Poor Fuel Quality in Applegreen?

markg1984

Hi,

Has anyone noticed poor or low quality petrol in Applegreen stations? I fill my tank on the N7 lately and the car started randomly cutting out. After a few days I refilled at a non-applegreen station and had no more instances. That was 6 weeks ago. I tried applegreen again yesterday (in Balllinteer, Dublin 16) for the first time since and the car started to cut out again.

Just wondering if others have came across this?

9935452

They do have a reputation for that.
Personally id spend a few extra quid and fill the car at a better branded station. modern diesels dont like dirty or dodgy fuel

Bandara

They don't have a reputation for 'that'

Applegreen are the most professionally run service stations in this country, the spec of their equipment is the highest it can be. They are a stock exchange listed company and their fuel is absolutely without question.

I have zero affiliation with them. I am just a envious competitor of theirs

OP I can guarantee you there is no way in gods earth that they are selling fuel that you should be concerned over. Especially in two different sites.

micks_address

I've never had problems with applegreen fuel and i used to fill all the time there.. i did notice though once after filling up at esso (diesel) that I was getting about 70km more from the full tank... i thought it was a fluke so switched over and back a few times and the results were consistent.. for some reason my car gets more mpg from esso diesel than applegreen...

I remember chatting to my father in law about it (he ran a petrol station for years) His take was that esso and likes put additives in their fuel so they burn cleaner...

I have no idea if this is valid or not..

The only time ive ever had trouble with diesel was a independent garage - filled there once and the car went into limp mode.. had the fuel filter replaced (wasnt overly dirty) Never went back there again

Cheers,
Mick

jodaw

Personally OP, i would be getting my car checked out if it is cutting out like that rather than thinking its applegreen fuel.

I have got to the stage where i now use applegreen diesel exclusively, after trying out the other brands.

Applegreen is the top brand for me now. I reckon there is a much better chance of equal fuel regardless of filling station with applegreen than esso, topaz and the like.

My mpg with applegreen is better than others also.

jca

When I drove a diesel car it ran terribly on applegreen diesel. I don't notice a huge difference using their petrol but having lost confidence in the brand I tend to avoid them.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

galljga1

The only problem I ever had with diesel was when I filled it with petrol.

BMJD

My old Integra Type R ran like ****e on Applegreen petrol the few times I tried it. It suffered power losses, stuttering about and it messed up when VTEC kicked in, yo.

Problems disappeared soon after going back to Texaco or Maxol.

_Brian

Its all a bit odd really..
My X-Trail runs better on Applegreen diesel than anything else I can get around, know a few others who only fill there too..

Zubeneschamali

OSI wrote: »

They do actually. If you search this forum there's a number of threads on here relating to people getting poor performance from Applegreen fuel, as well as plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest similar.

If you search boards you'll find people who believe in aliens, think vaccines cause autism and like Gerry Adams.

I've seen people here claim they get 30% better fuel economy from a different brand, even though it all comes from the same sources. It's nonsense.

lawred2

9935452 wrote: »

They do have a reputation for that.
Personally id spend a few extra quid and fill the car at a better branded station. modern diesels dont like dirty or dodgy fuel

never once heard such a thing about applegreen

nearest service station to me is applegreen... never experienced anything like what the OP experienced..

And they are always a few pence cheaper than the likes of redacted's Topaz

all anecdotal like... I haven't conducted even the tiniest bit of scientific analysis

_Brian

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

If you search boards you'll find people who believe in aliens, think vaccines cause autism and like Gerry Adams.

:D

galljga1

A lot of what is said here makes sense. There are differing grades of fuel available and as stated above some companies have additives that are claimed to offer superior KPG.

Who do reckon is the best fuel company available? (to clarify, before somebody mentions "Paddy's coal yard", I am talking about petrol and diesel).

Zubeneschamali

lawred2 wrote: »

And they are always a few pence cheaper than the likes of redacted's Topaz

That is why some people distrust them: "if they are consistently cheaper, they must be crap" goes the thinking.

And of course, some unbranded stations which are cheap really do sell illegal washed stuff. But Applegreen are not unbranded fly-by-nights.

No affiliation here, I just buy all my fuel there because it is cheaper. 300,000 km up on the S-Max and no issues with Applegreen's diesel.

Zubeneschamali

galljga1 wrote: »

There are differing grades of fuel available

Are there? Where can I read about the different grades of diesel for sale in Ireland?

Zubeneschamali

OSI wrote: »

The poster said they don't have a reputation. The fact that numerous threads about the same subject with multiple people stating the same thing, would suggest they do.

