco fuel isn't great either. The car was noticeably down on power and running rough after a few fills.

Best to leave Tesco's for Groceries.

Max Power1

:rolleyes:

Petrol is imported from the one place. How can "tesco" petrol be any different from similar spec Texaco petrol?

Gary ITR

Max Power1 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Petrol is imported from the one place. How can "tesco" petrol be any different from similar spec Texaco petrol?

True but how the tanks and pumps are maintained on the individual sites plays a huge role in the quality of fuel delivered to the end user

In my experience with Tesco, I used to be a rep that serviced Tesco stores, they take the 'If it ain't broke don't fix it approach', take for example their freezers, they only get emptied and cleaned when they break down. In Dunnes Stores they deep clean the frozen section once every week

Drummerboy08

Max Power1 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Petrol is imported from the one place. How can "tesco" petrol be any different from similar spec Texaco petrol?

It may be imported from the one place, but once the importing is done, TExeco, Topaz etc all add in their own additives to the fuel, this is what makes the difference.

EPM

I noticed I was getting less km's per tank when I used Tesco in Clonmel regularly and the at ran quite rough. I don't know what if any the differences are in the fuel supplied but I stopped using it.

adamski8

ive used tesco's for years and my piece of **** car is still running the same. its just petrol

Seth Brundle

Max Power1 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Petrol is imported from the one place. How can "tesco" petrol be any different from similar spec Texaco petrol?

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

It may be imported from the one place, but once the importing is done, TExeco, Topaz etc all add in their own additives to the fuel, this is what makes the difference.

The terminals in the various ports distribute fuel to different forecourts under different banners (Topaz/Texaco/Tesco/etc.). When the trucks are being filled, the appropriate fuel additives are added. I've seen this happen.
However, another poster (Hammertime) claims to own a petrol station and says that often their fuel is delivered after it was originally intended for another forecourt. So basically when he is advertisiing say standard unleaded, he is actually selling say 98RON unleaded or whatever.

thenightrider

Onkle wrote: »

I got blocked injectors after using Teco Petrol for a prolonged period, my fairly fresh fuel filter was destroyed too. I heard that Tesco don't carry out basic maintenance as often as they should on their tanks and pumps.

This could also be coincidence and claptrap. Maxol E5 FTW

I used to work for one of the few companys in Ireland that service and maintain all the petrol stations in Ireland and i can tell you for fact that none of the service stations service there pumps and thanks the only time any of the stations would get any work done on there pumps is when they broke or were acting up so tesco got work done just as much as any other staion

Gary ITR

thenightrider wrote: »

I used to work for one of the few companys in Ireland that service and maintain all the petrol stations in Ireland and i can tell you for fact that none of the service stations service there pumps and thanks the only time any of the stations would get any work done on there pumps is when they broke or were acting up so tesco got work done just as much as any other staion

That's a bit crap then isn't it

aphex™

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_UK_petrol_contamination

Big J

I generally buy my petrol from Tesco. They aren't the cheapest in Waterford but I'd reckon they are less likely to sell adulterated petrol or washed diesel than an independent might be.

franksm

Been using Tesco petrol for years in my cars and haven't had any problems - Mazda MX5 turbo, Triumph Stag, MGBGT, XK8 - all fairly thirsty cars. Always full tanks from near-empty.

Interspersed with infrequent fills from Esso etc too, so never noticed anything better or worse between Tesco and non-Tesco

Rockery Woman

I drive a lot. I use a lot of petrol.

I bought Tesco petrol a couple of times but I found I dont get as much mileage from it as Topaz or Emo petrol.

Didnt know different companies use different additives though - learn something new every day!

Max_Damage

Hasn't killed my engine, but then again, my old Kent lump will run on anything!

Jimmy Garlic

Tesco have a track record in the UK for suppling contaminated fuel..

News over the last few days has revealed that silicon contamination was the cause of the recent problems to thousands of vehicles. The problem has been traced back to petrol storage tanks in Essex and Harvest Energy have confirmed that the high silicon fuel has been isolated and no more contaminated petrol would make its way to the forecourts.

Harvest have recommended that those affected should contact their petrol retailer for more information. Supermarket petrol stations at Tesco, Morrisons and ASDA stores have been associated with this fuel crisis and Tesco have today printed a full page apology in several newspapers which assures motorists that their petrol is 'back to normal'.

There is some comfort for those who purchased their fuel at Tesco and have experienced problems with their cars as Tesco assures: 'If petrol bought at Tesco has damaged your car, we'd like to say how sorry we are. More to the point, we'd like to promise to pay for the repairs.'

