Diesel variations

[Aethelric]

We recently drove the motorhome from Cornwall to Lancashire to see relations. I filled up at a Tesco garage before leaving Cornwall. I was a bit disappointed to only get about 27mpg on the way up as I usually get a bit over 30mpg. I thought I may have to put it in a garage when I got back.
We filled up (well almost - we put £99 in) at a Tesco garage in Lancashire, then topped up with another £20s worth from a BP garage before heading back. We did the same speed and took the same route and the weather conditions were similar but on the way back we got 32mpg. There was not much wind on either day, so all I can put it down too is the fuel.

Has anyone noticed any differences in fuel consumption due to diesel from different sources?

 

[mistericeman]

We recently drove the motorhome from Cornwall to Lancashire to see relations. I filled up at a Tesco garage before leaving Cornwall. I was a bit disappointed to only get about 27mpg on the way up as I usually get a bit over 30mpg. I thought I may have to put it in a garage when I got back.
We filled up (well almost - we put £99 in) at a Tesco garage in Lancashire, then topped up with another £20s worth from a BP garage before heading back. We did the same speed and took the same route and the weather conditions were similar but on the way back we got 32mpg. There was not much wind on either day, so all I can put it down too is the fuel.

Has anyone noticed any differences in fuel consumption due to diesel from different sources?

Yes there ARE differences in fuels from different places (petrol stations)
Most branded stations will have extra additives added (foaming/detergents etc)
Although they come from the same tanks/refineries tanks.

That said they all have to conform to set standards so fuel performance wise there isn't that much difference....

I doubt most of us can carry out tests in day to day driving that will return accurate enough figures to detect a difference of A few MPG.

 

[Scotia]

Yes have heard good reports but using cherry ( seriously) guy I know ran out of fuel and was filled up with red diesel by a farmer who came to the rescue. His egr valve was also stuck open and by 15 miles up the road the warning light had gone out and he also noted better mpg by the time he had to refill from a full tank.

 

[trevskoda]

All the stations here draw from the same big tanks in Belfast docks here, fuel consumption will alter with air temp slight inclines wind and standing road water, not forgetting any big fatties on board.

 

[witzend]

We recently drove the motorhome from Cornwall to Lancashire We did the same speed and took the same route and the weather conditions were similar but on the way back we got 32mpg. There was not much wind on either day, so all I can put it down too is the fuel.

I always find it easier coming home as its down hill most of the way most places are further up than Cornwall

 

[Aethelric]

Thanks for the replies. The drop from 32mpg and 27mpg costs the same as a diesel price jump from £1.50 to £1.78 per litre. Both fill ups were from Tesco, apart from a little top up from a BP garage. The drive up must have cost me and extra £13-£14.
I wonder if it was anything to do with the change to winter diesel - this is supposed to happen in November but probably varies around the country.

 

[Aethelric]

I always find it easier coming home as its down hill most of the way most places are further up than Cornwall

I just knew someone would say that. Usually coming to Cornwall is slightly worse as the prevailing wind is from the South West.

 

[colinm]

What where the dates?

 

[trevskoda]

What where the dates?

Californian.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Thanks for the replies. The drop from 32mpg and 27mpg costs the same as a diesel price jump from £1.50 to £1.78 per litre. Both fill ups were from Tesco, apart from a little top up from a BP garage. The drive up must have cost me and extra £13-£14.
I wonder if it was anything to do with the change to winter diesel - this is supposed to happen in November but probably varies around the country.

I would seriously doubt the accuracy of the dispensing pump, there are some that are a bit more dishonest than other when it comes to the fiddling the gauge to a lower amount. There are accuracy limits on how well the pumps measure the fuel dispensed. It may be that the pump has got a wear problem and that can result in an amount of fuel bypassing the pump internals making a lesser amount come out. That and the increased costs of the supplies can make a lot of %%%% differences.
I just knew someone would say that. Usually coming to Cornwall is slightly worse as the prevailing wind is from the South West.

 

[Wooie1958]

Members may laugh and joke but there is some truth in that.