I've seen threads about other brands, too, positive and negative, but it's all nonsense.

The Backwards Man

I worked for a publican many moons ago who had a terrible habit of putting Grant's vodka in Smirnoff bottles. I asked him why he did it, and he said it's because it tastes better than it does out of Huzzar bottles.

Senna

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Are there?

Washed and unwashed??

lawred2

dinhthanh wrote: »

Has anyone noticed poor or low quality petrol in Applegreen stations?

personally.. for me, no

316

Its all imagninaton, thinking a vehicle is running better when getting fuel from one service station to another, people need to get a sample tested to verify these assumptions.

pippip

There's been a few polls done on here over the years and the results are always pretty much the same

Heres one for example.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=93572238

Applegreen never does to good. Maxol always tops it.

I'd stand by it to Maxol always gives my car more miles, runs smoother and better performance.

galljga1

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Are there? Where can I read about the different grades of diesel for sale in Ireland?

Re diesel, when refueling, I have never really looked to see whether there is a difference. With petrol, a lot of garages high light the octane value of petrol. I have never noticed any garage high lighting the cetane rating of diesel. There are differing ratings and summer/winter grade differences but to be honest, I just fill up when necessary from one of a number of places including Applegreen.

5W30

I always fill my car to the brim at the Applegreen in N7.

I used to buy petrol, now I buy diesel. Never had any issues, they are a very good example of how a petrol station should be run.

The best thing you can really do is just fuel up at a different station each time to make sure you get an even spread of qualities of fuel.

galljga1

5W30 wrote: »

I always fill my car to the brim at the Applegreen in N7.

I used to buy petrol, now I buy diesel. Never had any issues, they are a very good example of how a petrol station should be run.

The best thing you can really do is just fuel up at a different station each time to make sure you get an even spread of qualities of fuel.

There you have it, fuel advice from an engine oil, enough said.

5W30

galljga1 wrote: »

There you have it, fuel advice from an engine oil, enough said.

I would post a Castrol approval seal but I cannot post images

youtheman

Funny, thing, all the fuel comes out of the same refinery. Go figure !.

Zubeneschamali

youtheman wrote: »

Funny, thing, all the fuel comes out of the same refinery. Go figure !.

In fairness, the different companies add chemistry-type stuff with cool names like Techron (which are actually detergents), which help keep your engine clean.

But there's no way any of that would cause a difference in power you could feel behind the wheel as many people report, or a 20% economy improvement in one tank. That stuff is all in people's heads.

Guffy

Applegreen and tesco have the same fuel. They both buy from topaz but it untreated by topaz. Its a low grade fuel in comparison to the topaz stations

Zubeneschamali

gufc21 wrote: »

Its a low grade fuel in comparison to the topaz stations

Low grade how? What is the standard you are using? Let's see some numbers.

Foxhole Norman

My logic for not trusting AppleGreen fuel is that the local one's manager comes to us for fuel, even though they're cheaper...

166man

I also noticed a difference in the running of my petrol and diesel cars using their fuel. I only use Esso/maxol/Texaco now these days.

Guffy

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Low grade how? What is the standard you are using? Let's see some numbers.

Low grade in that it is not as clean or efficient as the final product used at a topaz garage

AA back topaz fuel. According to them it gives u 24 km at least per tank more and is cleaner for the engine

Jesus.

Bandara wrote: »

Applegreen are the most professionally run service stations in this country.

I have to agree regarding their service stations. The facilities they have (shops, restaurants etc) are the best in the Country. I'd doubt they'd skimp on their fuel quality tbh

Jesus.

pippip wrote: »

There's been a few polls done on here over the years and the results are always pretty much the same

Heres one for example.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=93572238

Applegreen never does to good. Maxol always tops it.

I'd stand by it to Maxol always gives my car more miles, runs smoother and better performance.

Wouldn't mind but it was a Maxol station (Donabate Co Dublin) where I got my dodgy fuel a month or two ago

polan

166man wrote: »

I also noticed a difference in the running of my petrol and diesel cars using their fuel. I only use Esso/maxol/Texaco now these days.

Esso poor quality, low range on car

pippip

Are any of yous like me in that you wont go into a garage if you see a tanker on the forecourt refilling them?

Someone once told me it disturbs all the crap in the bottom of the tanks which would then go up through the pumps.
It makes sense but not sure how true it is.

