Here in Mackay, the price difference between diesel and petrol peaked at 35c per litre but appears to have now stabilized at (an average of) 22c, which makes diesel 12.3% more expensive than petrol.
With too much time on my hands, I checked out current prices, (combined) fuel consumption figures and servicing costs of the diesel and petrol models of various utes, 4X4s and SUVs.
Turbochargers, on petrol engines, seem to be common and have resulted in lower (combined) fuel consumption and higher torque outputs.
If I were in the market for a new ute, 4X4 or SUV, I'd go for a petrol model. I've calculated that, based on my current annual travel distances, I'd need to keep a diesel vehicle for at least 8 years to 'break even' with the cost of buying and owning a petrol model, and I've never kept a vehicle for more than 5 years.
My rationale only applies to purchasing a new vehicle. Even in these 'covid tax' times, there are still some bargains to be found amongst secondhand vehicles and I'm more likely to service a secondhand vehicle myself, significantly reducing service costs.
Whenarewethere said
07:01 AM Mar 7, 2023
Our Land Rover is petrol. No issues getting petrol in remote areas except sometimes getting 98. The car will take 91, it has a Ford engine, the car was designed by Ford as they owned LR at the time, but I always try to get 98 where possible for the extra range, did this also for our previous car. So in effect doesn't actually cost anymore.
Next car will be electric, have installed 3 phase in the garage in 2016 so ready for that, but still very happy with our 10 year old car. Perfectly reliable so no point replacing it.
The fuel price cycle is down again shortly so will also fill up all my jerry cans while filling up the car.
Mariner30 said
08:19 AM Mar 7, 2023
Mein wrote:
Here in Mackay, the price difference between diesel and petrol peaked at 35c per litre but appears to have now stabilized at (an average of) 22c, which makes diesel 12.3% more expensive than petrol.
With too much time on my hands, I checked out current prices, (combined) fuel consumption figures and servicing costs of the diesel and petrol models of various utes, 4X4s and SUVs.
Turbochargers, on petrol engines, seem to be common and have resulted in lower (combined) fuel consumption and higher torque outputs.
If I were in the market for a new ute, 4X4 or SUV, I'd go for a petrol model. I've calculated that, based on my current annual travel distances, I'd need to keep a diesel vehicle for at least 8 years to 'break even' with the cost of buying and owning a petrol model, and I've never kept a vehicle for more than 5 years.
My rationale only applies to purchasing a new vehicle. Even in these 'covid tax' times, there are still some bargains to be found amongst secondhand vehicles and I'm more likely to service a secondhand vehicle myself, significantly reducing service costs.
The arguments re diesel costs versus petrol costs is really, really old news,
I remember reading the for and against in 1970's 4WD magazines, when early Landcruiser Troopies etc etc started to become popular in recreational 4wd circles.
Your post is almost the same,
I'll mention that l have never bought a new vehicle...the depreciation driving out the caryard scares the crap out of me,
Even though l could buy a new vehicle if l wished ( apart from a brand new $ 200,000 plus luxury 4WD.
I don't need to have a new vehicle costing that much sitting in the driveway most of the time these days.
As well as the 23 ft boat and caravan...and the 15 ft trout boat...
We ( wife and l. ) have probably only got one vehicle each left in us...apart from the last drive in the hearse...
I'm not sure either vehicle will be a EV.
mixo said
08:46 AM Mar 7, 2023
My 100 series diesel landcruiser aint going anywhere. Does the job, diesel is everywhere.
I am not buying a new landcruiser at 100K plus just to sit there for when I go on a trip.
Plan is to go electric(city car) and pump the money I save in petrol to buy diesel to feed the 100...Win win
Let us hope they don't cut diesel supplies earlier than they have stated(keeping an eye out on the telsa Semi)
Mixo
Mariner30 said
09:33 AM Mar 7, 2023
mixo wrote:
My 100 series diesel landcruiser aint going anywhere. Does the job, diesel is everywhere.
Let us hope they don't cut diesel supplies earlier than they have stated(keeping an eye out on the telsa Semi)
Mixo
The federal govt has said several times there are no plans to cut diesel use etc etc
As you have said, diesel is everywhere.
The entire country runs on diesel fuel/engines etc.
I think some city based folk who have no connection to rural/ regional areas have little knowledge of the huge size of diesel powered operations in sooo many different areas besides road transport users.
