Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Got a spanner in the works? Post your motorcycle problems here.
redbikejohn
Posts: 2158
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 83 times

Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by redbikejohn »

Just a curious question. I always used to fill up at a tesco or asda petrol station as I travelled past both on my trip into work. I've always been very pedantic about my mpg on my xt660z as it's so economical. I know exactly how far I can go on a tank until reserve and then again the limit till almost empty. However in April i started a new job and now fill up at a shell as its local and I dont pass any cheap petrol station on my commute. Very early on I noticed a jump in mpg (for the better) and i thought it was just an anomaly but it's been consistently better ever since, a good 20 plus miles per tank. Anyone else sad enough to notice this ? 🤪🤪🤪
Just out of interest my last tank was 335 miles!
Yamaha tenere 700
XT660Z written off from behind by car.



Check out www.redbikejohn.com for ride & race reports (enduro, H&H etc).
User avatar
Scott_rider
Posts: 2436
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:47 pm
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 294 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by Scott_rider »

I don't know about the exact MPG but I try to use Shell petrol whenever I can because I find my bike/car run better on it and they do seem a bit more economical, for some reason :? In particular, I like using V-max 99 in the car as I can definitely feel the extra 'shove' when using it but it is pricey so I reserve it (no pun intended :roll: ) for special occasions. I reckon that the Shell fuel might be a bit 'purer' than the supermarket fuel??

p.s. how many miles have you done now on the Tenere?
Suzuki GSX-S1000F...the KTM 450 EXC-R has gone
Billy Bananahead
Posts: 960
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:28 pm
Location: Cheshire
Has thanked: 116 times
Been thanked: 268 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by Billy Bananahead »

Similar situation here.
I've been using Esso Supreme diesel in my nearly new Transit Custom. Costs more as you say but I've got an Esso fuel card which reduces the pump price. Seems to get more mpg, I always fill the tank to full, and also runs smoother but also I find it's helping the DPF to clean as the fuel has more detergents.
That's the thing i'm trying to help really as I've had two forced regens from Ford, before using the cleaner more expensive fuel, and don't want to spend money on a new DPF when the warranty runs out in January.
Sorry can't be of more help.
Tramp
Posts: 7660
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:04 am
Has thanked: 327 times
Been thanked: 634 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by Tramp »

Yep My tens the same always use mainstream fuel or tesco ultimate and in winter I use high octane fuel.... All supermarket fuels have bulking agents and non of the expensive cleaning agents... Its well documented...
User avatar
zimtim
Posts: 2602
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:01 am
Has thanked: 623 times
Been thanked: 548 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by zimtim »

Several points
Yes get slightly better economy using Shell fuel although with the KTM it can also depend greatly on how and where I ride off road I get 33mpg, average on road 43mpg and when touring (I tend to be more relaxed and take my time) I get 50mpg.

But yes with Shell I will easily get another 20miles or about 10% increase.
As with the shell VPower stuff I don't get any improvement in mpg but the bike definitely prefers it and seems to run that bit better. So I tend to alternate the normal shell with VPower as purely a cost saving exercise. .

With the diesel car I just use normal shell but if going on a long will give it a drink of the good stuff.
Only tend to use the supermarket fuel if I get one of those 5p off vouchers, with the shopping. Again saving will be offset by the bottle of whisky in the trolley.

Also note that first couple of fill ups after a service mpg is best then a slow decline until it reaches a plateau for a while then will decline again slightly as it closer to needing a service.

I use an app called
https://www.fuel.io/
To log all costs, it also gives you mpg etc and can allow you to note what type of riding you happened to be doing etc,
Richard Simpson Mark II
Posts: 3516
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 9:03 pm
Has thanked: 1413 times
Been thanked: 1668 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by Richard Simpson Mark II »

All true...I used to run regularly from South Wales to West Devon on my KTM 950.

Usually had 'branded' petrol in the tank. But one time I had to do the run early in the morning. The regular garage was closed so I used the more expensive of the Tesco petrols on offer, and my fuel light came on 10 miles earlier.

More recently, the engine light started coming on on my old Ford Focus. Switching to the 'Super' option and using BP or Shell fuel has cured it. Recently my filling station ran out of Super, so I put half a tank of normal in, and the light came on once it had used most of that. Filled up with Super again and all was well.

I'd previously noticed that my Pampera did more miles on Super, so I use it in everything now...even lawn mowers and chainsaws etc.
redbikejohn
Posts: 2158
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 83 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by redbikejohn »

Scott_rider wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:13 am
p.s. how many miles have you done now on the Tenere?
106 400 😀👍
Yamaha tenere 700
XT660Z written off from behind by car.



Check out www.redbikejohn.com for ride & race reports (enduro, H&H etc).
paul_tim2000
Posts: 88
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:47 am
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 14 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by paul_tim2000 »

Strangely the main bike (Guzzi Stelvio) shows very little difference when commuting, pretty constant 40mpg whatever the petrol.

The car however gives 5%-10% less range when filled in the local Asda / Morrisons compared to the local Shell garage. Decision on where to fill depends on Price difference and where/when I need the fuel.
User avatar
Scott_rider
Posts: 2436
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:47 pm
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 294 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by Scott_rider »

redbikejohn wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:38 am
Scott_rider wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:13 am
p.s. how many miles have you done now on the Tenere?
106 400 😀👍
Nice one 8-) 8-)
Suzuki GSX-S1000F...the KTM 450 EXC-R has gone
catcitrus
Posts: 2114
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 5:36 pm
Has thanked: 95 times
Been thanked: 448 times

Re: Petrol: supermarket vs shell etc

Post by catcitrus »

Some branded fuels now have the E5 label--even the super stuff--so you are buying liquid, non combustible oxygen, so fuel economy based on volume will reduce. Generally the higher spec fuels, such as shell, burn quicker and are less prone to detonation so release more energy near TDC=better fuel economy. Porsche (way back) fitted knock sensors to every cylinder and automatically advanced the ignition to just shy of detonation--hence very noticeable improvement in fuel economy and performance.
Post Reply

Return to “TECHNICAL”