BP or Shell
Shell V-Power would appear to be the best for your car according to what people say, however finding concrete information about the fuel is quite difficult. Shell's marketing is full of crap imo, trying to impress people with pictures of Ferraris and giving NO information about the fuel at all.
Tesco 99 is fuel mixed with bioethanol to up the octane rating, I think older versions of the Shell stuff have been the same but someone I know has suggested the latest Shell V-power is a true 99-ron petrol.
The BP stuff is 97 RON and afaik this is not enough for turbocharged Impreza models regardless of what is stated on the inside of the filler cap.
Tesco 99 is fuel mixed with bioethanol to up the octane rating, I think older versions of the Shell stuff have been the same but someone I know has suggested the latest Shell V-power is a true 99-ron petrol.
The BP stuff is 97 RON and afaik this is not enough for turbocharged Impreza models regardless of what is stated on the inside of the filler cap.
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I have used all 3 when I had a DC5 and it ran badly on Tesco's, however the difference between BP and Shell was surprising V-power made it quieter and more responsive.
Since then i have always run V-power.
Since then i have always run V-power.
First choice:- V power nitro plus
Second choice:- tesco momentum (only if nowhere near a shell)
Third choice:- **** in my tank
Fourth choice:- bp (would be further down the list but you get the point)
Second choice:- tesco momentum (only if nowhere near a shell)
Third choice:- **** in my tank
Fourth choice:- bp (would be further down the list but you get the point)
Tesco 99 is like rocket fuel for me, both the Impreza and the old S3 Golf ran much quicker and cleaner on it compared to Shell.
But I mapped for Shell as there are more Shell stations around.
But I mapped for Shell as there are more Shell stations around.
Avoid BP Ultimate unless it's an emergency eg you're about to run out of fuel, but then resist using too much boost.
Just about every mapper will tell you to avoid the stuff.
JohnD
Just about every mapper will tell you to avoid the stuff.
JohnD

And as its so old there all different now. Needs to be done again with today's fuel
Last edited by EOEUMC; Oct 2, 2014 at 12:06 PM.
Do you have any evidence to back this up? I would be interested to see it!
Add the methanol, and thats a whole different ball game
Personally I dont claim either is better as per my post above, I cant tell the difference 
Tesco might be cheaper in some places :P
Having a dyno is a sure fire way to prove what fuel is better and after years of testing we found V power to be the best pump fuel followed by Tesco 99
A car is mapped for specific fuel.
Map it for one, fuel it with another and what can you read from a dyno ?
The only difference would be if one was actually, say 98.7 RON and the other was 99.2 or whatever.
I can't tell the difference between 0-60 in 4.0 or 4.5 tbh, and I can only 'believe' that mine runs smoother on Momentum.
I can prove however that it does more mpg on it.
Oh - and I'd NEVER trust Tesco with my car, yet many SN members said it would be OK - and it is.
Btw - last full tank was Shell Nitro+. Haven't noticed any difference tbh.
My understanding is that the likes of tesco add chemicals to their fuels to increase the Ron rating and quality. Hence all that issue tesco had a few years back with cars breaking down shortly after leaving the station.
For me personally, I'd rather buy from a company who specialise in fuel and oil rather than one that specialises in food but sell fuel because it's a money spinner. If I have to pay a few pence more for that privilege then so be it. I don't run my car on a tight budget so it doesn't concern me.
Shell has never giving me any issues so I've no reason to change.
For me personally, I'd rather buy from a company who specialise in fuel and oil rather than one that specialises in food but sell fuel because it's a money spinner. If I have to pay a few pence more for that privilege then so be it. I don't run my car on a tight budget so it doesn't concern me.
Shell has never giving me any issues so I've no reason to change.
However, you'd be wasting money.
Ignition timing (mapping) is altered to take account of the lower efficiency of combustion (ie. the lower octane), so whatever fuel goes in the timing etc. will remain the same.
It's why it's deadly to put 95 in a car mapped for, say, 99. The ignition settings are such that the fuel would pre-det.
The other way around and the more efficient fuel is still ignited later, so there's no benefit.