( we have diesel and petrol vehicles, diesel and petrolboats, all our adult off spring use diesel powered vehicles/ tractors and boats in their daily work lives )
I drove diesel work vehicles for 30 years plus,
I cannot see that huge transport fleet being replaced by EV models any time soon.
mixo said
09:42 AM Mar 7, 2023
Govt says many things and changes it mind on a whim...
EV's are going to disrupt what we know and how it's done.First, it will be cars, then trucks, and then everything else.No one can predict how fast or slow this will happen.
Always keep an eye out for what is happening out there.
woolman said
10:06 AM Mar 7, 2023
Diesel engines thrive on working hard , not the same can be said about petrol engines.
Neil
Mariner30 said
10:29 AM Mar 7, 2023
mixo wrote:
Govt says many things and changes it mind on a whim...
EV's are going to disrupt what we know and how it's done.First, it will be cars, then trucks, and then everything else.No one can predict how fast or slow this will happen.
Always keep an eye out for what is happening out there.
IMO
it will be many decades before the last diesel bowser is switched off, specially by ANY federal govt of any team.
The Govt would have to be the largest user of diesel machinery and therefore fuel in the country, with all their separate owned corporations and Commisions.
Not sure there are all that many E powered tanks in the pipeline either,
I wonder what a E tank battery would cost, after bouncing around the country side and firing off rounds every so often
And then there is private industry, from mining operations, shipping, transport, farming of all types and sizes etc etc
Mein said
11:41 AM Mar 7, 2023
The arguments re diesel costs versus petrol costs is really, really old news,
I remember reading the for and against in 1970's 4WD magazines, when early Landcruiser Troopies etc etc started to become popular in recreational 4wd circles.
Sure.
However, up until last year, the price of diesel was pretty much on par with petrol, often lower.
As I mentioned, diesel prices in Mackay peaked at 35c higher than petrol. At many petrol stations, the price difference has dropped to around 22c but some outlets still have a 28-29c difference.
With petrol being significantly cheaper than diesel, the economics of petrol vehicle vs diesel vehicles has changed.
Some 'fun' data about Australia-wide average petrol prices over the years:-
19709c per litre
198030c
199060c
200078c
2010124c
yobarr said
12:15 PM Mar 7, 2023
woolman wrote:
Diesel engines thrive on working hard , not the same can be said about petrol engines.
Neil
Absolutely! My little diesel V8 has 650nm torque right down to 1200rpm and all the way up to 3200rpm. Cheers
Mariner30 said
12:26 PM Mar 7, 2023
Yep,
Fuel was much cheaper 53 years ago.
So were houses.
And cars.
Anywho, a month or so ago my son topped up just one of the company diesel work boats he uses, at a pay bowser, while l was there having a squiz
Nearly nine thousand dollars of diesel.
Not many petrol work boats about in the marine industry.
The trucks l drove had 1200 litre fuel capacity.
Tiny by comparsion to the boat.
RickJ said
12:43 PM Mar 7, 2023
The cost of diesel is deliberately inflated to provide a *cash cow* to cover the huge spending ( read vote buying) of the govt.
The ACCC does nothing as they are a *Paper Tiger* within our system.
At 10 cents in the dollar it is an enormous revenue earner for the ones that are spending our money like a team of drunken sailors.
The rort of diesel prices is blatantly evident by the pump prices at some retail outlets as compared to others and before those who feel the need to jump down from their high horses, this enormous difference in the pump price from some outlets over others is not during a delivery cycle or a war in Ukraine.
As an example the diesel price has varied some 12 to 19cpl in the Whitsunday region since the beginning of last December.
Fuel from two outlets of different brands has been cheaper than some others consistently and predictably over two and a half months.
When diesel is $1.90 cpl at one site and $2.09 cpl at another then if we believe that this is not a rort then we could certainly blame the Ukraine / Russian war if your cat had kittens.
Craig1 said
01:46 PM Mar 7, 2023
Diesel today in Albury $1.899 cents per litre, down 10c on a week ago. 91 grade petrol $1.749, down a smidge I think.
Mein said
01:59 PM Mar 7, 2023
Mackay
Diesel 199.5- 199.9
Petrol175.9-179.9
Townsvile (higher transportation cost)
Dieselmost places @ 195.9
Petrol most places @ 174.9
Roy E said
03:43 PM Mar 7, 2023
Whenarewethere wrote;
"Our Land Rover is petrol. No issues getting petrol in remote areas except sometimes getting 98. The car will take 91, it has a Ford engine, the car was designed by Ford as they owned LR at the time, but I always try to get 98 where possible for the extra range, did this also for our previous car. So in effect doesn't actually cost anymore."