They confirm that 'all the affected stores in the South East of England have been refueled with a fresh clean supply.' and 'No other Tesco stores were affected by this incident'.

http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/tesco-apologises-for-contaminated-fuel-66.html&p=2

ThisRegard

Eh, if you read what you quoted you'll see it was all supermarkets and it had nothing to do with them, it was the storage tanks from where the fuel came from.

Jimmy Garlic

ThisRegard wrote: »

Eh, if you read what you quoted you'll see it was all supermarkets and it had nothing to do with them, it was the storage tanks from where the fuel came from.

The usual story. They are hardly going to admit that they are selling an inferior product. Do a little research and you will start to see a trend.

DRIVERS are blaming a supermarket for dodgy diesel which has fouled up their engines and cost them hundreds of pounds in repair bills.

Garages are dealing with dozens of cars with spluttering engines and a loss of power and a common link appears to be fuel bought from Tesco forecourts across Mid Anglia.

A Tesco spokesman admitted the company was carrying out investigations on fuel samples after receiving reports of the problems.

One Cambridge businessman told the News he filled up his four-year-old Honda Accord at Tesco in Milton, near Cambridge, and encountered problems next time he drove it.

He said: "I was taking my son to school and the car started to judder and the engine management light came on.

"I rang the garage and they told me to bring it in as soon as possible.

"They had to drain the whole tank of diesel and clean out the rest of the engine because of contamination."

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Tesco-in-new-rogue-fuel-alert.htm

ironclaw

I was under the impression that all petrol for Ireland comes from the same source tanks on the Quays in Dublin?

I'd strongly disagree with any suggestion of improved MPG or power from using different brands. The effect on an average joe soap engine would be negligible. Power and MPG would be gained purely on a cleaner burn in the chamber, how any additive could noticeable improve that is beyond me.

si_guru

Myth started by garage owners who don't like competition.

That said, I buy all my petrol at my local village Centra... so he stays open. You never know when you're going to need a loaf of bread or pint of milk on a Sunday evening!

L1011

thenightrider wrote: »

I used to work for one of the few companys in Ireland that service and maintain all the petrol stations in Ireland and i can tell you for fact that none of the service stations service there pumps and thanks the only time any of the stations would get any work done on there pumps is when they broke or were acting up so tesco got work done just as much as any other staion

This might be the case, but its rare to see a station where the public facing parts of it are as filthy and battered as a Tesco one. So I'd suspect that they're even worse behind the scenes.

ironclaw wrote: »

I was under the impression that all petrol for Ireland comes from the same source tanks on the Quays in Dublin?

We also have our own refinery, and different post-delivery additives can be added to fuel which can have a fairly major impact.

mikemac

It's an urban myth which took off

For Dublin anyway, I see plently of taxi drivers buying their fuel in Tesco Clarehall. I would think taxi drivers would know a thing or two about this subject. That's good enough for me

snappieT

ironclaw wrote: »

I was under the impression that all petrol for Ireland comes from the same source tanks on the Quays in Dublin?

I'd strongly disagree with any suggestion of improved MPG or power from using different brands. The effect on an average joe soap engine would be negligible. Power and MPG would be gained purely on a cleaner burn in the chamber, how any additive could noticeable improve that is beyond me.

Topaz claim that their petrol gets you 24km extra to the tank. While I agree with you to an extent, and know nothing about additives, you could argue that an additive that "keeps the engine clean" would result in higher efficiency.

jimmyw

More scaremongering I guess.Couldn't you say the same about all forecourts and brands.

travellingbid

Don't know how the whole petrol thing works but I put €20 in the last day in my local Topaz. €20 would get me to and from work 3 days. I had to top up on the way home on day 2. Can someone explain that to me? Car was recently serviced so in great condition?

andyseadog

ironclaw wrote: »

I was under the impression that all petrol for Ireland comes from the same source tanks on the Quays in Dublin?

I'd strongly disagree with any suggestion of improved MPG or power from using different brands. The effect on an average joe soap engine would be negligible. Power and MPG would be gained purely on a cleaner burn in the chamber, how any additive could noticeable improve that is beyond me.

spot on

2 stroke

Tesco clonmel has been mentioned in this thread. I've visited Abbot Clonmel a lot recently and I have noticed problems, with 2 different cars, after filling at this station.
There is a good hill out of Clonmel up to Abbot, on tesco petrol I find I am gearing down sooner on this hill, than on any other brand of petrol. I do not notice if you have a mix of petrol, but if I have filled at tesco, twice in a row, it is very noticable.

andyseadog

on tesco petrol I find I am gearing down sooner on this hill, than on any other brand of petrol.

the placebo affect?

