Topaz Fuel Additives

Matt406

Hi All,

Quick question about Topaz fuel additives – the additives that they claim improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Could these additives be harmful to your engine/cause it to run less smoothly?

Some background to my question – I usually buy fuel (95% of the time) in one of 4 fuel stations in the country without any problems. About 3 months ago I filled up in one of the two Topaz garages in my local town. The car is diesel with a 1.6 HDI PSA engine. After I filled up 3 months ago the engine just didn’t run as smoothly as usual, that was until I had burnt the tank of fuel and refilled at one of my usual (non-Topaz) fuel stations. The car has been fine since. At the time I put it down to some dirty fuel and swore never to go back to that station. I filled the car on Sunday night at the other Topaz station in the town and yesterday I noticed the exact same issue (engine is running a little rough – if I rev to 1500rpm I can see the needle on the rev counter flutter and I can hear the engine coughing, spluttering a little). It’s not that significant but it’s noticeable at the same time.

I was thinking that it’s unlikely that I’ve got another tank of dirty fuel from a different Topaz station and that maybe it was the additives that they advertise as being added to their fuel that the car doesn’t like?? I've bought diesel twice in two different Topaz garages in the last 3 months and both times the engine seems to have been affected!!
Anyone had any simular experiences?? Or any other suggestions as to what the issue might be??

Thanks.

Cessna_Pilot

Not exactly what you're after but I only ever fill up at Topaz in an emergency, ie there's no other filling stations for miles etc.
I notice everytime time I use Topaz petrol, that fuel economy goes way down, the engine doesn't perform nearly as well as it does with the other station's fuel I use, mainly Maxol and sometimes Texaco.

I know many people with the same experiences as me with Topaz fuel.

Matt406

Cessna_Pilot wrote: »

Not exactly what you're after but I only ever fill up at Topaz in an emergency, ie there's no other filling stations for miles etc.
I notice everytime time I use Topaz petrol, that fuel economy goes way down, the engine doesn't perform nearly as well as it does with the other station's fuel I use, mainly Maxol and sometimes Texaco.

I know many people with the same experiences as me with Topaz fuel.

Actaully i forgot to mention that when this happened 3 months back the fuel economy was down by about 9mpg - car was doing the exact same trips as usual. Will have to wait and see if it's affected this time!

Matt406

Matt406 wrote: »

...........Will have to wait and see if it's affected this time!

So you've filled up again at a Topaz?

Matt406

RoverJames wrote: »

So you've filled up again at a Topaz?

Yes, about 3 months after the first occurrence and at a different Topaz garage.

Indricotherium

Whatever about their fuel, the hot chocolate out of the silver machines they have is classsss better than anything I've had elsewhere.

Dadda31

Just because you use a different Topaz dont mean it will be different. they use the same delivery lorries.

Im sure Maxol buy all their fuel off Topaz so no different really.

The additives they use have passed manufacturers permissions or else they wouldnt be using them at all. Who has passed them is another question

coylemj

Dadda31 wrote: »

Just because you use a different Topaz dont mean it will be different. they use the same delivery lorries.

Im sure Maxol buy all their fuel off Topaz so no different really.

As far as I'm aware all Maxol unleaded is 5% bioethanol which doesn't apply to any other retail petrol brand in Ireland so they are not the same, unless the ethanol is added in the Maxol filling stations which I doubt is the case.

Dadda31

They must blend it themselves so as i have it from a good source that Maxol take their fuel off Topaz! As well as a number of other oil companies in the Country. I dont think they have a depot.

Must find that out actually would be nice to know for sure about the bioethanol.

coylemj

Dadda31 wrote: »

They must blend it themselves so as i have it from a good source that Maxol take their fuel off Topaz! As well as a number of other oil companies in the Country. I dont think they have a depot.

Must find that out actually would be nice to know for sure about the bioethanol.

http://www.maxol.ie/general-content/maxol-bioethanol-e5

Mfwic_47

I wonder if the additive is similar to MTBE that Topaz uses in its fuel. In the States that's been found to do major damage to water sources. Has the our EPA tested it?