I'd love to know how you get more mileage out of 98 RON petrol than you do out of 91 RON. Both have the same calorific value so how do you do it?
Further to the diesel/petrol discussion, in many vehicles, the diesel engine option is very much more expensive than the petrol engine, meaning that recouping the difference due to superior diesel economy is unlikely in the vehicle's lifetime.
Cheers,
Roy.
Xyz said
04:35 PM Mar 7, 2023
I think once things finish, stop or what ever in Ukraine diesel prices will settle down and return to some sort of sensible pricing, maybe around the $1.50/lt, well hopefully anyway. Pre the war it was around the $1.30/lt.
Hopefully for the sake of the Ukrainiums it ends soon, this insane war, Ian
Whenarewethere said
05:46 PM Mar 7, 2023
Our previous car did over 250,000, the odometer died (& the same thing with the before that, but leaded petrol for the first car). Basically the first half of its live we used 91, then used 98 & noticed a better milage.
Tried the same with current car, I actually have every single petrol receipt, since we bought the car new. Zeroed the trip meter every tank to collect data, written on every receipt, to minimise rounding errors, & often put into spreadsheets.
Have noticed extra milage with 98.
yobarr said
07:24 PM Mar 7, 2023
Roy E wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote;
"Our Land Rover is petrol. No issues getting petrol in remote areas except sometimes getting 98. The car will take 91, it has a Ford engine, the car was designed by Ford as they owned LR at the time, but I always try to get 98 where possible for the extra range, did this also for our previous car. So in effect doesn't actually cost anymore."
I'd love to know how you get more mileage out of 98 RON petrol than you do out of 91 RON. Both have the same calorific value so how do you do it?
Further to the diesel/petrol discussion, in many vehicles, the diesel engine option is very much more expensive than the petrol engine, meaning that recouping the difference due to superior diesel economy is unlikely in the vehicle's lifetime.
Cheers, Roy.
Hi Roy. It is indesputable that the higher efficiency of 98, resulting in more km/litre, far outweighs the price difference between 98 and 91. Took me a long time to prove to, and finally convince, one of my exs that using 98 in her car was a no-brainer. Much the same as BP diesel gives better fuel consumption figures than any other brand that I've tested. Cheers
RickJ said
09:49 PM Mar 7, 2023
It just goes to show we should never really believe all that we may read on the internet
-- Edited by RickJ on Tuesday 7th of March 2023 09:52:16 PM
Re ( Much the same as BP diesel gives better fuel consumption figures than any other brand that I've tested.)
Hi Mein, would you like to comment on yobarr's comment above.
I have read the same elsewhere a number of times, generally have to go out of my way for BP. I use Petrol Spy to check prices and if all around the same use Coles/Shell with 4c off.,
Mein said
01:34 AM Mar 8, 2023
Hi Mein, would you like to comment on yobarr's comment above.
The petrol comparison is based on different octane ratings - which can be scientifically measured and compared.
Not so with diesel fuel.
Every brand of diesel sold in Australia meets a set of Australian diesel fuel standards and the oil companies use additives to differentiate their product from competitors' products.
Diesel fuel additives are not unlike synthetic motor oil additives; some claim to lower fuel consumption (e.g. Castrol Magnatec Fuel Saver & Nulon Fuel Conserving motor oil), some claim to keep the motor cleaner internally, some claim to be able to extend the life of the motor, and there are other claims.
Just as yobarr swears by BP diesel, some vehicle owners swear by Mobil One oil (THE most expensive oil), others swear by Penrite, others swear by Nulon, and so on. The different brands use different additives which they ALL claim makes their product superior to other brands.
Actually, when I think about it, the marketing of diesel fuel, motor oil and toothpaste is very, very similar. Each brand claims to be better at this, that or the other thing but, in reality, they all do the same job.
On Shell's website, there is a claim that tests have demonstrated Shell V-Power diesel reduces fuel consumption by 2.6% but here in Mackay it's 4.5% more expensive than Puma, United and Ampol diesel so the claimed reduction in consumption is negated by the additional cost, and then some.
I have no brand loyalty. When I owned a diesel vehicle, I filled up at the nearest service station that offered the lowest price per litre. I didn't give a thought to the brand.
