Road Fuel (Non-Boaty)

[Deleted User YDKXO]

A few people I know have taken their motorbikes across the Channel and invariably report that their bikes perform better and use less fuel when filled with foreign petrol. Somebody has suggested that its because UK petrol has a lower octane rating than the foreign stuff and, furthermore, the petrol that Shell market as Optima and BP as Ultimate and for which they charge an extra couple of pence a litre is in fact sold as standard petrol in Europe
Is this total bollox or is it true that, not only do we have the most expensive fuel in Europe but also the worst?

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[Will_M]

I do know that UK marine diesel is a lower quality than the garage forecourt stuff, which in turn is not as good a quality (burn rates) as can be found else where in Europe.

Interestingly enough, again else were in Europe, their marine diesel vs. garage forecourt diesel does not differ in quality.

So chances are our UK petrol is sh1te.

 

[adarcy]

I believe our "super" LRP is 97 octane whereas on the continong it is 98. You'd only be likely to notice an imporvement (small) if the ignition + injection setup had knock sensors and thus could take advantaage of it.
Regular unleaded (which is what a lot of bikes are run on) is supposedly the same.
Equally, it could be the sensation of better performance on their v much better roads and better consumption because of less traffic jams etc

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[Questor]

I have heard this before, and also understand that Euro diesel is "proper" diesel and not this low sulphur stuff we get here, which knackers our fuel pumps.

But as I mentioned some time back, tests I did on my car and a van (with mixed driving) a few years ago consistently showed the following :

Car using supermarket petrol 220 - 230 miles per tank (20 gallon tank!!)
Car using Shell petrol 280 - 300 miles per tank

Van using supermarket diesel 300 miles per tank
Van using Shell diesel 400 miles per tank

Therefore it paid to fork out a few bob more, and get loads more miles in return.

Re any extra performance, I can't comment, but I always use optimax in my outboard when competing in the World Tender Racing Championships.

As I said, I did these "tests" a while ago, so whilst things may have changed, I wouldn't know as I haven't bought supermarket stuff since!

R

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[andyball]

3 grades of unleaded available in a german mway fuel stop when there last week....3 different colours on the pump, as well as diesel

Re. performance/economy....even my 1987 renault van (rated from new for ulp, no knock sensors,no injection) runs fine on cheap unleaded, but runs slightly better & higher mpg on super or whatever, tho' not now enough to justify the extra cost, although for some years it did work out cheaper to buy the higher octane.

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[Birdseye]

the increased economy and better performance is most likely to be the result of less traffic, better roads, lots of wine and being on hols - and no speed cameras!



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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Not necessarily. A higher average speed could also lead to higher fuel consumption.

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