If you are doing much the same journeys each week then why not try a couple of tanks of cheap and then a couple of tanks of expensive.

Don't rely on the mpg on the screen - record the mileage and the volume yourself to get a more accurate consumption figure.

See how you get on.

You may find that you prefer the expensive derv purely by your seat of the pants feel, and you might also find a few more mpg as a bonus to cover the extra cost.

 

If you are doing much the same journeys each week then why not try a couple of tanks of cheap and then a couple of tanks of expensive.

Don't rely on the mpg on the screen - record the mileage and the volume yourself to get a more accurate consumption figure.

See how you get on.

You may find that you prefer the expensive derv purely by your seat of the pants feel, and you might also find a few more mpg as a bonus to cover the extra cost.

The issue is that the premium is the SAME cost as the regular.

 

Premium Diesel versus Diesel

 

Thanks for the info GazzaK.

But I’ve got to say ...
Geez, talk and talk and talk about full of himself.

The end point might be right (i.e. ‘premium diesel’ is all about marketing rubbish).
But there’s too much BS for me to trust the rest.

Take the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 that is supposedly out of date because the govt is ‘asleep at the wheel’.
Firstly, it was revised a few times after 2001.
It then superseded by Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2009.
All this was before the video was made, so who was ‘asleep’?

It has now been superseded again by Fuel Quality Standards (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2019. This is after the video was made so the video should be pulled down, but apparently he’s ‘asleep’ and continuing to distribute out of date material.

And, by the way, do you really want your fuel standard to change by much every few years?

He should be in marketing.
Oh wait... he is... marketing himself 🙄

 

I wouldn't put anything else but premium diesel in the Touareg. But haven't noticed the prices are the same between the two...go premium, any opportunity to keep fuel pump, lines and injectors cleaner I would take it

 

No difference in price? That's a nanosecond decision then isn't it?

Buy the regular of course!

 

Sounds like a marketing sham ... winter mix versus summer mix does make a bit of a difference, but I do not buy into the whole premium diesel thing. I'd rather buy additive from time to time to do engine cleaning and not lean on magic add ons.

 

interesting discussion that has been going on for ages now across the internet and ofcourse we all have our choices...technically there are differences in normal diesel and premium diesel. I mainly use BP Ultimate, if you look at the specs of both their fuels there are differences....ultimate for example has much lower boiling point which leads better premix burn and heat release.....and of course theres the marketing aspect of lubricants added, cleaning dirt, better economy, etc.......the one thing that stands out always is the clear reference to carcinogenicity - suspected of causing cancer.....bring on the eTouareg(not hybrid) I say....maybe in 10years time we'll be discussing that topic

 

I personally have not noticed any difference in gas mileage, engine noise, etc. so yes, there might be some added advantages but they are not discernible

 

thats primarily because unlike petrol there is no increase in cetane with diesel between standard and premium diesel in australia from what I know.....hence the benefits are suspicious to the mind.....all cleaning, dirt busting related.....and really is there an additive out there which truly cleans a a clogged injector...now thats another myth to be busted perhaps

 

Yes of course the premium is the same rubbish as the regular and only total mugs will.pay the increased price when it happens.

But of course a more rational approach would be as I suggested in an earlier post - use it for at least a couple of tanks, measure the mpg accurately and then take a view.

 

total mugs? this is where the conversations go south.

 

It's the Yanks who normally don't get irony!

 

this sounds pretty much like politics plenty of opinions, few facts ... I (for one) would love an impartial study done by a lab that is not paid off by one of energy companies, showing what is what and separating facts from fiction.

 

There are no independent studies.

Discussing fuel quality on an international forum is impossible to do accurately - as fuel quality varies so much around the world, particularly what counts as "regular" and "premium".

Europe has a high mandatory standard for diesel so the regular is high quality and branded premium simply has more additive, an advantage in an engine in poor condition but no advantage in a well maintained engine. In addition, there's an orchestrated change-over from "Summer" diesel to "Winter" according to the climate in each European country.

North America has a relatively low standard for regular diesel, intended for the big trucks which are designed to run on it but less suitable for European-designed cars, especially those like Touareg with high pressure fuel pumps operating the common rail system at 2,000 bar (29,000 psi).

 

If my Touareg is going to throw a code its on the standard. If I put in standard I also put in 100ml of conditioner and I don't get any codes or flutter. But add that to the price and its the same. Singh is right the common rail diesel high pressure pumps & return lines don't like tar & sulphur. Yes a truck or old tech diesel will run on watered down tar (shipping diesel is literally black mud).