I'm the same with motor oil. I buy whatever fully synthetic 5W-30 oil is on special at the time.
yobarr said
06:36 AM Mar 8, 2023
Mein, could I suggest that you research "Cetane Rating" to assist you with understanding why some brands of diesel give better fuel consumption figures than do others? Cheers
Whenarewethere said
07:24 AM Mar 8, 2023
I first got onto using 98 because my mechanic said put a few tank loads in the car. The car with a cold engine just a whisker now happy with 91. He never mentioned anything about increased mileage.
At that stage in life with regular trips to work I felt I noticed a bit more mileage. After about 5 tank fulls I went back to 91 for about 5 tank fulls. Then realising there was a difference.
Back on the 98 again we did a trip to Queensland, the same inland route using 98 there & back. Yep, we were getting better range.
If the price difference is too extreme I will use 95 or 91, I generally have spare 98 to thin it out anyway. After decades of observation I just now really couldn't be stuffed with the lower RON fuels.
If it is costing a few extra dollars a year I would rather give up the required number of cappuccinos. Both car & me are better off!
I have also never had a fuel related issue since, so there is a saving there.
Cuppa said
09:36 AM Mar 8, 2023
Mein wrote:
Mackay
Diesel 199.5- 199.9
Petrol175.9-179.9
Townsvile (higher transportation cost)
Dieselmost places @ 195.9
Petrol most places @ 174.9
Prices here at Lockhart have changed today for the first time in many months.
Diesel has risen from $2.79 to $2.85
Petrol has risen from $2.47 to $2.55.
Mein said
11:40 AM Mar 8, 2023
Mein, could I suggest that you research "Cetane Rating"
Thank you for your suggestion, yobarr, but I am already familiar with cetane rating.
The Australian standard is 46. Some brands of diesels claim to be 50 - 51 and some premium diesels claim to be as high as 55.
Referring back to Shell's claim about their V-Power diesel, I don't doubt that their claim of a 2.6% reduction in fuel consumption has some factual basis but it's higher price negates the fuel usage saving.
Furthermore, Shell hasn't revealed the parameters of the tests they conducted.
A simple example would be ambient temperatures. It may well be that engines / vehicles consumed less V-Power diesel when operating at an ambient temperature of minus 20, or an ambient temperature of 45 degrees celsius but with no discernible differences at other temperatures.
It may well be that electronically injected diesels used less V-Power diesel but mechanically injected diesels showed no difference.
This discussion reminds me about the ACCC court case against the makers of Nurofen, which resulted in a fine of $6,000,000.
There was a Nurofen product for arthritic pain, a Nurofen product for rheumatic pain, a Nurofen product for sports injuries, and more, and they each sold at different prices; substantially different prices. Yet, they were all the same product!
And, of more relevance to me, but not an issue that Nurofen was criticised for, is that they were all simply ibuprofen.
I'm really not trying to convince you, or anyone, of any particular 'fact'. I answered PeterInSa's question by explaining my viewpoint.
Using another song quote, this one from Paul Simon, "I know what I know".
Craig1 said
01:36 PM Mar 8, 2023
Unleaded 186.9, U95 209.9, Diesel 209.9, Prices for Lockhart NSW, about 1 hour from Albury. You almost gave me a heart turn Cuppa.
Southern Cruizer said
05:14 PM Mar 8, 2023
And........................ just because an Ampol or BP or whatever branded truck pulls up at a service station to unload, it doesn't mean the fuel come from that branded depot. I used to drive fuel tankers back in the late 70's, and during the 80's and believe me any brand can go down any hole in the ground. Not much has changed over the years. Fuel is what it is so when I need it, I pull up these days at the cheapest I can get wherever I am
Cuppa said
05:48 PM Mar 8, 2023
Craig1 wrote:
Unleaded 186.9, U95 209.9, Diesel 209.9, Prices for Lockhart NSW, about 1 hour from Albury. You almost gave me a heart turn Cuppa.
Sorry, I bet I did! Didn't know there was a Lockhart in NSW.
Lockhart River, Qld 4892.
Greg 1 said
05:43 PM Mar 11, 2023
Well in WA, all diesel comes from the same refinery tank. It really doesn't matter what the brand on the servo says.
