Fuel brands and octanes [Poll included]

What fuel do you use in your Z?

  • E5

    Votes: 31 58.5%

  • E10

    Votes: 14 26.4%

  • BP

    Votes: 8 15.1%

  • Shell

    Votes: 21 39.6%

  • Other named Brand

    Votes: 12 22.6%

  • Supermarket

    Votes: 27 50.9%
  • Total voters
    53
S

Skysurfer

New member
Hi folks,

I'm interested to know what everyone's opinions on fuel options are, personally, I only ever fill up at Shell or BP.

When I bought my Z4, the dealer took me to an Esso garage to fill up the tank. That rankled for a couple of weeks until I got to fill up at my local Shell.

I'd never really paid attention to the octane question and only ever opted for E10 but now I have a Z4 I'm not sure if I should be using E5 either a) all the time, b) occasionally, or c) ever.

The poll itself is to provide a visual representation, so I've made it multi-choice but please do let me us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments.

Edit to add: The Zed is my daily driver, if that makes any difference.
 
If I don't plan on using the Zed for more than a month I put in E5, Shell or Tesco.

When using the Zed I put anything in it.
 
Got to be honest these poles have been done to death and are pretty meaningless.

I was a shell officionado for years but then when prices soared I reevaluated.

Ive used Tesco 99 momentum because it is essentially the same stuff on the Esso forecourt.

Currently, Shell 99 Super is the same price in my area, so I've been using it again. Personally, I have felt no difference in my car so far roughly 5 tanks in.

Just a warm feeling from the marketing that its "better" for the car and will keep it cleaner.

My M has done less than 2500 miles in the last 2 years so my minimal milage doesn't worry me at all.

At the end of the day, all of the fuels meet British standards which is all most people need to know and that is why its there. No fuel is "Sh*t" and all modern cars are designed to run on everything we have. The UK has some of the best standards on fuel in the world so it really isnt a concern.

I ran a Mini Clubman JCW for 7 years on supermarket fuel, didn't matter what, just whatever was cheapest. I did 100k and didn't have a single issue.

At the end of the day for most the Z is a second or third car and milage vs ownership time is small so for most people it will make no difference what so ever.

Something to think about is that 97/99 sometimes sits a while. I filled up at my local Esso/tesco on 97 a couple of years back and the car ran like absolute rubbish. That garage obviously wasnt selling much and it had been sat for a while. Put some Super from another garage and it started behaving again.

I also prefer 99 if i have the option, BP I think only had 97 as their most premium fuel for a while. Might have changed.
 
The 2.5i I ran on anything I could get my hands on, running it on E5 vs E10 didn't make any noticeable difference. The 3.0si I've been putting E5 in where possible, but will also throw half a tank of E10 in if I can't get anywhere. Mostly Morrisons Premium which is E5 97 Octane.

I read somewhere around the time I got the 3.0si the fuel sensor on this generation doesn't adjust that quickly to mix changes, so its better to be consistent for a few tanks/miles than switch back & forth between the two. I've not run the 3.0si on E10 long enough to know if E5 is making a difference or not, I'm happy to just spend the money on it and enjoy the car.
 
Started as an avid Shell Super user. Ended mostly using Tesco Super. Tried pretty much all of them in between. There really ain't much difference in the real world.
 
caius said:
I read somewhere around the time I got the 3.0si the fuel sensor on this generation doesn't adjust that quickly to mix changes, so its better to be consistent for a few tanks/miles than switch back & forth between the two. I've not run the 3.0si on E10 long enough to know if E5 is making a difference or not, I'm happy to just spend the money on it and enjoy the car.
Click to expand...

It takes 2-3 tanks for it to adjust. Best to try and keep the same octane.
 
Distilled unicorn tears add at least 0.001 HP and give me an additional 30cm per gallon so I won't run the Alpina on anything else....
 
Whatever is cheapest.

Petrol all comes from the same place in the UK and I seriously doubt that anyone (especially supermarkets who buy the vast majority) have a special 'recipe' for whatever gets poured into their forecourt tanks. Pays your money and take your choice.
 
