Oils ain’t oils but are all diesel fuels the same

kokopop on 23/01/2022 - 13:58

So recently bought my first Diesel engine car. Kia Sorento. Secondhand. About 4 years old.

One advantage with diesel fuel is the price doesn’t fluctuate as much. And other than Ampol/Caltex there’s usually only one type of diesel.

Possibly a dumb question but are all diesel fuels across all the service station the same ? In terms of quality, efficiency etc?

Also with Ampol they have Diesel and Amplify Diesel, the latter being more expensive which seems to suggest a better diesel variety? And if so, where other service station only have one diesel, which type is it ?

KP

Automotive

Comments

  • holdenmg on 23/01/2022 - 14:13
    +1

    https://www.c-store.com.au/ampol-completes-rollout-of-its-up…

    Amplify costs more has other additives.

    • Brian McGee on 23/01/2022 - 14:22
      +3

      Sounds like marketing BS. I’m sure they are not say their base fuel range is inefficient and dirty, or maybe they are?

      • Switchblade88 on 23/01/2022 - 14:59
        +2

        It's an anti-foaming agent to stop your tank filling up with bubbles from the filler nozzle (allegedly). Same as any other servo advertising it.

        Some places you might see 'truck diesel' vs. 'premium diesel'; the truck diesel is cheaper by a couple of cents since it doesn't have the additives.

        Doesn't do anything for efficiency, engine longevity, pollution etc. All marketing BS.

    • derrida derider on 23/01/2022 - 14:58
      +2

      Yep, pretty pure marketing BS. They probably came from Singapore in exactly the same tanker hold.

      • Brian McGee on 23/01/2022 - 16:20
        +5

        Blended with extra words to make it better (more profitable)

        • pegaxs on 23/01/2022 - 17:51

          Blended with extra words

          omg! This is priceless. I'm taking this line to use on my customers next time I get asked at work if they should run "Premium 98 diesel" in their cars.

          • Brian McGee on 23/01/2022 - 20:59
            +1

            @pegaxs: As soon as Derrida derider said they come from the same tank it reminded me of James Mays food nonsense rant about Heston Blumenthal update little chef menus.
            “ Heston has made the menu better with a sprinkling of extra words. Pork sausage becomes outdoor reared pork sausage.”

  • Muzeeb on 23/01/2022 - 14:57
    +10

    Australian diesel used to be very 'dirty' compared to European refined diesels. Over the last 20 years or so the Australian diesel quality has been 'cleaned' up mainly by removing sulphur.

    Thing is though is that the sulphur was a good lubricant and without that additives had to be introduced.

    The additives add a lubricant, stop injectors being fouled, reduces corrosion in fuel lines and probably a heap of other things.

    Pegaxs will be all over this. When he gets back from church and lunch with the priest I'm sure he will reply.

    • Euphemistic on 23/01/2022 - 16:37

      Can I get an MSpaint of that?

    • pegaxs on 23/01/2022 - 17:43
      +8

      Have one big diesel storage tank. Pump it out to the trucks with no fancy labels and call it "truck diesel" or pump it across the courtyard and slap a colourful sticker on it with a fancy slogan word like "Advanced" or "Ultimate" or "Vortex" and slap on another 20%/litre and laugh all the way to the bank

      This is just going to be another 98RON thread where all the pants dyno experts turn up and claim that truck diesel gets them 6km/l, as opposed to when they use Super Ultimate Vortex Advanced 98 diesel from their favorite service station, they get 18km/l and 300% more horsepower and that "truck diesel" clogged their engine and the back diff fell out.

      • Muzeeb on 23/01/2022 - 18:14

        How was lunch?

        • pegaxs on 23/01/2022 - 18:48
          +5

          Not to bad. Father Shell and Monsignor Texaco send they warmest regards…

  • cohiba on 23/01/2022 - 15:48
    -6

    Freshness of diesel is important too as it is hydroscopic and some of the diesel sold in Oz is actually resold from old containers in industry or military storage.

  • Snake 4 on 23/01/2022 - 15:59
    +7
    • cohiba 5 min ago new. some of the diesel sold in Oz is actually resold from old containers in industry or military storage

    What a load of c**p.. .

  • Drakesy on 23/01/2022 - 16:18

    There are people that swear by BP ultimate diesel as the cleanest.