In terms of the difference in octane ratings, unless your engine is designed to get the most out of the higher octane by either increasing boost pressures or having a higher compression ratio, there is little point in using a higher octane than the car is designed for. Octane rating is the anti knock rating and has little to do with how much energy is contained in the fuel.
The cars anti knock sensors can increase the timing if the car is designed for higher octane ratings and some advantage can be gained in those cases.
Also be aware that most brands are now adding ethanol to their 98 to obtain the octane rating.
Ethanol has a higher octane rating than petrol but a lower calorific value, so this 98 shandy mix has the potential to give less mileage than say 95 that does not contain ethanol.
Here in Mackay, the price difference between diesel and petrol peaked at 35c per litre but appears to have now stabilized at (an average of) 22c, which makes diesel 12.3% more expensive than petrol.
With too much time on my hands, I checked out current prices, (combined) fuel consumption figures and servicing costs of the diesel and petrol models of various utes, 4X4s and SUVs.
Turbochargers, on petrol engines, seem to be common and have resulted in lower (combined) fuel consumption and higher torque outputs.
If I were in the market for a new ute, 4X4 or SUV, I'd go for a petrol model. I've calculated that, based on my current annual travel distances, I'd need to keep a diesel vehicle for at least 8 years to 'break even' with the cost of buying and owning a petrol model, and I've never kept a vehicle for more than 5 years.
My rationale only applies to purchasing a new vehicle. Even in these 'covid tax' times, there are still some bargains to be found amongst secondhand vehicles and I'm more likely to service a secondhand vehicle myself, significantly reducing service costs.
Our Land Rover is petrol. No issues getting petrol in remote areas except sometimes getting 98. The car will take 91, it has a Ford engine, the car was designed by Ford as they owned LR at the time, but I always try to get 98 where possible for the extra range, did this also for our previous car. So in effect doesn't actually cost anymore.
Next car will be electric, have installed 3 phase in the garage in 2016 so ready for that, but still very happy with our 10 year old car. Perfectly reliable so no point replacing it.
The fuel price cycle is down again shortly so will also fill up all my jerry cans while filling up the car.
The arguments re diesel costs versus petrol costs is really, really old news,
I remember reading the for and against in 1970's 4WD magazines, when early Landcruiser Troopies etc etc started to become popular in recreational 4wd circles.
Your post is almost the same,
I'll mention that l have never bought a new vehicle...the depreciation driving out the caryard scares the crap out of me,
Even though l could buy a new vehicle if l wished ( apart from a brand new $ 200,000 plus luxury 4WD.
I don't need to have a new vehicle costing that much sitting in the driveway most of the time these days.
As well as the 23 ft boat and caravan...and the 15 ft trout boat...
We ( wife and l. ) have probably only got one vehicle each left in us...apart from the last drive in the hearse...
I'm not sure either vehicle will be a EV.
I am not buying a new landcruiser at 100K plus just to sit there for when I go on a trip.
Plan is to go electric(city car) and pump the money I save in petrol to buy diesel to feed the 100...Win win
Let us hope they don't cut diesel supplies earlier than they have stated(keeping an eye out on the telsa Semi)
Mixo
The federal govt has said several times there are no plans to cut diesel use etc etc
As you have said, diesel is everywhere.
The entire country runs on diesel fuel/engines etc.
I think some city based folk who have no connection to rural/ regional areas have little knowledge of the huge size of diesel powered operations in sooo many different areas besides road transport users.
( we have diesel and petrol vehicles, diesel and petrolboats, all our adult off spring use diesel powered vehicles/ tractors and boats in their daily work lives )
I drove diesel work vehicles for 30 years plus,
I cannot see that huge transport fleet being replaced by EV models any time soon.
EV's are going to disrupt what we know and how it's done.First, it will be cars, then trucks, and then everything else.No one can predict how fast or slow this will happen.
Always keep an eye out for what is happening out there.
Diesel engines thrive on working hard , not the same can be said about petrol engines.
Neil
IMO
it will be many decades before the last diesel bowser is switched off, specially by ANY federal govt of any team.
The Govt would have to be the largest user of diesel machinery and therefore fuel in the country, with all their separate owned corporations and Commisions.
Not sure there are all that many E powered tanks in the pipeline either,
I wonder what a E tank battery would cost, after bouncing around the country side and firing off rounds every so often
And then there is private industry, from mining operations, shipping, transport, farming of all types and sizes etc etc
The arguments re diesel costs versus petrol costs is really, really old news,
I remember reading the for and against in 1970's 4WD magazines, when early Landcruiser Troopies etc etc started to become popular in recreational 4wd circles.