Skysurfer said:
I'd never really paid attention to the octane question and only ever opted for E10 but now I have a Z4 I'm not sure if I should be using E5 either a) all the time, b) occasionally, or c) ever.
Click to expand...
You do whatever makes you happy. The car won't give a shite. :wink:
 
Pondrew said:
Skysurfer said:
I'd never really paid attention to the octane question and only ever opted for E10 but now I have a Z4 I'm not sure if I should be using E5 either a) all the time, b) occasionally, or c) ever.
Click to expand...
You do whatever makes you happy. The car won't give a shite. :wink:
Click to expand...
Cars won't mind but some other equipment does - I have a plate compactor that specifies that it needs Super Unleaded with no Exx marking as the Exx fuels contain Ethanol and the rubber parts can't tolerate Ethanol

If you're SORNing your car over winter, it's a good idea to brim fill with Super Unleaded with zero Ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic and absorbs water from the air (even with normal fuel, brim filling minimises the fuel/air interface area).

NB In long term storage, it's possible for the water content to reach the point where it separates from the fuel. The water will then sit at the bottom of the fuel tank, which is where the fuel pickup is, and we all know that engines don't burn a water/air mixture very well. Some people use fuel stabilisers but brim filling should negate the need other than for very long term storage.
 
tomscott said:
Got to be honest these poles have been done to death and are pretty meaningless.
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Maybe so, but I'm not here trying to change anyone's opinions but my own. As it stands right now, there's a majority for Supermarket E5 (which at a guess is Tesco 99 Momentum), so my meter is moving already.
tomscott said:
At the end of the day, all of the fuels meet British standards which is all most people need to know and that is why its there. No fuel is "Sh*t" and all modern cars are designed to run on everything we have. The UK has some of the best standards on fuel in the world so it really isnt a concern.
Click to expand...
I hear you on this, but, if I'm not mistaken, there have been occasions where there has been contaminated fuel put out to the pumps that have caused massive issues. It happened to me once in a few years ago; my local Morrisons came under fire from a load of people because there was an issue with the fuel.
tomscott said:
At the end of the day for most the Z is a second or third car and milage vs ownership time is small so for most people it will make no difference what so ever.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've updated my post to point out that this is my daily driver.
 
My e34 M5s and Z4MC used to be run on Costco super most of the time, as it was Green Energy's 99 RON stuff, and cheaper than anywhere else.

This has changed now, so it's Tesco Momentum, Shell Optimax/V-Power/Nitro+ (depending on whatever name they're currently using), or the highest I can find at one of the 'big brands'.

The naming is a bit different in Germany, as even 95 RON is called 'Super', so it would be Aral SuperPlus 98, Shell V-Power, or ED's SuperPlus 98 in Germany and Aral Ultimate 102 (if I'm on the 'Ring).

I don't use normal unleaded from any source...unless I have no choice, and then it will simply be enough to get me to the next garage that has 98+ stuff.
 
PerryGunn said:
Cars won't mind but some other equipment does - I have a plate compactor that specifies that it needs Super Unleaded with no Exx marking as the Exx fuels contain Ethanol and the rubber parts can't tolerate Ethanol
Click to expand...
That's cos the engine technology in plant and garden machinery is from the 1920s.
 
Skysurfer said:
:thumbsup:

Is 0 ethanol the equivalent of aviation fuel?
Click to expand...

No aviation fuel is very very different from car fuel..higher vapour pressure capability , high lead content..the lead content will kill any cat…and generally do bad stuff to your engine oil..apart from the fact it’s twice the price..great !
 
Entirely depends on the engine in your Zed..non turbo charged almost any fuel is good..unless it’s an S54 or remapped to exploit higher octane..small benefit to non turbo charged with the higher deterrent content of premium fuel ..but takes a long time to take effect..

Turbo charged direct injection fuels with detergents help a bit more ..especially with the injectors ..the octane rating on stock engines matter not a lot..

If you’ve tuned your turbo to exploit higher octane then of course higher octane is ‘needed’..pity no 102 octane stuff here..
 
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