Premium Diesel

[Flipper Dog]

Just reading about this stuff (BP Ultimate Diesel), the BP web site states it is available in Perth, but that appears out of date as I take it Brisvegas has been running this for a while.

Can someone give me some indication on the price difference between this and normal diesel and is the stuff any good. I know that the difference between 91 RON petrol and 98 RON is not as noticable at first but fuel consumption is in favour of the 98 ROM, is it the same with Ultimate Diesel.

I am more interested in BP than Caltex or the others as I have a fuel card from BP so I am limited to using their products.

[gregozedobe]

From what I've been able to find out so far (no actual experience as it isn't available in Canberra yet), the biggest benefit is if you have clogged injectors (it will clean them up as you drive).

I have read some reports that say they get better economy, others notice no difference at all.

[Greg Roles]

I'm in Brisbane, and have filled about 10 tanks of BP ultimate now, and noticed nothing. Was hoping for more power, but didn't even get better economy. Was a downer actually! I run it anyhow, as the difference per tank is very little, about 2-3 cents per litre over normal BP for instance. Interestingly, once a BP servo goes ultimate diesel, well that's ALL they offer. It's all you'll be able to get in time on a BP fuel card around town anyhow.

As Gregoz has postulated, will help older, dirtier cars.

Shame, as BP ULP ultimate definately gave me better economy in my prior thirsty V8 machine, and stopped it pinging when you were fair up it.

I know gas engines can alter the timing, where as diesels can't really alter the injection to the same extent, which probably accounts for the more obvious ULP differences.

[Symo]

Had GT Sport tdi stop today and unable to restart. 24 hour assist managed to fire it up via squirting a vapourised fuel into the engine whist turning it over. Suggested go to dealer who reported sporadic fuel fault and advised a change from Shell to BP fuel as it's "cleaner"

[CatonaPC©]

. . . the biggest benefit is if you have clogged injectors (it will clean them up as you drive).

I have read some reports that say they get better economy, others notice no difference at all.

Well, I don't get it. Diesel engines don't work like petrol engines, the fuel is injected into the cylinder in the compression stroke. So, it either ignites or it doesn't. I can't see how an "utimate" diesel is going to ignite any easier, faster or cleaner to give you more "oomph". I'm sure some guys here running B100 would agree with me. The only benefit could be (as stated), it cleans your injectors a bit better and that's it.

I reckon you're wasting your money. Someone feel free to correct me.

[gregozedobe]

BP Ultimate diesel is also higher cetane rating than some other brands (particularly the cheaper "no-name" stuff). Cetane is similar to Octane for petrol.

If (and it is a very big IF) the engine was designed and tuned to take advantage of the higher cetane, it would be possible get more power and/or better fuel economy from a higher cetane (but it may damage your engine if you put lower cetane diesel into it).

IIRC the gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel gave pretty good results in some trials (but was too expensive to make on a commercial scale).

[vmq6695]

Well, I don't get it. Diesel engines don't work like petrol engines, the fuel is injected into the cylinder in the compression stroke. So, it either ignites or it doesn't. I can't see how an "utimate" diesel is going to ignite any easier, faster or cleaner to give you more "oomph".

BP claims that Ultimate Diesel has a cetane rating higher than average ULSD; BP claims Ultimate normally rates 55 - 60, and is always above 50.

That suggests that ignition events should be more optimal or, in your terms, easier, faster, and cleaner.

I've run a few tanks of Ultimate Diesel now. My TDI is continuing to improve in fuel economy, but I've not seen any especial change in the trend to better economy due to the Ultimate Diesel. But that's also to be expected from the theory: clean ULSD is less energy dense than old high sulfur diesel fuel.

I suspect idling is smoother with Ultimate Diesel, but I didn't do a rigorous measure of roughness before switching to Ultimate.

The price difference is tiny. And as cogdoc noted, once a BP station has its diesel tanks and pumps cleaned and renovated for Ultimate Diesel, it only retails Ultimate Diesel from then on.

Cheers

V

[Greg Roles]

Price difference of BP Ultimate diesel was 0.02 cents per litre to BP ULP ultimate, and 7 c per litre to normal ULP at BP yesterday. Certainly dropped down to stuff all!

[gregozedobe]

Was that because ULP increased ? (rather than Diesel decreasing)

There's been quite a bit of skulduggery going on with fuel prices in the last few weeks here in Canberra. Mobil was 20 odd cents a litre cheaper for all types of fuel c.f. Caltex and BP.

[dammfool]

I got a take full yesterday for my polo and noticed it smells alot more than normal diesel when filling up.Its seems when im giving it a boot full it doesnt blow as much soot.