Grrrrrr · Sep 22, 2014

A few months ago I was feeling a little plush and filled (from almost empty) my diesel P38 with the posh diesel from a petrol station associated with a large stripy cat. The next day the car stalled every time I dipped the clutch. After that it ran fine and eventually I thought no more of it.

On Sunday night I visited the same garage and once again decided to treat the old girl and filled her with the posh diesel (from almost empty). Once again she stalled at every opportunity the next day but since then has run fine.

Coincidence?

I think the posh diesel has a higher biodiesel content? Or I guess it could be water in the posh-diesel tanks at that particular garage? I've used posh-diesel from a mollusc related petrol station with no issues whatsoever so why would the tiger stuff be any different?

Anyone else had any issues with the more-expensive diesel, tiger-brand or otherwise?

stopover · Sep 22, 2014

Have no experience of p38 diesels. But on the 90s etc there was a water drain on the fuel filter, check your handbook to see how to check this if available on a p38? I would be interested as I have had a p38 diesel in with a similar problem??? The garage maybe dispensing some water but it could be the bio???

ps running almost empty is not a good idea.

P38Penguin · Sep 22, 2014

Try filling up on 1/4 or 1/2, as water is heavier than petrol it'll sink to the bottom and get sucked up, if it does it again then you know that station has a water issue.

mick

Hairy · Sep 22, 2014

I run my DSE on the good stuff and have never had a problem with it.

Bix · Sep 22, 2014

I run my P38 from an outlet related to killing a sponge who lives in the sea and one which also involves large cats. Neither gives me any problems. Never used supermarket special in my P38 after a bad experience with my old van while using diesel associated with chefs who have a lisp and enjoy tge odd bout of nudity.

dogsbody · Sep 22, 2014

I use Tesco - never had an issue.
Bristol to Perth and return fairly regularly
about 28mpg

biketeacherdave · Sep 22, 2014

bio would not do this but water in the fuel would check your water drain and or use a different fuel station

wammers · Sep 22, 2014

Sainsburys derv in mine no problems at all. The expensive stuff is just that, expensive stuff i am afraid. I suppose Esso, Shell etc have to pay for their advertising somehow. Road diesel has to meet certain standards. When those standards are met that's as good as it gets i am afraid, the tiger or mollusc in your tank makes little or no difference. Except to your wallet.

The Mad Hat Man · Sep 22, 2014

problems with Poole Tescos apparently,

TCubed · Sep 22, 2014

wammers said:
Sainsburys derv in mine no problems at all. The expensive stuff is just that, expensive stuff i am afraid. I suppose Esso, Shell etc have to pay for their advertising somehow. Road diesel has to meet certain standards. When those standards are met that's as good as it gets i am afraid, the tiger or mollusc in your tank makes little or no difference. Except to your wallet.

Not entirely true, someone I knew did a project a couple of years ago using high-performance liquid chromatography to analyse the contents of different petrol brands, and there were a lot more products in the supermarket brands (and Jet's) than BP or Shell.
Now whether this actually makes a difference in motor performance is another matter but as of 2011 they were there.

Edit: just noticed we're discussing diesel.. sorry

(Although it might be the same)

matt1987 · Sep 22, 2014

Have always use supermarket fuel and ive never had any problems

wammers · Sep 22, 2014

TCubed said:
Not entirely true, someone I knew did a project a couple of years ago using high-performance liquid chromatography to analyse the contents of different petrol brands, and there were a lot more products in the supermarket brands (and Jet's) than BP or Shell.
Now whether this actually makes a difference in motor performance is another matter but as of 2011 they were there.

Edit: just noticed we're discussing diesel.. sorry (Although it might be the same)

Unleaded petrol is ****e anyway. We know there are additives in fuel these days, there has to be to make it half usable since they removed the lead.

Grrrrrr · Sep 23, 2014

TCubed said:
Not entirely true, someone I knew did a project a couple of years ago using high-performance liquid chromatography to analyse the contents of different petrol brands, and there were a lot more products in the supermarket brands (and Jet's) than BP or Shell.
Now whether this actually makes a difference in motor performance is another matter but as of 2011 they were there.

Edit: just noticed we're discussing diesel.. sorry (Although it might be the same)

Interesting all the same. I know someone who will only put Shell in his tank. I just kind of assumed he was a bit obsessive. The missus put posh-Shell in once (it came with a free Lego toy) and it did seem to run a bit better. Might have been my imagination though.

Only put half a tank in. I'll keep an eye on it and maybe one-day if I'm feeling flush I'll risk another quarter of a tank of expensive stuff.

Filter a good shout, although the fact it has been fine for a few days now makes me think whatever was in there might have passed on through by now.

Grrrrrr · May 1, 2015

On reflection I think maybe the issues were caused by a tired FIP. I think the posh diesel had a lower viscosity leading to lower fuel pressure in the tired pump.

So, if your FIP is old and tired then stick to the thick stuff!

andtee · May 2, 2015

if you run the tank empty you get the change that some rubbish is entering the system!
could be blocking the diesel filter ( did you change that recently ?)

had several dse used every brand never had problems but never run really empty

donp38 · May 4, 2015

This is a good question, and one i was asked the other day.

I agree with Petrol you can get a higher octane but with diesel, i can't see any betterment.
Anyone with the answer?

Datatek · May 4, 2015

donp38 said:
This is a good question, and one i was asked the other day.

I agree with Petrol you can get a higher octane but with diesel, i can't see any betterment.
Anyone with the answer?

There do seem to be variations, I almost always use supermarket fuel and get a small difference in consumption depending which supermarket I use. France may be different of course.
I noted no measurable difference using Total Excellum compared to the better super market stuff, I did notice the 20 cent a litre price difference though

ukadamwest · May 4, 2015

I'd be ****ed at paying £1.50 per litre for water

Bet it's not even highland spring !

Dopey · May 4, 2015

There is a drain plug at the bottom of the fuel filter,

Grrrrrr · May 5, 2015

I think the posh stuff contains more biodiesel. However, the posh stuff at Shell did seem to run smoother and we've never had any issues with it. Missus filled up at them a few times for some reason.

I normally use the Esso standard stuff. Esso supreme stuff seems to cause difficulties. So, could be Shell puts in some other stuff as well. Pity I haven't got access to any chromatography kit anymore or a mass spectrometer.

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