Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

[Hogster]

Hi all

Just filled up my CDI for the first time and was puzzled when I couldn't find a V-Power Diesel pump on the forecourt! Reluctantly using their FuelSave Diesel instead, I'm wondering if it makes that much difference ... enough to justify the extra cost?

What do all you CDI drivers use?

Many thanks!


David

PS. I also discovered that unlike my 450 where I could keep filling after 2 or 3 clicks, after 2 clicks on this 451 it started overflowing

[J500ANT]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

I tried it, made no difference.

[Smart Examiner]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

I mostly use supermarket diesel,but i have used BP and Shell and do not notice any difference.
Years ago diesel used to froth a lot,so it took a long time if you wanted to brim the tank.Perhaps this is why yours is overflowing?
I filled the tank last week and stopped after 2 clicks. Not much point in trying to get more in,seeing as 5 galls will last me for well over 2 months with the low mileage i do!!

[Hogster]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

Thanks for the feedback

I was also wondering whether there are longer term benefits of using V-Power for keeping the engine clean? I was always led to believe this was the case, certainly with V-Power Petrol? Even if it doesn't give more MPG, if it looks after the engine it's worth the extra few pence per litre for me ...

Many thanks!


David

[madDan]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

The only way to find out for yourself rather than any anacdotal evidence is to try it under your driving conditions (you may not hyper mile like some ie slipstreaming trucks you may not be a boot to the floor everywhere type) bearing in mind the effects any atmospheric changes will have on the performance.

I would run three tanks of ordinary shell diesel then three tanks of three tanks of V-Power Diesel, I would avoid using other makes at this point to keep the comparison between the same manufacturers two types of diesel.

Then see what the resultant changes are, if any, apart from paying more for the V-Power.

More mpg? smoother power delivery and pick up? as your car is new you shouldn't have the baggage associated with any cludged up EGR valve etc to complicate matters.

Diesel is more expensive at the mo' and the higher grade diesels even more so.


These cars and their drivers behaviour are so variable the only way to know a result is to try it yourself.

In my instance petrol V-Power still is more cost effective pence per mile than other super unleadeds or unleaded, whereas others find it not to be the case, so you have to take other peoples findings with a large pinch of salt a lot of the time, and try it yourself.

[Hogster]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

Hi Dan,

All very fair points The car had already done 16500 miles when I bought it so it's not completely new ... my first two tanks were with normal diesel and my current tank is V-Power. I might fill up again with V-Power before drawing any conclusions myself

I'm quite a hypermiler though and I'm currently sitting at 68.9mpg according to my trip computer ... I want more though!!

Cheers


David

[problemchild1976]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

In a rush on Saturday we pulled the zafira up to the diesel pump and put the black nozzle in only to realise it was v power diesel....

The car was almost empty so we put 3/4 tank in instead of the fill up

I have to say that the engine did seem to run a lot smoother (it's a 150bhp cdti) and file consumption was a bit lower but I would have to do longer tests and at around 7p/ltr more than standard diesel that's not gonna happen again!

There is a good video on YouTube of running a Ferrari f1 car on vpower and how it performs vs the f1 grade fuel - quite a good little experiment with laptimes and graphs of throttle response to back up the drivers claims . Ok so it's Ferrari using a sponsors fuel but hey

JJ

[tolsen]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

There is a red diesel that is a lot cheaper. Car seems to run fine on it with no difference in MPG.

[simon73]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

There is a red diesel that is a lot cheaper. Car seems to run fine on it with no difference in MPG.

Tolsen,

you do know that red diesel is a low tax fuel for farm machinery etc., and it is illegal to use in cars? It is red so that it can be detected even at 0.3ppm (part per million) and therefore even after running normal diesel is still detectable and you will be in big trouble. They may detect this in an MOT and will report you.

Sorry if you do know this and were only joking, I would hate to see a fellow Smartie in trouble.

Simon.

[madDan]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

He'll live in the middle of nowhere and slip the MOT centre a haggis as a bribe.

[tolsen]

Re: Shell V-Power Diesel - is it worth it?

It was red Shell V-Power.