Makes sense to me too.... Wouldn't be keen on adding anything to the diesel, any repair required could give my bank account a serious health condition
I also agree with your findings regarding BP Ultimate....

I agree also with the BP Ultimate but was stopped by my company's fleet manager and told that in a company car you use the cheapest available.
Still only use BP but their normal diesel.

David

I concur BP Ultimate for me to

IMHO :) in modern diesels use the best product (in this instance "BP Ultimate" and NEVER use "supermarket fuel" - petrol or diesel !!!! if it's your own vehicle - not a company car !!!

I use the premium diesels (whichever brand I can find) my milages are low and it helps keep the DPF
clean plus there is a definite edge to the performance.
Failing a a regular supply of premium I use branded diesel then back to the premium.

We will be changing our car soon (next 12 months) which may mean we sell our current Eriba. Either way the new one will most likely be another diesel and whether it needs to tow or not will be run on the highest grade diesel I can get at whatever pump I'm near. I hav'nt used supermarket fuel for ages, always one of the proprietry brands, you definatly notice the difference once the old "guff" is flushed through!

I get good mpg, quieter running and more vroooooooooom!!!!! and I'm sure there are unseen benefits to

Um, interesting. I lived on a small Mediterranean island for the best part of four years where the government subsidised oil was purchased from Libya, shipped to Italy for refining into petrol and diesel before being finally shipped to the island for distribution. As it was Government subsidised, no additives whatsoever were put into the fuel and basically it was as raw as it comes. All the diesel car owners that I knew of, myself included, used to add one pint of engine oil to every tankful of diesel to help in lubrication. I eventually returned to the UK to sell the vehicle - a Mitsubishi Shogun - with upwards of 60K kilometres on the clock and if anything, the engine was smoother and quieter than the day I bought it.

I agree though that fuel purchased in the UK - in Europe in fact, should have enough additives to meet the needs of your average diesel vehicle. I'm not entirely convinced about brand A being any better than brand B though because there are only a limited number of refineries in the UK and fuel storing facilities so there's a good chance that any two given brands are coming from the same supplier and have exactly the same qualities.

I read at one time, an account of the fuel situation, from an executive who had just retired from the oil industry. His review said that all diesel fuel, after refining, was basically the same. However, it was all the additives that were added, that made a vast difference to the cleanliness, an ultimate performance of the different brands. Some were far more expensive, than others.......although they all past the minimum acceptable standards. Some additives were added at the time after refining, prior to delivery. These were the main high profile makes - Esso, BP, Shell ect.......however some additives were added at time of delivery at the forecourt tanks. I don't fancy the latter.....supposing the delivery driver had an off-day, (or still had hangover, and was generally pissed off at the time) might forget the correct ratio of ingredients. My engine function, would depend on some delivery drivers bad hair day !! I don't think so. Ian.

(I think there is a lot of subjective self-deception (and self-justification) regarding relative vehicle performance with different fuels as it is only natural to believe that your car will run better if you pay more for your fuel.)

Ha....Ha... Believe me I would not spend more than I need to on my motoring costs unless I was pretty certain of my own findings...
I think you do a lot of motorists an injustice here...most drivers are bright enough to know if their vehicle is running smoother or rougher and if their MPG has increased or decreased....

Some years ago I was involved in driving/delivering vehicles (Minis to the Exotic) all over the UK & Europe.... the company I worked for had very strict rules on the brands and quality of fuels we were allowed to use due to their experiences over many years....again like a private motorist it was in their interest to keep costs as low as possible but they deemed that cheap fuel was a false economy...

I agree with you regarding proper scientific testing being required to settle the matter once and for all.....

Yes....I think the point here is that any tests and evaluations would need to be 'independent'.....tests by any of the petrol companies, as you say, would not be believed....

I'm quite happy to "believe" my car runs better, as it's me that would pay a repair bill!!!

I get 40k out of a set of tyres I have never had a new clutch (even the old Shogun with lots of miles, was on it's original) I get 60k at least out of a set of brake pads / shoes, as for exhausts? Shogun was stainless from new, RAV4 had a stainless fitted by the previous owner, Mini Cooper S had it 6 years then sold it (no replacement parts) BMW 320d 5 years old now, had 1 new tyre due to unrepairable puncture, it tells me new pads in 60k I've done 22k since we bought it.

Seriously, I doubt you will ever get an answer as to whether this or that fuel is better, if it was done independently I can foresee a major lawsuit against anyone who claims it does'nt do what BP, SHELL, TEXACO or whoever claim