I always find that the journey from Lancashire down to Dover for the ferry over to France always returns better economy ( by 3 - 4 MPG ) than the journey back to Lancashire from Dover.

Both ways start from the relevant Morrisons i.e. Leyland and Canterbury with a full tank.

The figures are worked out with brim to brim fills and the return journey is an exact reverse on the first one down there with both ways being at daft o`clock to minimse traffic.

 

[jagmanx]

It's a Mystery ?
I have tried the premium grade diesel but not sufficiently to report any differences with any conviction.
My personal take on it is that
1 It MAY be a good idea to use superior fuel every so oftem (1x a month or every 5th fill up
The pereived benefit being that "it is good for the engine"

2 Any increase in mpg ( eg 10%) is countered by the extra cost

So I will continue with this policy.
It is also not always possible to get "superdiesel"

If interested in better engine performance/mpg other solutions are possible
I did have a Tunit Plugin device which seemed to improve mpg.
It failed and I will not bother with a replacement.
I get very close to 30mpg anyway and quite happy with the "grunt"
Renault 2.5 Dci "tugging" a 3500kg low profile coachbuilt

 

[Harrytherid]

I generally get better economy driving away from Cornwall than driving home to Cornwall and almost always put it down to wind and I buy my fuel from Morrisons or ASDA, usually and generally get 30 MPG ish. Never notice any difference in power. My MOT guy tells me to put in top grade fuel occasionally but I never bother; too tight, I suppose. Mine is a Fiat 130 multijet with 3500kg low profile coach built and on the rare occasions I want it to shift, it always seems to do just that.

 

[maingate]

It's a Mystery ?
I have tried the premium grade diesel but not sufficiently to report any differences with any conviction.
My personal take on it is that
1 It MAY be a good idea to use superior fuel every so oftem (1x a month or every 5th fill up
The pereived benefit being that "it is good for the engine"

2 Any increase in mpg ( eg 10%) is countered by the extra cost

So I will continue with this policy.
It is also not always possible to get "superdiesel"

If interested in better engine performance/mpg other solutions are possible
I did have a Tunit Plugin device which seemed to improve mpg.
It failed and I will not bother with a replacement.
I get very close to 30mpg anyway and quite happy with the "grunt"
Renault 2.5 Dci "tugging" a 3500kg low profile coachbuilt

My Tunit box developed a fault and they repaired it free of charge. Excellent service from Tunit.

 

[Deleted member 25160]

I always find that the journey from Lancashire down to Dover for the ferry over to France always returns better economy ( by 3 - 4 MPG ) than the journey back to Lancashire from Dover.

I'll do that too, but I think it's psychological. On the way out, we're in holiday mode wombling down to the coast with plenty of time spare for a ferry in the morning; returning, the trip is almost over, we just want to get back home and thus drive harder...

 

[Aethelric]

Mine is a Autosleeper Nuevo coach built with all the aerodynamic properties of a house brick. I usually keep the speed to around 60mph on the motorway and expect around 31-33mpg. Best I managed was 36, over 300 miles but there was a very strong tail wind. When I have been in a hurry, she seems happy to keep at 70mph all day but the consumption drops to around 27. In the past I have normally got the diesel from Asda, but this time I filled up at Tesco.

I have noticed that the price difference between the local BP garage and Tesco was reduced considerably and is now only about 2p per litre. I'll avoid our local Tesco for a while.

 

[Makzine]

I always thought if you have to ask how much it does to the gallon you can't afford to run it

 

[Caz]

I always find it easier coming home as its down hill most of the way most places are further up than Cornwall

I concur. I always get better MPG coming home from Scotland than I do going up there 'cos it's uphill.

 

[Wooie1958]

I always thought if you have to ask how much it does to the gallon you can't afford to run it

The main reason i do it is that if there is a problem starting with the engine it normally shows with a drop in the MPG.

 

[TR5]

How did you come to the conclusion of how many MPG you got. Two tank fills is not an accurate indication, and if you rely on what the dashboard 'computer' states, these are notorious for being inaccurate. Over 20,000 miles mine has told different to accurately kept logs of every re-fuel, taking the mileage the vehicle has covered, from new.