premium fuel or normal fuel

Thanks Binoy - that was a very nice link. Again, I am a bit apprehensive whether in an oil deprived country like India, would we get these additives at a humble bunk in the corner - I don't think so. Most of the oil companies in India are at extreme in terms of losses and cost cutting - I doubt if they ever add any of these additives - but for the few mandatory ones and the ones to increase the octane and cetane levels to suit high performance engines.

What hurts me is this notion among the general public in India that higher Octane fuel is more pure and improves performance and mileage - it is plain myth. Infact, the lower octane fuels are more pure with no additives in them.

Cheers,

K Prasad

Last week-end, I happen to undertake the long trip.  I first used-up (almost) the premium diesel for onward journey & on return, refilled the tank with normal diesel.

Regarding noise level, it's just impossible to feel the difference, if any.  Regarding mileage, I would not comment (for the present), as driving condition had changed on return journey (normal diesel) - I had driven down alone & returned with family & luggage (plenty) - so there was a big difference in load of the car. 

But, yes, during similar driving conditions that I had for a few kms, I did feel that car runs a little more smoothly on normal diesel.

Well, but I will revert/confirm my observations & measure the mileage by the month end when I am expected to take a long trip again - I shall refill premium diesel for onward journey & refill with normal one on return (diriving conditions will be same).

Need a bit of help - system D is a new term here for me - can you help me understand that plz.

Cheers,

K Prasad

Me being a user of petrol, I know the petrol equivalent of it - Bardhal Liquid - supposed to clean-up the engines from filth - this also added manually in pretty much similar portions - but I find it useful only for bikes - engines being small and compression ratios being higher in bikes, the tolerance limit to survive in filth is much lesser there.

Incidentally, the fuel I use for my bike and car itself is different - bike being a high compression engine, even the manual says high octane and I hence use 91+octane always. While for my car, compression ratio is lesser and manula says normal petrol of 88 RON - I use normal one for the car.

Cheers,

K Prasad

While we are discussing fuels (especially diesels) most of the car manufacturers agree (abeit not on paper) that their Common Rail diesel technology is prone to damage arising from irregular fuel-usage pattern as well as high sulphur diesel. Which translates to use fuel from a trusted bunk supplying good quality fuel. For a consumer though there seems to be no way to measure the same.

Bhushan

Yes Bhushan - a bit sad story though, but wondered with so many cars on roads, why is it that no firm has ever though of manufacturing a guage / handheld equipment for testing fuel quality - I mean to find out the sulphur content in a fixed amount of liquid is not rocket science - just as they have blood sugar testing equipment - I am sure the kit will sell as hot cakes if someone actually manages to make one. Cool Idea - isn't it ))

Cheers,

K Prasad