Premium Diesel Fuel

Ger08 · Senior Member

Premium Diesel Fuel

Dickodownunder · Guru

There are many on the lcool forum with the 200 series LC that recommend using the premium diesel.

Some speak from actual experience with problems they have experienced with the common rail engine.

After reading the topics I tend to search for the premium fuels to acoid problems as I feel I could notice a difference in performance with my BT 50 work utes. I also have a 200 series and I do not want any problems with it if I can avoid it.

Of course, these are only My observations...

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Our local BP has the Ultimate diesel so most of the time that's what I have used in the current Pajero Sport and before it the Kia Sorento. The same with our petrol vehicles past and present we have always tried to use 98 octane fuel or if it's not available 95 (never 92). When we lived in Southern Africa the fuels were specified by their octane levels not by some fancy brand name like Ultimate or Vortex etc. you knew exactly what you were getting. I haven't done a diesel comparison but with petrol I found that with the higher octanes you did get a few more klms between fills which in the end probably balanced out with the extra cost of using it. The advantage supposedly is having a little better performance (I probably agree) and a cleaner engine (don't know never pulled one apart to find out).

At the end of the day the manufactures say that their vehicles will run efficiently on the non premium fuels so I may be just wasting a lot of money for very little gain but I'll keep using it anyway.

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Wednesday 21st of December 2016 07:43:10 AM

Ger08 · Senior Member

thanks for the responses - we also have a Pajero Sport and love it I have found that these premium diesels give us some extra kilometres in the tank, my only issue with them is there lack of availability in some regional areas.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

There is a add I'm hearing lately that Premium Diesel is better for your engine, cleans it because the other diesel has Dirt in it , that's right they say Dirt , what a lot of bull .

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Hi Ger08, I noticed quite a few more of them starting to appear on the road now the only issue I have is that the fuel tank is way too small for towing. I pull around 2.6T and the smaller 2.4 diesel has to work quite hard at times, this puts the fuel consumption avg. up to just under 18ltrs/100kms. The standard tank only holds 68ltrs so thats probably a little under a 400km range - I also carry 2 x 20ltr jerry cans which gives me another 200kms and a bit more time to be selective with where I fill up. It not going to hurt for you to put normal diesel in the tank when premium is not available but as you said it may reduce your range a little further. There is a larger tank now available for the Sport (112ltr I think) for around $1500 but you would lose some of your trip computer functions if you fitted it (that may or may not be of concern for people).

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Hi JackoFJR, I dont think that they mean there is actually dirt in the fuel I think they are trying to say that using their premium will remove any build up from "dirty engines" that has supposedly been caused by using a less efficient non premium fuel. As I said in a previous post I have no idea whether their claim has any truth in it as I have never bothered to dismantle a motor to find out - maybe a mechanic could tell us what they are finding during their servicing.

Footprints · Senior Member

Recently while traveling south I used BP Ultimate for the first time and was amazed at the smooth running and better performance of my truck however I have not been able to get it at many places. Definitely notice a big improvement when using it In Isuzu NPR 275.

Cheers Allen

ken thomas · Guru

I have been told that BP are now using fuel doctor in their fuel
I use 40 ml to every couple of tanks
Ken

Tony Bev · Guru

In all honesty I do not know what to believe/disbelieve

I have read that you should never put E/Bio type Diesel in the Fiat 2.8 JTD common rail diesel engine, as it may gum up the injectors, (possibly salesmen)

On another site I have read, that the Fiat 2.8 JTD common rail diesel was detuned, so that it would run on the lowest grade diesel, worldwide (from a chip tuning site)

Just to be on the safe side, I do not use the E/Bio type diesel, although it is cheaper than normal diesel

Dickodownunder · Guru

My son filled his Ford Courier diesel with bio diesel once.
The emphasis being on ONCE
The vehicle immediately had less power, produced black smoke and ran quite roughly.
It cost him several hundred dollars at the mechanic to get it put right.

Bio Diesel may be ok in old engines but when we spoke to his mechanic he said never to use it in modern engines.

daffyfrancis · Senior Member

We use premium diesel in our 2002 Mercedes Sprinter campervan & yacht along with Wynns EDT diesel treatment & in 20 years have never replaced a fuel filter in the yachts Yanmar 38hp 3 cylinder diesel engine-change its engine oil twice a year myself & nothing else in that time- excellent old technology operating in a harsh enviroment- I can't imagine the current crop of engines are capable of such reliability & cheap running costs over 20 years-The Mercedes certainly costs a lot more in upkeep but back to your original question it does appear to run much better on premium diesel & the Wynns combination.

David

macka17 · Guru

I always use BP. and Caltex of not avail when travelling.
Their diesels Do improve performance\mileage on MY vehicles

Several over 40 yrs or so.
Those 2 have always given cleaner running and more economy
That's in Diesels.