I was just thinking it would explain possible one off problems people experience like Jesus above after a fill.

creedp

gufc21 wrote: »

Low grade in that it is not as clean or efficient as the final product used at a topaz garage

AA back topaz fuel. According to them it gives u 24 km at least per tank more and is cleaner for the engine

Do Topaz further refine the fuel they acquire from the refiinery? Where do they do this? Are they the only company that does this?

316

Are some stations still buying the washed diesel and mixing it with road diesel?

Zubeneschamali

gufc21 wrote: »

Low grade in that it is not as clean or efficient as the final product used at a topaz garage

AA back topaz fuel. According to them it gives u 24 km at least per tank more and is cleaner for the engine

I do understand that Topaz and other companies put different amounts of detergent into their fuel.

This can indeed mean your engine will be cleaner with long-term use and give a small increase in efficiency, and it costs a small amount more. So you pays your money...

It does not mean that one tank of Topaz makes your car pull better or give 20% better mpg. That is all in people's head.

mikeecho

I personally know a person who had issues with diesel from applegreen, and after a little bit of a discussion with them, he received a cheque to cover some work he needed to have done to his engine.

Kenny Logins

I'm sure I can feel the difference from Amber to Applegreen to Texaco. Could be all in my head though, I have no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Sabre Man

I've filled in Applegreen Youghal a few times. Never had a problem.

Edit: petrol

pheelay

I consistently got about 10% less distance from a full tank from Applegreen (500km) petrol than I would from Esso/Maxol (550km). I don't shop there anymore. I put it down to ethanol added to the fuel which is all the rage now in the EU, but does not seem to be clearly marked on the pumps in Ireland.

Living in France with the same car for 6 years, the pumps are clearly marked 95 and 95E10. E10 over there is about 5¢ cheaper than raw 95 but would get the same result in my car - about 10% less distance per tank. It seems to depend on the car - some burn ethanol perfectly fine, others don't.

Zubeneschamali

pheelay wrote: »

I put it down to ethanol added to the fuel which is all the rage now in the EU, but does not seem to be clearly marked on the pumps in Ireland.

So you think Maxol does not contain ethanol, that's what you are saying? Or contains less than Applegreen?

5W30

pheelay wrote: »

I consistently got about 10% less distance from a full tank from Applegreen (500km) petrol than I would from Esso/Maxol (550km). I don't shop there anymore. I put it down to ethanol added to the fuel which is all the rage now in the EU, but does not seem to be clearly marked on the pumps in Ireland.

Living in France with the same car for 6 years, the pumps are clearly marked 95 and 95E10. E10 over there is about 5¢ cheaper than raw 95 but would get the same result in my car - about 10% less distance per tank. It seems to depend on the car - some burn ethanol perfectly fine, others don't.

I don't think 50 km is worthwhile to get excited about. I doubt you drive the exact same routes with the exact same conditions with the exact same load every day to be able to perfectly measure such a difference.

pheelay

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

So you think Maxol does not contain ethanol, that's what you are saying? Or contains less than Applegreen?

All I am saying is that, like many others here seem to be experiencing, I get a considerable amount less from a tank from Applegreen than I would from Esso or Maxol.

I believe Maxol state 5% ethanol. There are older threads on here about the ethanol additives. On the whole, I find the ethanol content is very badly labelled on Irish petrol pumps, in contrast to France where you are almost always given a choice and it's labelled very clearly.

pheelay

5W30 wrote: »

I don't think 50 km is worthwhile to get excited about. I doubt you drive the exact same routes with the exact same conditions with the exact same load every day to be able to perfectly measure such a difference.

Yes, you're right. It's a long way from a scientific measurement. But it is consistent - I'm not talking about just 1 or 2 fills here. Some day, I must test it more thoroughly on a long distance return trip.

Guffy

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I do understand that Topaz and other companies put different amounts of detergent into their fuel.

This can indeed mean your engine will be cleaner with long-term use and give a small increase in efficiency, and it costs a small amount more. So you pays your money...

It does not mean that one tank of Topaz makes your car pull better or give 20% better mpg. That is all in people's head.

I never said 20% i said 24km which was found through extensive testing by AA to be on the low scale of the range.

The Backwards Man

gufc21 wrote: »

I never said 20% i said 24km which was found through extensive testing by AA to be on the low scale of the range.

Even on a sixty litre tank, Applegreen would only have to be about 2c cheaper to be better value

Bandara

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

If you search boards you'll find people who believe in aliens, think vaccines cause autism and like Gerry Adams.

I've seen people here claim they get 30% better fuel economy from a different brand, even though it all comes from the same sources. It's nonsense.

Exactly