Colonel Sanders

I used to buy Tesco fuel regularly but not any more. I'd get at least 100 miles more per tank from Topaz/Maxol

And I'm one of these people who sets the counter back every time I fill to see what type of mileage I'm getting per tank.

2 stroke

andyseadog wrote: »

the placebo affect?

No, it usualy takes me by surprise. First time it happened, I spent about 2 hours checking plugs/filters looking for a prob. Had same prob for a few days until I filled at a different station. Problem returned after going back to tesco.

johndaman66

amacca wrote: »

I reckon its just the usual baseless unfounded claptrap I hear knocking around the place on a regular basis.

Given the thread subject did anyone spot a pun in that line!?

andyseadog

2 stroke wrote: »

No, it usualy takes me by surprise. First time it happened, I spent about 2 hours checking plugs/filters looking for a prob. Had same prob for a few days until I filled at a different station. Problem returned after going back to tesco.

even if their petrol is of an inferior quality it would still only make a negligible difference

Gary ITR

ironclaw wrote: »

I'd strongly disagree with any suggestion of improved MPG or power from using different brands. The effect on an average joe soap engine would be negligible. Power and MPG would be gained purely on a cleaner burn in the chamber, how any additive could noticeable improve that is beyond me.

I have Dyno printouts that show an increased BHP in my car from a bottle of additive being poured in

andyseadog

Onkle wrote: »

I have Dyno printouts that show an increased BHP in my car from a bottle of additive being poured in

just from curiosity,

what engine?
any mods?
was the difference subsantial?
what additive?

Gary ITR

andyseadog wrote: »

just from curiosity,

what engine?
any mods?
was the difference subsantial?
what additive?

Honda B18C, EDM model so mapped for our pissy fuel, only mod at the time was an exhaust system and decat, added 6BHP and it was a bottle of Millers CVL

andyseadog

interesting results there, b18c is a powerful engine to begin with though, so if you worked out a % figure of the 6bhp gained from its original power figure it would still be a minimal ish gain?

but i suppose a gain is a gain and all that!

Gary ITR

andyseadog wrote: »

interesting results there, b18c is a powerful engine to begin with though, so if you worked out a % figure of the 6bhp gained from its original power figure it would still be a minimal ish gain?

but i suppose a gain is a gain and all that!

Also it takes time for the ECU to adjust to the higher rated fuel, the 6BHP came instantly.

I have a lot more done to the car since and now I can only run on Maxols E5, if I give fuel throttle with any other fuel I get knock and an engine light

ironclaw

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

I used to buy Tesco fuel regularly but not any more. I'd get at least 100 miles more per tank from Topaz/Maxol

And I'm one of these people who sets the counter back every time I fill to see what type of mileage I'm getting per tank.

You'd have to drive at the same average speed, on the same average roads, the same average temperature etc etc to even get even close to a definitive proof.

I agree there may be some merit, its cheap petrol for a reason, but until I see a very scientific test done, its all the same to me.

As regards additives, I thought the only one was silicon? And its a one part in millions? Was there not some controversy over "Ultra" or whatever Shell called it when it came out? Tiff Needel did the ad voice over. Turns out it was just a simple additive that made little to no difference.

6 BHP is an impressive increase but its hardly worth the extra few cents no?

On a side note, I hate people who drive out of their way to go to Tesco / AppleGreen. The most you'd save on a fill is a few cents. Unless your passing, its not worth it in my opinion.

andyseadog

waiting for the ECU to adjust, and if the car never left the dyno between the first run and when the additive was used, there would be 'x' amount of time lost waiting for the treated fuel to get from the tank to the engine too, as the lines are still filled with the regular stuff. maybe 2 runs would have shown even slightly more benefit?

andyseadog

ironclaw wrote: »

You'd have to drive at the same average speed, on the same average roads, the same average temperature etc etc to even get even close to a definitive proof.

I agree there may be some merit, its cheap petrol for a reason, but until I see a very scientific test done, its all the same to me.

As regards additives, I thought the only one was silicon? And its a one part in millions? Was there not some controversy over "Ultra" or whatever Shell called it when it came out? Tiff Needel did the ad voice over. Turns out it was just a simple additive that made little to no difference.

