Super unleaded

[Mutley75]

Before anyone groans and says there are dozens of threads, near with me - this one is slightly different.

I’ve been meaning try try some super since I bought the car in March but have so far stuck with 95. I’ve seen others on here recommend Tesco 99 or Shell 99. With BP 97 getting some poor reviews.

Anyway, last fill-up my tank had around 65 miles range left of 95 and I filled up with BP 97. Ever since then, when I back out of the garage mornings and leave the engine running while I hop out to close the doors, the revs keep going up and down as if someone is lightly tapping the throttle every three seconds. As soon as the auto choke goes off (or if I’ve been driving and returning home) it doesn’t do it. So the questions are:

1. Is it just the cold weather?
2. Could there be a fault?
3. Is it crappy BP fuel?
4. Is it because it wasn’t fully empty of 95 when I filled up with 97?
5. Does it take a couple of fill-ups for the engine to adjust?

I’m going to persevere with super for the time bring. I’ve not noticed any difference with performance but I think I’m getting very slightly better mpg’s which may offset the higher cost and it is the recommended fuel for the GTI. Must try some Tesco 99 if my local sells it, or some Shell 99 - sadly none around here for at least 15 miles in the wrong direction.

[mcmaddy]

It'll take a tank or three to fully get rid of the 95. I've always used shell vpower or Tesco momentum not for chasing an extra 1 or 2 bhp but because the shell has the cleaning additives and Tesco is so cheap for super unleaded.

[martin998877]

What are peoples' thoughts on Sainsbury super unleaded?  I've heard Shell, BP and Tesco discussed but not Sainsbury's version.  Anyone tried it or got any thoughts?

Thanks

[Talk-torque]

Last time I looked at Sainsbury’s ”super” it was pretty low octane. Can’t remember the number, but I decided that was why it was cheap and not worth bothering with.

[Exonian]

I used to use Sainsburys Super U/L in my 2013 GTI PP (which was tuned from the factory to run on 95). It always ran fine and being a busy fuel station the petrol was always fresh.


I’ve seen some massive hissy fits in fuel threads over the years so I’m keeping away from discussing ‘Internet facts’ here but in 30 years of driving I can say that all of the (very) numerous cars I’ve owned which have been standard and modified tend to feel different on different days.
Some mornings I’ll get in and the engine feels about as willing as a donkey in a bad mood and other mornings the car feels like it’s straining at the leash like a puppy. And everything in between.
I’ve long since concluded that rather than what sort of hormonal imbalance the car might be suffering from it is indeed as much down to atmospheric conditions 

Avoiding the sciency stuff as I’m thick as pig crap it has to be said that after running my Ed40 exclusively on Tesco Blue Stripe 99RON for two and a half years I pulled up to find the 24h fuel station closed overnight for ‘technical’ reasons, so I had to swallow hard and spend 8p a litre more on Shell V-Power.
I’d always been incredibly sceptical about fuel differences but have to eat my words here as there was no doubting that it definitely felt like a bit of cracked pepper had been sprinkled on the car’s mashed potato as it quantifiably felt slightly perkier running on Shell.

You might take it from that little snippet that I’ve been converted but alas I’m back running Tesco 99 in the TCR due partly to licking my considerable financial wounds and the fact the DSG feels so curious in its programming at times it would take rocket fuel to make a noticeable difference.

On a nicer note, whoever bought my CS had around £60 of V-Power as a bonus. Merry Xmas.

[Philip]

Cold damp day (today) = marginally more power, hot dry day (I wish) = marginally less power.  So, your car will run like a dog on the very kind of day you want to be out and about in it 

To avoid total thread drift, Tesco Momentum 99 has always worked for me in cars that need 98RON+

[Mutley75]

Well that was a mission... popped out at lunchtime to fill up with Tesco 99... local Tesco doesn't sell super unleaded!  Tried Morrisons... same story.  Went to my usual BP (actually nearer my home), they'd sold out of Ultimate 97.  Went back into town to the other BP and managed to get some to trial my second tank. 

If it's going to be this difficult I might just stick to 95.  Also, is it just East Anglia or have BP got a near monopoly on forecourts these days?  Literally dozens of them all round me (living in the sticks admittedly).  I can only think of two Shell stations within a 30 mile radius, two Esso in a similar area, a handful of randoms such as Texaco, Merco and the usual supermarkets - but BP are literally everywhere.

[Exonian]

In your shoes I’d just stick with 95. The car will run perfectly fine. It’s only remapped GTI’s or R based engines that benefit most from SUL. Even tuned GTI’s can be set up to run 95 quite happily.

[Mutley75]

I never had any issue with 95. Curiosity just got the better of me.

Suffice to say, my mrs thinks I’m an idiot paying a penny more for petrol than I need to lol.

[Andy198]

Also, is it just East Anglia or have BP got a near monopoly on forecourts these days?  Literally dozens of them all round me (living in the sticks admittedly).  I can only think of two Shell stations within a 30 mile radius, two Esso in a similar area, a handful of randoms such as Texaco, Merco and the usual supermarkets - but BP are literally everywhere.

Same here, loads of BP but if I used Shell, I'd use a gallon getting there and back, so that won't happen unless I'm out somewhere.
I use Tesco Momentum 99 but I've not had the car long enough to talk about increased performance or MPG yet.