Sure.
However, up until last year, the price of diesel was pretty much on par with petrol, often lower.
As I mentioned, diesel prices in Mackay peaked at 35c higher than petrol. At many petrol stations, the price difference has dropped to around 22c but some outlets still have a 28-29c difference.
With petrol being significantly cheaper than diesel, the economics of petrol vehicle vs diesel vehicles has changed.
Some 'fun' data about Australia-wide average petrol prices over the years:-
1970 9c per litre
1980 30c
1990 60c
2000 78c
2010 124c
Absolutely! My little diesel V8 has 650nm torque right down to 1200rpm and all the way up to 3200rpm. Cheers
Fuel was much cheaper 53 years ago.
So were houses.
And cars.
Anywho, a month or so ago my son topped up just one of the company diesel work boats he uses, at a pay bowser, while l was there having a squiz
Nearly nine thousand dollars of diesel.
Not many petrol work boats about in the marine industry.
The trucks l drove had 1200 litre fuel capacity.
Tiny by comparsion to the boat.
The ACCC does nothing as they are a *Paper Tiger* within our system.
At 10 cents in the dollar it is an enormous revenue earner for the ones that are spending our money like a team of drunken sailors.
The rort of diesel prices is blatantly evident by the pump prices at some retail outlets as compared to others and before those who feel the need to jump down from their high horses, this enormous difference in the pump price from some outlets over others is not during a delivery cycle or a war in Ukraine.
As an example the diesel price has varied some 12 to 19cpl in the Whitsunday region since the beginning of last December.
Fuel from two outlets of different brands has been cheaper than some others consistently and predictably over two and a half months.
When diesel is $1.90 cpl at one site and $2.09 cpl at another then if we believe that this is not a rort then we could certainly blame the Ukraine / Russian war if your cat had kittens.
Mackay
Diesel 199.5 - 199.9
Petrol 175.9 - 179.9
Townsvile (higher transportation cost)
Diesel most places @ 195.9
Petrol most places @ 174.9
"Our Land Rover is petrol. No issues getting petrol in remote areas except sometimes getting 98. The car will take 91, it has a Ford engine, the car was designed by Ford as they owned LR at the time, but I always try to get 98 where possible for the extra range, did this also for our previous car. So in effect doesn't actually cost anymore."
I'd love to know how you get more mileage out of 98 RON petrol than you do out of 91 RON. Both have the same calorific value so how do you do it?
Further to the diesel/petrol discussion, in many vehicles, the diesel engine option is very much more expensive than the petrol engine, meaning that recouping the difference due to superior diesel economy is unlikely in the vehicle's lifetime.
Cheers,
Roy.
I think once things finish, stop or what ever in Ukraine diesel prices will settle down and return to some sort of sensible pricing, maybe around the $1.50/lt, well hopefully anyway. Pre the war it was around the $1.30/lt.
Hopefully for the sake of the Ukrainiums it ends soon, this insane war,
Ian
Our previous car did over 250,000, the odometer died (& the same thing with the before that, but leaded petrol for the first car). Basically the first half of its live we used 91, then used 98 & noticed a better milage.
Tried the same with current car, I actually have every single petrol receipt, since we bought the car new. Zeroed the trip meter every tank to collect data, written on every receipt, to minimise rounding errors, & often put into spreadsheets.
Have noticed extra milage with 98.
Hi Roy. It is indesputable that the higher efficiency of 98, resulting in more km/litre, far outweighs the price difference between 98 and 91. Took me a long time to prove to, and finally convince, one of my exs that using 98 in her car was a no-brainer. Much the same as BP diesel gives better fuel consumption figures than any other brand that I've tested. Cheers
It just goes to show we should never really believe all that we may read on the internet
-- Edited by RickJ on Tuesday 7th of March 2023 09:52:16 PM
Hi Roy. It is indesputable that the higher efficiency of 98, resulting in more km/litre, far outweighs the price difference between 98 and 91
In the words of the late, great Tom Petty, "Listen, it don't really matter to me, baby. You believe what you want to believe."
https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/transport/cars/premium-petrol-guzzling-cash.html
https://www.mynrma.com.au/cars-and-driving/fuel-resources/which-octane-petrol-is-best-for-you
https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/why-premium-fuel-is-a-waste-of-money-for-most-cars/
Hi Mein, would you like to comment on yobarr's comment above.
