"Fake" Shell 99?

[FaisalJ]

So, car is at MRC at the moment...Was going through a few things over the phone and got onto petrol.

MRC stated a preference for Tesco 99 over Shell 99, with one reason being that they think some unscrupulous Shell stations (which are actually franchises) are supplying 95RON as 99RON!!!

They say they had a case of a turbo'd Audi (I forget which) making 40bhp more after draining shell "98" and replacing with tesco 99. Bonkers.

Anyone else come across this?

[neilparf]

Same here - Doug did runs with Tesco and Shell and Tesco99 produced better results.

I think genuine Vbstrd burns slightly cleaner than Tesco, but I always feel Tesco99 gives me a bit more - it may be placebo but either way...

I can't help but think that certain Shell franchises may do that - my local one seems to produce consistent results vs Tesco99 with their Vbstard...

[doodlebug]

VPower is 99.....

[bam_bam]

Mine was mapped with Tesco99 so it's always a tank of that, Vbastard at a stretch.

[doodlebug]

Stations are about equidistant, but Shell is normally a tad cheaper and I reckon it'll have better cleaning agents of which TESCO are less likely to have the R&D. Dunno who produces their brew, though.

[FaisalJ]

VPower is 99.....

You're right! I must be thinking of the old optimax. Edited the subject, thanks for pointing out.

I think I'll stick to Tesco 99 for a while and see how I go. The car is done at MRC for now but there were a few follow ups for a couple of months down the line, so will see how it tests then after only running on Tesco 99 (went in today with a full tank of Shell).

[davers6]

All comes out the same terminal

[neilparf]

Mine was mapped with Tesco99 so it's always a tank of that, Vbastard at a stretch.

Likewise, mine is mapped with Tesco99 so that is my preference...

[doodlebug]

All comes out the same terminal

Well technically there is more than one distillation plant, but I know what you mean.

[PetrolDave]

All comes out the same terminal

+1

I work next door to an Esso depot which is connected by pipeline to the Fawley refinery on the other side of Southampton Water. And we see tankers from ALL the major oil companies and the supermarkets coming out of the depot next door...

[davers6]

I'm a tanker driver we all line up together every day when you load there's premium unleaded and super that's it
I'm in the same que as shell and tesco drivers. Don't believe the hype.


"MRC stated a preference for Tesco 99 over Shell 99, with one reason being that they think some unscrupulous Shell stations (which are actually franchises) are supplying 95RON as 99RON!!! "

I think that's bollocks as the garage owner would have to have the tanker driver on board and I'd refuse to fill the wrong tank as it would be my job

[neilparf]

I'm a tanker driver we all line up together every day when you load there's premium unleaded and super that's it
I'm in the same que as she'll and tesco drivers. Don't believe the hype.


MRC stated a preference for Tesco 99 over Shell 99, with one reason being that they think some unscrupulous Shell stations (which are actually franchises) are supplying 95RON as 99RON!!!

I think that's bollocks as the garage owner would have to have the tanker driver on board and I'd refuse to fill the wrong tank as it would be my job

This.

[SuprSi]

t they think some unscrupulous Shell stations (which are actually franchises) are supplying 95RON as 99RON!!!

I've come across one station near me where I can pretty much guarantee this is happening, or the fuel is contaminated somehow (Thomas lewis way, southampton), my car ran like a dog after filling up with 'vpower' there. But most times I've used shell the car's been happy and I can't tell it apart from tesco. I generally use tesco monumentum, but I'd imagine shell is probably better as it's 'proper' 99 octane instead of 95 boosted with ethanol. Plus you have the friction and cleaning additives.

Swings and roundabouts though, I've heard the octane rating of the vpower will reduce over time, but then the ethanol can separate out of the tesco fuel if left long enough. I reckon the best thing to do is use a popular garage which will probably have the freshest fuel.

[SuprSi]

I'm a tanker driver we all line up together every day when you load there's premium unleaded and super that's it
I'm in the same que as shell and tesco drivers. Don't believe the hype.

No, you're talking bollocks now. Vpower's octane rating is boosted with various petroleum based additives, momentum is boosted with ethanol alone.

And the rest of the 'premium unleaded' fuels are sh1t. Have you ever filled with BP Ultimate, Esso 98, Texaco 97 etc etc, they're all crap. Yet according to your theory they should all be the same.

[S4WON]

Not necessarily... Additives suggest they could be added after or in the tanker.