Di has petrol. Always uses shell 95 4c ltr off. and same thing.
Cleaner running. smoother. and slightly better economy.

Not much but car feels better than running 91.
At present Out petrol is 125.6 and diesel 136.8

Petrol down 5 ishc on normal price and diesel 6c UP on normal price.

You tell me.

Luckily We not travelling at present so
$72ish lasts me 2 1\2 weeks or thereabouts.

ONE DAY a coupla pollies will stop accepting the palm greasing and give the
Gov't departments soms balls to control pricing.

Aaaaaaand then.
They'll have to tax something else more to keep incoming $$$'s, incoming.....
to cover their thievery of public coffers.

We HAVE to get rid of State politicians.
They really ARE redundant, then some.

Ger08 · Senior Member

Thanks again for all the responses. Yes the Pajero Sport has a very small tank and we will most likely go with a long range tank very soon. There is no doubt in my mind that there is real difference between regular diesel and premium, our PS seems to run smoother and we certainly get more k's from the tank when we use it.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

The Belmont Bear wrote:
Hi JackoFJR, I dont think that they mean there is actually dirt in the fuel I think they are trying to say that using their premium will remove any build up from "dirty engines" that has supposedly been caused by using a less efficient non premium fuel. As I said in a previous post I have no idea whether their claim has any truth in it as I have never bothered to dismantle a motor to find out - maybe a mechanic could tell us what they are finding during their servicing.

I know there is no dirt in the fuel , its just how stupid can these adds get , I have never noticed any difference in performance or fuel economy with different brands of diesel .

The Belmont Bear · Guru

JackoFJR- in all the adds I have seen or heard about premium fuels the manufacturers have claimed that their products will clean a dirty engine i.e. the build up that is supposedly caused by the less efficient burning of a lower grade fuel - I don't see that as being stupid just not proven. The fact that you personally haven't seen an improvement in the performance or economy of your own vehicle doesn't make them wrong as there are other responses here suggesting that some people believe that they have.

"There is a add I'm hearing lately that Premium Diesel is better for your engine, cleans it because the other diesel has Dirt in it , that's right they say Dirt , what a lot of bull ".

I took from your comment that you believed a particular manufacturer had been advertising that there was dirt in some diesel fuels. I was just pointing out to you that I didn't think that this was really the intent of their message - sorry if I misinterpreted the point that you were trying to make.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I use Caltex Vortex or BP diesel when the prices are reasonable - but right now I will not pay $1.37 litre.

7/11 use only Mobil fuel and Mobil is a major fuel supplier. I also use Puma who also buys from reputable suppliers of bulk fuels.

I have a high compression common rail motor and don't see any different in soot blowout nor in performance. I recently had its 80K serive which included the fuel filter and the Dealer checked for water and gunk - none at all.

However, I am gun shy of the likes of Liberty, Vibe and other companies of their ilk.

I always go online and ask Dr Google where these retailers get their fuel from. If they don't say - I don't buy

Hylife · Guru

Wasting your money.
The ECU is tuned to run on good old regular diesel which naturally varies widely in octane rating from 15 to 25 RON.
There is no such thing as Premium diesel, just like there is no difference in diesel coming out of a hi-flow bowser, just like there is no such thing as truck diesel Vs car diesel.

You have been sucked in by marketing hype. It is all a "crock of advertising sh!t".

Octane ratings are not a measure of power, they are a rating on resistance to detonation.
Increasing the octane of your fuel does not give you more power or a cleaner running or better performing engine.

If you want to increase the octane rating of petrol or diesel you add ethanol. Ethanol is a solvent and hence the bullsh!t about cleaner engines etc.
Only Victoria and Sydney still refine oil and all retail brands come from Mobil or Shell.
In the rest of the country fuels are imported from overseas by shipload, pre-refined.
Yep, that fuel yo buy in Adelaide is shipped from asia to Darwin and trucked 3000km south.

Critically watch the adverts and you see that very carefully the fuel companies make no specific claims about higher octane fuels.

And, those diesel ads don't actually say that premium diesel is higher octane. BECAUSE IT ISN'T!!!

Your car will you??? Voted No1 by cars??? What the heck does that mean?

Wake up to the con people.

TheHeaths · Guru

All diesels are basically the same, with only some minor additive changes by the companies. Truck diesel, car diesel, premium diesel, standard diesel. All come from the same terminals and the same tanks, to a service station near you. The only real change with diesel is the production of an Alpine grade for winter in higher altitude to prevent waxing in the tank and fuel lines during winter.

As far as refining goes in Australia, there are still 4 refineries operating. Caltex have one in Queensland (Lytton refinery), BP have one in Perth (Kwinana), Mobil have one in Melbourne (Altona),and Viva energy have one in Geelong.