I have read the same elsewhere a number of times, generally have to go out of my way for BP. I use Petrol Spy to check prices and if all around the same use Coles/Shell with 4c off.,
Hi Mein, would you like to comment on yobarr's comment above.
The petrol comparison is based on different octane ratings - which can be scientifically measured and compared.
Not so with diesel fuel.
Every brand of diesel sold in Australia meets a set of Australian diesel fuel standards and the oil companies use additives to differentiate their product from competitors' products.
Diesel fuel additives are not unlike synthetic motor oil additives; some claim to lower fuel consumption (e.g. Castrol Magnatec Fuel Saver & Nulon Fuel Conserving motor oil), some claim to keep the motor cleaner internally, some claim to be able to extend the life of the motor, and there are other claims.
Just as yobarr swears by BP diesel, some vehicle owners swear by Mobil One oil (THE most expensive oil), others swear by Penrite, others swear by Nulon, and so on. The different brands use different additives which they ALL claim makes their product superior to other brands.
Actually, when I think about it, the marketing of diesel fuel, motor oil and toothpaste is very, very similar. Each brand claims to be better at this, that or the other thing but, in reality, they all do the same job.
On Shell's website, there is a claim that tests have demonstrated Shell V-Power diesel reduces fuel consumption by 2.6% but here in Mackay it's 4.5% more expensive than Puma, United and Ampol diesel so the claimed reduction in consumption is negated by the additional cost, and then some.
I have no brand loyalty. When I owned a diesel vehicle, I filled up at the nearest service station that offered the lowest price per litre. I didn't give a thought to the brand.
I'm the same with motor oil. I buy whatever fully synthetic 5W-30 oil is on special at the time.
Mein, could I suggest that you research "Cetane Rating" to assist you with understanding why some brands of diesel give better fuel consumption figures than do others? Cheers
I first got onto using 98 because my mechanic said put a few tank loads in the car. The car with a cold engine just a whisker now happy with 91. He never mentioned anything about increased mileage.
At that stage in life with regular trips to work I felt I noticed a bit more mileage. After about 5 tank fulls I went back to 91 for about 5 tank fulls. Then realising there was a difference.
Back on the 98 again we did a trip to Queensland, the same inland route using 98 there & back. Yep, we were getting better range.
If the price difference is too extreme I will use 95 or 91, I generally have spare 98 to thin it out anyway. After decades of observation I just now really couldn't be stuffed with the lower RON fuels.
If it is costing a few extra dollars a year I would rather give up the required number of cappuccinos. Both car & me are better off!
I have also never had a fuel related issue since, so there is a saving there.
Prices here at Lockhart have changed today for the first time in many months.
Diesel has risen from $2.79 to $2.85
Petrol has risen from $2.47 to $2.55.
Mein, could I suggest that you research "Cetane Rating"
Thank you for your suggestion, yobarr, but I am already familiar with cetane rating.
The Australian standard is 46. Some brands of diesels claim to be 50 - 51 and some premium diesels claim to be as high as 55.
Referring back to Shell's claim about their V-Power diesel, I don't doubt that their claim of a 2.6% reduction in fuel consumption has some factual basis but it's higher price negates the fuel usage saving.
Furthermore, Shell hasn't revealed the parameters of the tests they conducted.
A simple example would be ambient temperatures. It may well be that engines / vehicles consumed less V-Power diesel when operating at an ambient temperature of minus 20, or an ambient temperature of 45 degrees celsius but with no discernible differences at other temperatures.
It may well be that electronically injected diesels used less V-Power diesel but mechanically injected diesels showed no difference.
This discussion reminds me about the ACCC court case against the makers of Nurofen, which resulted in a fine of $6,000,000.
There was a Nurofen product for arthritic pain, a Nurofen product for rheumatic pain, a Nurofen product for sports injuries, and more, and they each sold at different prices; substantially different prices. Yet, they were all the same product!
And, of more relevance to me, but not an issue that Nurofen was criticised for, is that they were all simply ibuprofen.
I'm really not trying to convince you, or anyone, of any particular 'fact'. I answered PeterInSa's question by explaining my viewpoint.
Using another song quote, this one from Paul Simon, "I know what I know".
Sorry, I bet I did! Didn't know there was a Lockhart in NSW.
Lockhart River, Qld 4892.