Safe Speed Forums

I've filled up with Shell Diesel Extra on a couple of occasions and have noticed a definite improvement (I'm getting 60mpg as opposed to the usual 53/54 mpg). It's got detergents and a higher cetane (?) rating than normal diesel, and is not an extra cost option (other than being in Shell stations rather than supermarkets).

Thing is, it's not available everywhere. Does anyone know where I might find out where it's available ... I've emailed Shell retail but as yet had no response - any clues?

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

I must say, I have had similar comments from customers.

Now, I am a jaded old mechanic with a 1984 VW transporter diesel and a 1963 Land rover (I have **NO** interest in modern vehicles! I know *exactly* what sort of nightmare they are to fix!)

But, I have heard this from customers! The *Special* fuels can deliver considerable benefits!

The point is that modern engine management systems are adaptive so that if you give them a *superior* fuel they will (After a couple of tankfulls) adapt to them and deliver the goods!

Generally, the best results can be had from *performance* vehicles, but even things like Ford Focus TDcI's seem to benefit (Well, I suppose, the TDcI *is*115 BHP from a 1.8 engine! I guess thats performance My 1.6L VW is 55BHP!! )

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"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Not seen this locally. Tend to use either Esso, (loyalty; they pay my pension), or Waitrose, (cost; 'cos I'm on a pension). However, will see if the area Shell S/Stn retails it and give the Fabia vRS a treat if they do.

Will report back soonest.

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"Experience isn't everything - but it's most of it".

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

BP do an "Ultimate" Diesel but it's super unleaded+ price. My finance director would have kittens if I started putting that in.

But this Shell stuff's the same price, eh...

Shell Diesel Extra FAQ on the Shell website.

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

When Shell Diesel extra came out I ran my works Kangoo dCi on it exclusively for about 3 months doing about 1300 miles a week, and can confidently say I achieved absolutely zero extra MPG. I always used to reset the milage each refuel and it was exactly the same before on average.

that's a bigger sample size than my test. What were you using prior to the extra?

I was using mainly supermarket diesel, I didn't think there was as much of a difference between diesel fuels as there was with petrol?

I definitely have a difference, and my wife filled up her 2.9CDTi Kia Sedona with extra this week and reported that it felt a little more sprightly than usual, again compared to supermarket diesel.

I'll do a few more journeys with the extra fuel and then swap back to see if the reverse happens, it may be just a psyschological reaction to the changed fuel?

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Just the normal Shell diesel, however during the test I made a point of only refuelling at garages that stocked Extra. I was only given a Shell fuel card. Of course it may depend on vehicle type but just from my own expierence over approximately 36 tankfulls I couldn't see any significant difference. However I only used one vehicle exclusively so thats a flaw in my test I guess. It also maybe of note that I left that job in October 2005 and now no longer drive for a living so it maybe possible that the recipe for DieselExtra may have changed.



Quite possible, if you want to think your getting extra MPGs they you may sub-consciously be driving more economically. Combine that with perhaps less stop-start journeys on a particular tank and you could explain the difference away perhaps. However you know your car better then my so if you convinced your getting better MPGs then go with it!

Personally I always avoid supermarket fuel, but thats only based on anecdotal evidence of poorer economy and performance. I dont think there is any rigerous tests to prove this. You could try running it for awhile on Texaco or Esso fuel or something to assertain if the difference is between Supermaket and Shell or between normal diesel and DieselExtra. Of course that still doesn't discount the psycology element entirely.

Can't help thinking that, as you say, you need a 'control wife' using standard diesel, in order to rule out psychological effects.

the drawback with that would be the "control mother in law" that comes as part of the package ... I never could understand bigamy, why would anyone want more in-laws?

Anyway, Shell Retail have sent me a list of the stations that have been converted to sell it, if anyone wants it send me a PM and I'll forward it on (unless Paul says it's OK for me to upload it somewhere to the forum as an attachment? Can you do that? It's an excel spreadsheet, zipped for size).

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

They certainly do, the main one being that red only costs 50p per litre

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

Just speaking from personal experience on this one. I aint being prescriptive.

Have been using BP Ultimate diesel for about 3 months now, and - to begin with - there was no discernable difference.

However.

After about 6 weeks, my mileage per tank was noticeably improved. Where previously I'd be looking to fill up at the 490 mile mark, I'm now comfortably getting 530 miles per tank!!! Best so far is 572 miles on our trip to Nairn from Salop.

Had to use "scutter" diesel on Monday, and I'm half full on the tank with 291 miles showing. On Ultimate, I'd be over the 300 mile mark.

As I say, just my personal experience.

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Simon

Have been using Tesco diesel and found no difference between that nad standard Esso Diesel but is 4p a litre cheaper so have gone back to Tesco's and am trying Millers, I seem to be getting about 3-5mpg better than before, is this the Millers or that I'm now past 10k on teh car and it's a bit looser ?? Watch this space.

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

http://www.wildcrafts.co.uk

The difference there being BP ulitmate is a premuim fuel that is charged extra where as Shell Diesel Extra is not. I bet if Shell found simliar, testable increases in economy they would be marketing it as a premium fuel, rather then the no extra cost it is at the moment.

It just seems like a clever marketing gimmick from Shell.

I quite like BP Ultimate. I run the works van on it when I get to drive it, as do most of the other engineers.

It's a VW Caddy that's a few years old and has a pathetic 64bhp engine.

We see no additional economy but that's mainly because the extra performance is used in thrashing the engine to get up to speed a little quicker. Ultimate does improve this and makes driving the bloody thing slightly more tolerable.

Caddy SDI....poor chap.

Go and buy a used similar shape Caddy TDI with 90hp and 150 lb ft.

They're the business, wheelspin city....

We've had four at work including my last van. We had one SDI; everyone hated it.

Yup, we had a TDI as a loaner, and when we got the SDI back, immediately send it back as faulty. We were told that nothing was wrong, they're just shit.

LOL!

Anyone who's driven both these vans knows just what we're talking about!

Similar experiences on both BP ultimate and older SDI Golfs.

Transits and Fiesta Diesel vans seem to run smoother and better on it than on BP standard.

SDI Golf - worked for a firm with two - one a racing machine - other 70 flat out after mile run - VW excuse - "we can't play with the electronics" ---me - my bargepole aint long enogh to touch a VW diesel now.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

The funniest part is when they had the TDI, the fuel consumption was drastically lower as it didn't get ragged so much.

That's what you get for penny pinching when buying the thing, I guess.