 

Hard to tell what this discussion is all about. Coupla cents?? Not an issue when the price of diesel varies by more than 21 cents per Ltr just in my area, dependent on the servo.
Unlike the octane rating of petrol, the more refined diesel is essentially the same calorific value. Premium gets more additives. Why wouldn't you want the best you can get for your HPFP???
I've worked with the widest variety from FFO through marine diesel through jerk pump diesel (Truck stuff) and on to the very fragile ultra finicky electronic diesel engines.
It'd be a VERY courageous decision to cheap out on base diesel if it cost you a pump or a few injectors. Nothing like spending dollars to save cents!

 

Hard to tell what this discussion is all about. Coupla cents?? Not an issue when the price of diesel varies by more than 21 cents per Ltr just in my area, dependent on the servo.
Unlike the octane rating of petrol, the more refined diesel is essentially the same calorific value. Premium gets more additives. Why wouldn't you want the best you can get for your HPFP???
I've worked with the widest variety from FFO through marine diesel through jerk pump diesel (Truck stuff) and on to the very fragile ultra finicky electronic diesel engines.
It'd be a VERY courageous decision to cheap out on base diesel if it cost you a pump or a few injectors. Nothing like spending dollars to save cents!

Any tips on the best premium diesel?

 

BP, always for me, unless outback... Where you have to settle for whatever you get..

 

Any opinion on Costco premium diesel?

 

Rather than a specific outlet brand, get your diesel where ever possible from a high turnover site. Greatly lessens the chance of contamination and huge expense to you. If you like to run to empty then you have to get what you can where you can.

 

Costco doesn't refine fuel, it'll be one of the majors. G should tell you who supplies them.

 

Huge volume

 

Use an additive to help protect the HPFP.

 

Now on that I recall the following note from VW...if you like adding additives then use as indicated... although Australia isn't in one of the three countries

 

Now on that I recall the following note from VW...if you like adding additives then use as indicated... although Australia isn't in one of the three countries

View attachment 258431

I can’t for the life of me work out how to add the additives. Is there a special funnel that trucks the inlet into opening, thinking it’s a bowser nozzle?

 

I might be sucked in by the marketing as i know nothing about fuels. But like Singh I always try to use BP Ultimate and touch wood have never had an issue. 320,000 Km's on the old girl and over 100,000 km's on the Launch Edition without issue, so will stick to what I think is best fuel.
The stupid part is the large variance between service stations in price (Way more than the difference between Premium and standard).
Here on Sunshine Coast there is 700 metres from pump to pump at Forest Glenn between BP North and BP South. North bound is ALWAYS cheaper and for last few weeks has been a 16 cents difference in price between the 2 for Ultimate Diesel. Maybe South bound is going with selling a heap less quantity for a lot more margin.
I am not a supported of increased taxes but if any government suggest raising fuel excise by say 2c to go into road safety and improvements, would be probably thrown out of government, but here we have servos so close to each other with ridiculous variances on prices. Petrol Spy seems to work pretty well

 

Here on Sunshine Coast there is 700 metres from pump to pump at Forest Glenn between BP North and BP South. North bound is ALWAYS cheaper and for last few weeks has been a 16 cents difference in price between the 2 for Ultimate Diesel.

I stood in that exact Northbound servo a week ago and wondered the very same thing. Talk about a scam !!!!!

 

In essence, where we live the difference in price per Ltr between servos is far more than the difference between truck and special diesel in a price sense. I buy BP fuel, also Shell and Mobil depending on where I am. Haven't had an issue with any of them. I still believe that if you can buy fresh fuel (by extension a high turnover site) then you have done the best you can for your car and yourself. I wouldn't be betting the family jewels that I have brand X, Y or Z in my tank.

 

Bring on the e Touareg 😊
Maybe the situation will be the same for those who can't top up with home solar...go to BP up or down the road to charge ☺

 

Bring on the e Touareg 😊
Maybe the situation will be the same for those who can't top up with home solar...go to BP up or down the road to charge ☺

Will there be an e-Touareg - or will the whole world have to accept an e-Atlas?

 

I found the report that was done some time ago with HPFP problems and diesel from around the world.

 

Will ET be able to tow 3.5 tonnes?

 

Yes. No issue with 3.5T. The issue will the 100 Km distance it will be able to tow it. 😀

 

Doesn't have to be electric only, a petrol hybrid will do the job for now, including towing with better thresholds...
Plus we do have electric hub assisted caravans coming.... future is exciting....e touareg with e caravan...e airstream...