Is Coles & Woollies fuel better than the Independants?

aussie_paul · Guru

Is Coles & Woollies fuel better than the Independants?

Izabarack · Guru

Too many stories of fuel adulteration at the independents for me to try them. Plus, Woolies is usually cheaper.

Iza

Greg 1 · Guru

If you are talking diesel it all comes from the same source anyway so no difference. Some small old outlets can have lots of dirt in their tanks which can be the big issue. I look for places the truckies stop at. Usually have high turnover and less likely to have dirty tanks.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I use all brands when need be as sometimes can't be choosy. I like APCO as usually good quality and about 10c lt cheaper.

I have an extra 'pre filter' for just incase but if not sure of quality add some 'Flash Lube' deisel additive, purs like a kitten then.

Edit...Forgot to say, if I see a tanker in the servo I move onto the next one. They stir up the bottom of the storage tanks.

-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 04:18:03 PM

LLD · Guru

Haven't noticed any variation in fuel economy between brands.

APCO certainly cheapest. Followed by Metro then United. I use them most of the time. I don't think quality is an issue. High turnover due to cheap fuel implies the fuel is "fresh" and a long way from turning to gel.

Only go to Coles/Shell, Woolies/Caltex, or BP when I'm desperate.

We actually use E10 from Metro in my wife's car (94/95 required) and never had an issue in nearly 80,000kms.

-- Edited by LLD on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 04:34:13 PM

Kebbin · Guru

I agree with Izabarack, Coles & Woolies have a hell of a lot more to loose then an Independent if solvents or recycled oils are used to bulk up fuel.

-- Edited by Kebbin on Tuesday 20th of November 2018 06:34:26 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Fuel is fuel, in 50 years of motoring we've never noticed any differences between any of them & we've been traveling Australia extensively for 40 years.

We're got more important things to think about., just fill her up. It never fails. biggrin biggrin

PeterD · Guru

Kebbin wrote:
I agree with Izabarack, Coles & Woolies have a hell of a lot more to loose then an Independent if solvents or recycled oils are used to bulk up fuel.

After the prosecutions of some of the adulterators a few years ago I don't think you will find much of that going on.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Must be luck of the draw. For several months I'd been filling my wife's 4 yr old Mazda2 with 91 from a large independent (new outlet open less than one year). When the car refused to start one day, discovered the fuel pump was filthy and rusted. Mechanic asked if we'd been using E10, which I confirmed we hadn't. Then he asked if we'd been filling up a the 'very large independent' in question. When I said yes, he didn't pass comment, but did tell me the fuel was E10 by it's distinctive smell. All up, $1000 for tank drain, fuel line flush, new fuel pump and fuel filter. It may be a freak incident, but it's certainly scared me away from a certain very large independent here in Victoria.

-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Wednesday 21st of November 2018 09:02:13 AM

LLD · Guru

The only fuel I've had trouble with is the OPAL 91 fuel in NT. Vehicle hard to start. Thought my battery was knackered then I found others had same issue. Had to run on 94-95. OPAL 91 is supposed to be un-sniffable. So few a few cents a litre more one can get sniffable 94/95. Don't understand. Not an issue now as my vehicle is now diesel.

Greg 1 · Guru

Ethanol is very corrosive so unless your car is made to take it it is unwise to use it as it will rot out half the fuel system in any vehicle not designed for it. Some vehicles can run E10 but not E85. Also we have had trouble with E85 in race cars due to the ethanol content being closer to 94% than the supposed 85%. This has caused some major issues with the engine management system and in one case a blown engine.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Interestingly, despite the saga with our Mazda2 fuel pump, the car is actually meant to be E10 compatible. It's stamped on the fuel filler and in the handbook yet the damage caused in our case was extensive/expensive and the culprit appears to be E10. I wouldn't use the stuff in a million years, but what if the servo's 91 tanks have been mistakenly filled with E10? then it's too late.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Looking at the latest buyer of the woolies lot, I'll never buy there again. Never mind the expense, or quality. I believe it's a direct threat to our future fuel security. Like another big lot that won't even employ us .
You've gotta wonder what the supply will be like down the track. Disturbing to say the least.

Tony Bev · Guru

I am led to believe, (by reading the Internet), which may or may not be true

All diesel fuel sold in Australia, has to be a certain standard
All diesel engine vehicles sold in Australia, have to be able to run on the diesel fuel, sold in Australia

There is winter/summer diesel, due to waxing of diesel fuel in cold weather
This means that it is possible to fuel up in summer - not use your vehicle for six months - drive up to the snowfields in winter - park up overnight and not be able to start the vehicle next morning

There are no grades of diesel fuel, like petrol 91/94 RON etc

Truck diesel is the same as any other diesel, but the bowser nozzle is larger, and the pump is quicker

Greg 1 · Guru

You pretty much on the money with the diesel. The diesel sold in Australia all comes from the same refineries regardless of brand. Some of the premium diesel has additives with are supposed to clean the engine. There have been a number of tests on that to try to prove that claim and all can say is the jury is still out with no real evidence to say it's any better than standard diesel.

Ozzie_Traveller · Senior Member

G'day all

A year or so back I was overnighting at the rest area in the village of Corfield, north of Winton Q, and around happy hour a fuel truck rolled to a halt. Being a bit bored with my fellow travellers I walked across the road for a chat.

The driver was on his regulation meal break, and after his walk around banging the tyres, he opened a small side door to the cabin and removed from the microwave his evening meal - now nicely hot.

During our chat he mentioned that a) he was carrying 110,000 litres of fuel, b) he collected it from the port of Townsville depot, then c) spent the next 4-days covering a zig-zag route across Qld delivering the same fuel to about 2 dozen or so fuel stations each carrying a different brand name

ps- over our long-term Oz travels we have noted a) in town after town that the shoppa-docket servos are nearly always 1 to 12 cents a litre more than the others, and b) over the 15 yrs with the MH we currently drive - now clocking up well over 400,000 Kms, we have never had issues with faulty fuel

Hope this helps a bit
Phil

mixo · Senior Member

diesel at my local shell is 170 as unleaded is 120...you can get diesel from costco for 141 and the other locals are around the 146 mark..

petrolspy.com.au and check what cheaper in your area...

Love to know what shell has in its diesel that makes it 30+ cents a litre more expensive than other outlets in the area, but I bet its all marketing bull ****...

mixo