6 BHP is an impressive increase but its hardly worth the extra few cents no?

On a side note, I hate people who drive out of their way to go to Tesco / AppleGreen. The most you'd save on a fill is a few cents. Unless your passing, its not worth it in my opinion.

the voice of logic :cool:

Gary ITR

ironclaw wrote: »

6 BHP is an impressive increase but its hardly worth the extra few cents no?

I'm in the process of bankrupting myself to get every last bit of power out of my car so 6 horsies won't be sniffed at At the two boards.ie Dyno days my car came out on top of the other Integras there so every horse counts

ironclaw wrote: »

On a side note, I hate people who drive out of their way to go to Tesco / AppleGreen. The most you'd save on a fill is a few cents. Unless your passing, its not worth it in my opinion.

I do find this one hilarious, I know a chap that could drive 10 miles looking for a cheaper Filling Station

andyseadog wrote: »

waiting for the ECU to adjust, and if the car never left the dyno between the first run and when the additive was used, there would be 'x' amount of time lost waiting for the treated fuel to get from the tank to the engine too, as the lines are still filled with the regular stuff. maybe 2 runs would have shown even slightly more benefit?

Oh there was a few runs done, it went up by 6 then hit that number fairly consistently, the ECU could take a few miles to adjust, at a guesstimate it probably went to 8/9

andyseadog

what was the base power figure?

Gary ITR

andyseadog wrote: »

what was the base power figure?

173 which went to 179

Captain Commie

Used to use tesco petrol quite often but started using topaz and find that i get a much better distance out of my tank. quite a lot of people i know wont use tesco petrol cause it is of inferior quality.

I often drive between Dublin and Carrickfergus, a 250 mile round-trip, normally leave with a half tank (i dont like filling tank over half, extra weight and all that). By time im getting ready to head home i am usually down to just a few miles in the tank so put it back to half. I find that if i use tesco petrol then by time i reach dublin i have less than a quarter tank but if i were to use BP or Texaco then i have just over a quarter tank. Whilst this is not a scientific test it is a noticeable difference and one of the main reasons i wont touch their fuel anymore, also there is the fact that i was able to get a topaz fuel account through my job and get my petrol for roughly 4c cheaper than normal topaz prices.

andyseadog

3% ish increase in power then from a dedicated additive. in a performance engine..

hard to know if all these claims off 100 miles per tank less from tesco fuel and having to downshift earlier are true, when on a performance engine, such minimal gains are achieved, they would be all but un noticable in an average application...

2 stroke

ironclaw wrote: »

I hate people who drive out of their way to go to Tesco / AppleGreen. The most you'd save on a fill is a few cents. Unless your passing, its not worth it in my opinion.

I don't drive to get petrol. If I pass a cheap station I usualy fill the tank. If I'm caught out and have to use an expensive pump I get €5 or €10. I generally know where to go in each town for best prices. I never ever use apple green, even if they are cheapest, for personal reasons.

andyseadog

i dont get this mentality at all.

in my town at the minute the cheapest petrol is 134.9 and the most expensive is 1.38.9.

an average car with a 50 liter tank, being filled from absolutely empty (which never happens) your only saving 2 euro over the course of anywhere between 3-500 miles, thats really sod all in the grand scheme of say, treating yourself to a mars bar and a bag of crisps some lunch time during the week.

2 stroke

andyseadog wrote: »

i dont get this mentality at all.

in my town at the minute the cheapest petrol is 134.9 and the most expensive is 1.38.9.

an average car with a 50 liter tank, being filled from absolutely empty (which never happens) your only saving 2 euro over the course of anywhere between 3-500 miles, thats really sod all in the grand scheme of say, treating yourself to a mars bar and a bag of crisps some lunch time during the week.

Thats €4 a week to me, €200 per year. I've seen petrol at 1.42 this weekend, I think tesco Clonmel is 1.32.

andyseadog

yes, but, like i said, you could argue that, about every little thing. do you ever buy anything when you go into the petrol station?

do you ever buy a magazine as a treat? if so it makes the saving a waste of time.

or you could live in a cardboard box, and not have to waste any money on anything in life and have a fortune, yet have nothing.

2 stroke

andyseadog wrote: »

yes, but, like i said, you could argue that, about every little thing. do you ever buy anything when you go into the petrol station?

do you ever buy a magazine as a treat? if so it makes the saving a waste of time.

or you could live in a cardboard box, and not have to waste any money on anything in life and have a fortune, yet have nothing.

I don't buy a treat because I saved money on petrol. I buy the same newspaper/magazines each week and would buy them even if I got dear fuel.
If I only drove a few mile a week I prob wouldn't care about price so much.