You could be damaging your vehicle’s engine.
A mechanic and garage owner with 17 years of experience has issued a warning to motorists advising them to ‘avoid’ filling up at supermarket fuel stations ‘at all costs’.
In an interview with GSF Car Parts, engine expert Reaz revealed that supermarket fuels often lack the “necessary detergents” required to keep the fuel system clean.
He urged drivers to avoid getting gas at supermarket stops like Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s and called on drivers to alternate between premium and standard types of fuel. He said these measures would prevent premature system failures.
“It’s a simple practice that can extend the life of your vehicle’s engine,” he added.
On its website, Tesco says: “Our Momentum 99 petrol contains a special blend of additives to help keep a car’s fuel system clean and working at its best. Additionally, the higher octane level (99 compared to 95 for regular unleaded petrol) gives improved overall engine performance for cars that are able to take advantage of this (generally, sportier models).
“Most Tesco Petrol Filling Stations across England, Scotland and Wales stock Momentum 99,” they added. “We don’t currently have a supply terminal that is able to produce our high octane base fuel to blend with our exclusive additives in Northern Ireland.”
Sainsbury’s adds: “The fuel market is extremely competitive and prices are very volatile in the current climate. Prices differ throughout the UK and you will see varying prices even between outlets owned by the same company.
“We want to ensure our petrol stations remain competitive within their local area, offering customers a fair price wherever they live. We therefore adjust the price at each station using locally gathered pricing information.
“We also run regular promotions on fuel including bonus Nectar points and money off per litre when spending a qualifying amount in our stores.” Morrisons adds: “We aim to be competitive with our Petrol prices and they do change to ensure we give our customers great value. Prices are not available on our website but are displayed on the totems at your local Petrol Station.”
Asda argued: “There is no such thing as ‘Supermarket Fuel’ – our fuel conforms to the same standards and comes from the same refineries as the branded oil major petrol stations.
“We also have a dedicated fleet of tankers to ensure the quality is maintained from the refinery through to the pumps. The refineries where Asda fuel comes from have a stringent testing regime and all the fuel that goes to an Asda Petrol Station has passed quality control and is compliant to British Standards (EN228 for petrol / EN590 for diesel).
“Asda fuel goes above the British standards and meets the standards of the World Fuels Charter which exceed the National and European requirements.”
Morrisons, on the other hand, say: “We aim to be competitive with our Petrol prices and they do change to ensure we give our customers great value. Prices are not available on our website but are displayed on the totems at your local Petrol Station.
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In the same interview, Reaz named Land Rover’s Range Rover models as the worst cars to buy due to their need for “frequent visits to the repair shop”.
This advice comes as part of a series of tips on car buying and maintenance from GSF Car Parts.
The expert mechanic named the Volvo XC90 T8 Petrol Hybrid as his top pick due to its performance, reliability and build quality.
