Bio diesel

I have a new Punto 1.3 Multijet (same engine thats in the Panda and Idea)and was thinking of using Bio Diesel instead of the usual stuff.
Has anyone here used it?
Does it affect the engine in any adverse way i.e. ware, acceleration, torque, mpg etc.. ?

Also a friend of mine said that the cheaper supermarket fuels weren't as good as the normal garage fuels - has anyone here noticed a difference in mpg (increase fuel use) - I am using Tesco fuel and get 62.7 mpg which is what FIAT say (63mpg) you get from that engine (but maybe the onboard computer isn't that accurate) and soon (when the tank is empty) will see what the economy is with a branded fuel (BP or Shell). Has anyone here noticed a difference?

Thanks for your views

I know we have had many threads about fuel in the past, but always fun!

Personally, I have always avoided supermarket fuels, due to level of detergents in them. I tend to stick to Shell diesel in the Ulysse [although may switch to the new BP stuff for a few fills]. I was a great advocate for BP Super when I was running the Mondeo. Now I have got the Abarth, I am sticking to normal 95, usually from the local Total garage. I try not to mix brands if I can help it.

As for this Bio diesel, never used it.

the bio diesel at the pumps is only 10% bio diesel mixed with normal diesel its just a marketing thing.

I have found that Tesco and Shell fuel both produce about the same consumption of 63mpg (roughly) but the engine seems to work better with Shell.
With Tesco fuel it sits idling on 1000 revs but with Shell it idles at 950 revs and so is quieter with Shell.
In third gear with Tesco diesel I go at 10mph with feet off the accelerator but go at 12mph with Shell.
Gear changes also happen at a different speed between the two fuels - not sure which is best though, probably doesnt really matter.
Using Shell also makes the car more responsive so the accelerator needs to be pressed less during accelaration. A slight change in driving style but I think it will help the car.

To sum up I think that Shell is better than Tesco fuel.
Does anyone else notice the same differences?

esseffe

How does that work, as I read it you state tesco idles higher but then you state that when you idle it in 3rd the revs are higher with shell (i.e. because you get higher speed)?

paul its all in your the mind when you go on your visit you will prouble see supermarket lorries there getting petrol from shell

It's all the same stuff I read an article saying there is no difference. I've seen a Texaco branded tanker supplying a Tesco store. A couple of years ago my folks tested them both in their Tempra, the mpg was identical and they noticed no difference to the engine.

I believe the principle difference is that either Tesco's or Sainsbury's or both always costs at least 1p/ltr less, often more. I always buy the cheapest by using the AA petrol thingy, and only once has our local shell been the same price, apart from that the supermarkets are always cheaper.

Of course it is, when did you last see a Tesco oil refinery

But haven't we argued this before - I will always stick to branded petrol due to the level of detergents in them.....

It may all come from same refineries [didn't Steve C hang around outside one a few months ago, lol, to see what lorries actually left], but doesn't mean to say it is all the same end product.

I have also heard that tanker drivers are told not to add the detergents at supermarkets to save money, although that may be an urban myth and I have no proof as such.

Personally, Shell will always be my preferred brand, although I do sometimes use Total if I am in a rush coz it is so close [600 yards away, lol...]

So therefore it's cheaper than having to pay £6.99 for a bottle of Redex for cleaning my engine, yet it costs 2p/l less at the pumps . I'll go with that . Until we know someone who works in the industry I'll go with the urban myths thing as I ntoice no difference to my car whether I buy Asda or Esso (everywhere else is too expensive so that's the choice for me).