    I have an Audi 3.0tdi and just run whatever's cheapest.
    Every 5-10,000k's run a diesel flush through and it gets rid of most of the crud that's built up and the car runs great again.

    • Oofy Doofy on 23/01/2022 - 16:21

      fuel system or oil flush?

      • Drakesy on 23/01/2022 - 16:25

        just a fuel.
        Maybe an oil flush once every 15k but moreso the fuel system.

        • Euphemistic on 23/01/2022 - 16:38

          Does the fuel flush make a measurable difference or just make it feel better?

          Would you be better off spending a little more and getting BP ultimate and not having to carry out a flush?

  • Oofy Doofy on 23/01/2022 - 16:22

    What model year is the Sorento exactly? I ask because if it has a DPF I'm going to give you a few tips that will save you plenty of headaches while you own it.

    • Euphemistic on 23/01/2022 - 16:39
      +5

      I’m glad you haven’t bamboozled us with to much information up front.

      • Oofy Doofy on 23/01/2022 - 17:32

        I'm not going to assume it has a dpf, they're not required under Australian EPA law, it's dependant on the manufacturer.

        …"too* much"…(FYI)

        • pegaxs on 23/01/2022 - 18:05

          they're not required under Australian EPA law

          No, but they are required under ADR. If a car was fitted with one at time of ADR, it is illegal to modify the emission systems on vehicles from what they were fitted with at time of compliance.

          And the EPA doesn't tell manufacturers what they have to have fitted to their vehicles, only what the maximum amount of pollution a vehicle it allowed to emit. If a vehicle needs a DPF to come in under those requirements, it's up to the manufacturer to fit what is required, not what the EPA says, but once it's on there, you cannot modify it.

          • Oofy Doofy on 23/01/2022 - 18:10

            @pegaxs: Well naturally car companies don't bother changing things and adding complication unless they have to. Some just send from their right hand drive factories as is. Hyundai/Kia haven't used a dpf on any of their diesels for several years. I don't know if that has changed recently.

  • Euphemistic on 23/01/2022 - 16:42
    +2

    Ask a dozen mechanics this question, you’ll get a dozen different opinions. Some say only get ‘product x’ because it’s heaps better. Some say its all the same stuff with a different label. Plenty have opinions between those two opposites.

    IMO it all meets a standard. Cars are designed to run on fuel that meets the standard, ergo it doesn’t matter. Putting ‘premium’ in quite possible just makes you a sucker to marketing and lightens your wallet without making any difference to running the vehicle.

    I have run 2 diesel vehicles for over 5 years (one for 10). Always run whatever fuel is cheap or convenient. Haven’t had any issues.

  • Snake 4 on 23/01/2022 - 17:13
    +2

    Diesels now have to meet Euro 6 which means NOx emissions from diesel engines (a 67% reduction compared to Euro 5) and establishes similar standards for petrol and diesel with sulphur content at 10 ppm. Australia has set 1st July 2027 as the date for Euro 6 to take effect.

    Euro 5 didn't take effect till 2013 bearing in mind Euro 5 diesel vehicle were being imported i late 2006

    When Euro 5 diesel vehicles with a DPF arrived here there were massive problems with manufactures blaming our poor quality diesel. It took some six months or more to sort it. I know some vehicle brands had to flash the engine ECU.

    Yes there have been DPF problems up to a couple of years ago but that seems to be with the Toyota 4 cylinder diesel.

  • Nugs on 23/01/2022 - 18:27
    +1

    I use whatever is most convenient for the 40 litres I buy per year for my tractor
    .

  • El cheepo on 23/01/2022 - 18:31

    If your car is rated to take x fuel as a minimum there is no need to go above it.

    But if it makes you feel better, spend an extra $5-10 per refuel and have peace of mind. Either way wont hurt.

  • WreckTangle on 23/01/2022 - 18:59

    You might need adblue though depending on the Sorrento model

  • noob999 on 23/01/2022 - 19:38
    +2

    Premium Diesel > Diesel > Bio blended Diesel.
    Latest CR Diesel cars should fill with Premium Diesel but normal diesel is fine. Never ever run Bio blended as it does not have enough lubricity for the CR High Pressure fuel pump.

    If you have any new turbo diesel vehicle fit a ProVent oil catch can - separated the oil in the PCV from mixing with soot and clogging the intake, egr, and anti-shudder valve etc.

