Why BP

[MJKooLio]

I buy Caltex only and if really need fuel I'll get BP. I know both are the same but prefer Caltex as they are always the cheapest!

If you really want to know, Caltex on Wellington St in Perth City, right next to Wellington Square is the cheapest everytime! Around the corner are 3 other Caltex stations and is at least 10 cents cheaper then the others! It's crazy and have no idea why! I buy 95 and put it in the 6R Polo GTI I have and can't tell Difference between 98 and 95 when I got the car besides price!! Same usage and same amount in a full tank cept ones slightly cheaper! I used "Premium" at Shell in my previous car, a French car and holy cow that was chewed up so fast!! Then they introduced V Power but havent tried it...

I'm sticking with Caltex, specially the one in the city!!! Everytime.

[gareth_oau]

the difference between 95 and 98 might not be noticeable if your car isnt tuned for it.

Both my tunes are specifically for 98

[Ryan_R]

I only know of one Caltex in my general area, and two BP's that are further away (never drive past them though), so I stick with VPower. I've noticed that if I mix SVP and BPU I'll get great performance, but a few trips later after filling up with BPU the car feels very sluggish, so I tend to avoid it. Might just be those particular servos in my area.

[Stiggy_21]

funny how different cars get different results.
just topped up with V Power, see how it goes... haven't tried it in at least 6 months

[VW Convert]

George, I dont think "they are in bed with each other".

Its economies of scale.

For example, the WA market isnt big enough for two refineries to be operating - one or both would go bankrupt. So one runs the refinery and the others buy from it, rebrand, mix their own additives etc etc.

some are now directly importing product from singapore to try and compete.

BP has the refinery in Perth and is typically the most expensive fuel.

The Shell/Coles or Caltex/Woolies fuel is typically a lot cheaper - this behaviour reflect competition and not that they are bed with each other.

Don't disagree with you Gareth, economy of scale is a huge issue for refiners in Australia and is the major reason that Shell is closing the Clyde refinery, our refinieries are very small relative to the rest of the world. I read a story a few years ago about a refinery under construction in India that when completed would have greater capacity than all the refineries in Australia combined!

The point I was making is that the oil companies have co-operative arrangements to enable them to operate nationally without having their own refineries.

As for Coles and Woolies well yes the fuel is cheaper but they offset against their grocery pricing and their strategy is to tie people to both fuel and groceries.

Cheers

George

[Ryan_R]

Isn't Chevron (USA company) trying to muscle in on the Aussie market?

[Diesel_vert]

I'd say the quality of storage standards at service stations and/or freshness of the fuel is a bigger differentiator than anything.

---------- Post added at 10:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Isn't Chevron (USA company) trying to muscle in on the Aussie market?

I think you'll find that Caltex and Texaco is part of the Chevron Corporation.

[VW Convert]

I'd say the quality of storage standards at service stations and/or freshness of the fuel is a bigger differentiator than anything.

Agree 100%, I avoid dingy, low volume stations and fill up at modern, clean, high volume stations.

Cheers

George

[BottomScratcher]

Don't disagree with you Gareth, economy of scale is a huge issue for refiners in Australia and is the major reason that Shell is closing the Clyde refinery, our refinieries are very small relative to the rest of the world. I read a story a few years ago about a refinery under construction in India that when completed would have greater capacity than all the refineries in Australia combined!

The point I was making is that the oil companies have co-operative arrangements to enable them to operate nationally without having their own refineries.

As for Coles and Woolies well yes the fuel is cheaper but they offset against their grocery pricing and their strategy is to tie people to both fuel and groceries.

Cheers

George

All of the companies are members of the Australian Institute of Petroleum. The AIP sets "gate prices" for individulal terminals. In Brisbane, Bulwer Island refinery supplies Whinstanes Terminal with product. Both BP and Mobil come out of Whinstanes. To argue that one fuel is of higher quality than the other is pretty much a waste of time.

As for oil companies "being in bed together", in 1951 Iran nationalised its oil industry, then controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now BP), and Iranian oil was subjected to an international embargo. In an effort to bring Iranian oil production back to international markets, the U.S. State Department suggested the creation of a "Consortium" of major oil companies. The "Consortium for Iran" was subsequently formed by the following companies:
Anglo-Persian Oil Company (United Kingdom). This subsequently became Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and then British Petroleum. Following the acquisition of Amoco (which in turn was formerly Standard Oil of Indiana) and Atlantic Richfield it shortened its name to BP in 2000.
Gulf Oil (United States) In 1985 most of Gulf was acquired by Chevron, with smaller parts acquired by BP and Cumberland Farms. A network of service stations in the northeastern United States still bears the Gulf name.
Royal Dutch Shell (Netherlands/United Kingdom)
Standard Oil of California (Socal) (United States) This subsequently became Chevron.
Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso) (United States) This subsequently became Exxon, which renamed itself ExxonMobil following the acquisition of Mobil in 1999.
Standard Oil Co. of New York (Socony) (United States) This subsequently became Mobil, which was acquired by Exxon in 1999.
Texaco (United States). This was acquired by Chevron in 2001.

The major oil companies became known as The Seven Sisters. They were in bed together then, and as evidenced by their "co-operative arrangements" they are in bed together now.

[gavs]

The simple answer was that up until 18 months ago, BP Ultimate was the only TRUE 98RON petrol because 98RON was the minimum octane rating for BP Ultimate. All the others were calculated over an average RON which added up to an average of 98RON.

Nowadays, who knows. That's why BP was the best. If you truly want the best, give avgas a go