Ok, so why do you think that peoples’ warning lights light up for no reason?It’s an urban myth and Which? Magazine, Green Flag Breakdown and the RAC all say supermarket fuel is practically no different to branded fuel. All fuel comes from the same refineries and then each retailer adds their own additives such as detergents (including supermarkets). A mechanic repeating this myth is either gullible or is checking the customer’s gullibility.
The first two questions should be directed to the car manufacturer. They use supermarket fuel (alongside branded fuel) in their tests so it should be able to run on it. If I bought a car from eg Nissan and they said after I bought the car that I can’t use supermarket fuel, I’d be pretty miffed and make it known that they sold the car to me without advising me of it, but also that I wouldn’t use their brand again. Believe me they’ll do anything but admit their car is a lemon.Ok, so why do you think that peoples’ warning lights light up for no reason?
Why doesn’t this recur when they don’t use supermarket fuel.
Why do you think mechanics test the gullibility of customers when it doesn’t make them any more money?
But it’s not one mechanic suggesting this, it’s lots all over the country.The first two questions should be directed to the car manufacturer. They use supermarket fuel (alongside branded fuel) in their tests so it should be able to run on it. If I bought a car from eg Nissan and they said after I bought the car that I can’t use supermarket fuel, I’d be pretty miffed and make it known that they sold the car to me without advising me of it, but also that I wouldn’t use their brand again. Believe me they’ll do anything but admit their car is a lemon.
Alternatively it could be contamination in the fuel but that could happen at any forecourt. Also running the petrol tank right down can result in petrol tank sediment in the engine.
As for the last question, you must be a very trusting person.
Whatever you think though, why do the RAC, Green Flag and Which? back me up on this with free advice? You prefer to trust the guy or gal who’s taking your money?
Does it get easier and how old are you, if you don't mind me asking.71% of ALL car journeys in the UK are under 5 miles, and 25% are less than 1 mile.
I used to regularly put £35-40 per week of fuel in my car to do a 13.5 mile per day round trip to work, as well as shopping and visiting family at weekends.
Now I cycle to work (which was a bit of a slog to begin with) and I've cut my fuel bill by about 75%.
When I first got back into riding my bike it was a bit of a struggle as I wanted to ride like I did in my late teens/early 20's (I was 45 when I got back on my bike). Once I got some miles in my legs I found my strength coming back fairly quickly. My legs do feel a bit heavy at times, but usually towards the end of the week.Does it get easier and how old are you, if you don't mind me asking.
And garages area are amongst the group that know a racket when one drops in their laps.People will keep paying it so the prices wont go down.
To quote the Velominati, Rule #10 "It never gets easier, you just go faster"Does it get easier and how old are you, if you don't mind me asking.
Aha, T, sounds like yer need one of those bikes with a big black box at the back. I think they call 'em 'batteries'! Whenever I approach a hill or a Force 10 on the canal bank I just nudge the juice up a bit and I'm back in control!When I first got back into riding my bike it was a bit of a struggle as I wanted to ride like I did in my late teens/early 20's (I was 45 when I got back on my bike). Once I got some miles in my legs I found my strength coming back fairly quickly. My legs do feel a bit heavy at times, but usually towards the end of the week.
CV fitness wise I'm loads better. I used to be completely blown out at the top of the hill, but now I still have more in the tank. My resting HR has come down to between 54 and 60bpm from 62 to 68bpm before I started. Even if my HR peaks I can normally hold it at that level for enough time to get me up the hill and then once the terrain flattens out it recovers fairly quickly.
I do push myself though. It's only 30 minutes each way, but I treat it like a mini gym session so effectively I'm doing an hour a day of training 5 days a week. I ride down a hill in the morning, across town and up another hill, then it's the reverse of that on the way home. And I try to ride in all weather, although I'm not a massive fan of head winds.
I'm definitely fitter, but in terms of it being easier it essentially allows me to work harder for longer. Having said that the first time I rode to work I was absolutely f*cked by the time I got there. Jelly legs when I got off the bike and I'd not ridden particularly fast either. Now I'm pretty sure I could ride 85% of the route without breaking a sweat if I took it 'easy', and even after a hard ride I can still run up the stairs when I get to work.
Some mornings I really do, but rather than lugging a battery around I have 5kg worth of pannier rack/bag full of spare clothes and work kit ;-)Aha, T, sounds like yer need one of those bikes with a big black box at the back. I think they call 'em 'batteries'! Whenever I approach a hill or a Force 10 on the canal bank I just nudge the juice up a bit and I'm back in control!
So what’s the evidence from the mechanics then? If it’s a problem then they need to be recording the actual problem and logging which forecourts have been used and which vehicles are affected, otherwise it’s all just very weak evidence to me. Millions use supermarket fuel without any noticeable issues.But it’s not one mechanic suggesting this, it’s lots all over the country.
Do RAC, GF, Which not charge for their opinions?
Engine lights can come on for a multitude of reasons, you are correct. There seems to be a correlation for a fair number of people where they come on following filling up at supermarkets.
Its not about being a trusting person, although I’ve used the same mechanic for 20 years as he’s a friend of the family. It’s unlikely he’s trying to blag us.
I still have the same car 4 years later and have never had a light come on since stopping using supermarket fuel.
It might be a coincidence, or it might actually be true.