    • Oofy Doofy on 29/01/2022 - 23:03
      -1

      You would never fit a crankcase vent filter on a new vehicle. All car companies will give you every excuse under the sun to get out of fixing anything for you if something goes wrong.

      Just wait until it's 1 year out of warranty, as sometimes they will do repairs for problems in good faith.

      • noob999 on 30/01/2022 - 20:51

        Brand new vehicle is the best time to fit one… from day 1 you are causing a problem, this prevents it compounding.

        You do what you want…

        • Oofy Doofy on 30/01/2022 - 20:54

          You seem to have missed the point of what I said.

          Don't give a car company/dealer any excuse to void warranty repairs.

  • Snake 4 on 23/01/2022 - 20:56

    I've been running Castrol Active 2T 2 stroke oil at 200-1 in my CRD for nearly 10 years to help lubricate the pump. Does it work? I have no idea but there is 350,000k on it.

    • noob999 on 30/01/2022 - 20:53

      I have done the same … but I think they changed the 2T formula a couple years ago.
      sometimes a sneaky 500:1 in my 4stroke road bikes :)

  • DR-JEKL on 23/01/2022 - 21:22

    I have two european oilers and TBH I'm hard pressed to tell much difference between shell, Ampol, Mobil BP.

    I ran BP pretty much for 12 months straight went to costco and didnt notice any difference (my daily is a relatively 'high tuned' TT 3.0L BMW)

  • [Deactivated] on 24/01/2022 - 05:01
    -1

    Some have pee in it , some don't (ad blue)

  • [Deactivated] on 24/01/2022 - 07:56

    They are NOT all the same. Beware some places have winter fuel versions that don’t freeze (typically near alpine areas).

    • Euphemistic on 24/01/2022 - 08:20

      Oh no. If I fill up in a snowy area where my fuel may freezes it won’t freeze! They don’t run winter fuel all year and you aren’t likely to encounter it anywhere it doesn’t get cold enough. It’ll be worse to run standard diesel in alpine areas.

      • [Deactivated] on 24/01/2022 - 08:36

        Herein lies the problem.

        1) it is carried in areas that you can’t see snow. If you’re travelling through, you may not even know that it’s different or what it’s for
        2) because it’s not year round it can be easy to not know about it and/or forget that it’s a thing.

        • Euphemistic on 24/01/2022 - 10:49

          And what are the problems associated with using winter diesel when it’s not really that cold?

  • 82norm on 24/01/2022 - 13:11

    The best diesel at the servos are the ones with the fast flow button. The quicker your in and out the better.

    • JimB on 24/01/2022 - 13:57

      I swear that fast flow button is psychological only, it doesn't seem to pump any faster for me.

      • pegaxs on 24/01/2022 - 14:23

        It's hooked up to the same place as the pedestrian crossing buttons are connected up to.

        The button doesn't change the diameter of the hose or the diameter of the fuel nozzle, just the pressure.

        Most fuel stations use the ZVA-25 nozzles for diesel, when are rated for a max flow of 140l/m @ max 3.5bar (49 psi) And lets face it, they never do 140 litres in 1 min, else it would only take you 30 seconds to fill an average 70 litre fuel tank.

        Most of these are attached to pumps that deliver 40 to 140l/m. 40 is pretty standard for petrol and low flow diesel. 70 l/m for high flow diesel and 140+ l/m for ultra highflow/truck filling (usually 140l/m is coupled with ZVA 32 nozzles to cope with the extra flow requirements.)

        But basically, they make the pump go from low flow to higher flow rates. This causes more pressure in the system and only a small increase in actual extra output, as the extra flow still has to flow through the same sized hose. In a theoretically perfect world, it might be a jump of 10l/m, but in reality, its probably closer to about 1/2 that.

  • kokopop on 24/01/2022 - 15:14

    So in summary, I’m ok to use any diesel.

    Thanks everyone for their input.

    Also, just to add, and excuse the pun, but I occasionally use a fuel additive. Again not sure how good or useful these are, but makes me feel better.

    • pegaxs on 24/01/2022 - 15:53
      +2

      If they make you feel better, you just use what ever puts your heart at ease. If it's not causing any financial hardships, then it's no one's business but your own. :)

      • kokopop on 24/01/2022 - 16:15
        +2

        Thank you. Can I assume then the only thing being benefited by using these additives is just my feelings ;)

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