Fuel for SA is imported direct into Adelaide, into fuel terminals at Port Adelaide. Some of this fuel comes from other Australian refineries as listed, some comes from Singapore. It is not trucked into Adelaide out of Darwin. All Australian cities import fuel from S E Asia and other locations around Australia.

The correct term is octane for petrol rating and cetane for diesel rating.

blaze · Guru

I use truck diesel cause they are big and go fast and cause I am only little I should go quicker
cheers
blaze

macka17 · Guru

You want your car to go better.

Get a computer flash by a good operator. and keep tyres a bit harder with good tread.

Crude goes through several steps to differing ranges of refinement.
Diesel is around 3\5ths up the ladder.
and itself is refined to differing cetanes. pureness.
Aust requirements are a step or two UNDER requirements for Euro market.
Hence the problems we have.

Keep a good filter system, Maintained.

decent fuel supplier.
I like truck stops as higher turnover. fresher? supply's.

Add fuel system cleaner every 20k or so
and I also add 250ml of basic 2 str oil. (MY choice)
per 65 ish ltrs of fuel in tank

It DOES give a quieter, and smoother feeling donk in these old D;Max 3 ltrs.

Not so sure I'd add to these latest model donk's\fuel systems.
They a different breed altogether.

And at 137 a ltr. My half tank and Di's petrol at 124c per ltr will do us till price drops again.

Like I said.

Politicians with balls. Hah.

No such bloody thing.

They ALL have very greasy palms, BOTH of them.

-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 22nd of December 2016 10:47:08 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Diesel's Diesel, fill ér up!

The Belmont Bear · Guru

www.oilem.com/premium-diesel-versus-standard-diesel-fuel-2/

Interesting article on using premium diesel V using regular diesel a couple of years old but still relevant.

TheHeaths · Guru

Macka, not disputing that an ECU flash makes the vehicle perform better, but have read a number of articles lately suggesting the chip to be a better option as

1) it allows vehicle to be returned to factory settings if necessary for fault finding, and

2) if the vehicles is sold, at least people know the chip is there should something go wrong and diagnosis of a fault is necessary, where they may not know if a reflash has been done.

Just a point for consideration, and as I say, not criticism of either owners or a reflash, but many on the forum who have bought a modern second hand diesel may NOT know if their unit has been reflashed, and that MAY make it difficult to fault find if a problem occurs.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Friday 23rd of December 2016 07:15:34 AM

macka17 · Guru

Fair enuff Ian.

We all have differing thoughts and opinions.

ALL correct. to ourselves.

I'm NEVER wrong... Are you?? Chuckle.

Regarding the alternatives. Yes the chip is a 2 min disconnect.
or with some just set to "0".
The flash is often reset to factory
when veh's go in for servicing and on Computer.

Hence I always recommend.
ONLY buy a flash if the give a disc to reflash again.
OR guarantee to reflash for you afterwards.

There are pro's and cons to both or none.
Personal choices.

BOTH DO improve performance and towing ability
depending mainly on HOW you utilise the extra power.
Or economy sides of it.

Like I said. I've used last 3 veh's chipped, after running std firstly.
with great improvements with all of them, Power and economy

with no (so far) adverse effects.

but I AM a very light foot, economical driver anyway.

The only people I know that have removed chip.
Are the ones that bought real cheap. Basic units in the first place.
OR upgrading to flash.

Get one of the top 4 and no problems usually.

Same as flashes.
There are a couple of proven very effective jobs
. and a lot where you wish maybe you hadn't bothered.

They basically depend on the person and his skills doing it.
and can vary quite a bit.

I KNOW your Patrol would have improved a good 30\35% with it's towing.
and better economy too.

Mine was a different vehicle,

also quite a few others I persuaded to too
after demo'ing it to them while travelling with van.

If your D-Max an Auto.and you tow a fairly heavy van\5ther.

think about a Torque Converter lock up too.

It stops all the "hunting" when climbing long or steepish hills.

and retards beautifully on steep downhills too

Stops Converter "slipping" and overheating oil.

-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 23rd of December 2016 11:27:25 AM

-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 23rd of December 2016 11:33:17 AM

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

And I would hate to add the difference between Alpine and Summer fuel and when summer fuel goes up into the snow! But then again, this could be an urban myth, just like one supplier says that the fuel meets the international standard and the other claims ISO accreditation and says that their fuel is better because it has a blue additive. ISO ratings are just that, the fuel leaves the refinery at that level of quality, what happens after that is in the laps of the gods. Where it ends up, amount of water, dirt or old fuel in the tank of the service station is just that! Regular servicing, good quality filters and one thing an old farmer said to me and makes sense, never let your tank get down to vapour levels!
But then again, what would I know, lift the bonnet and I am mechanically dyslexic!