King Bob; I remember that Tesco scandal alright, it was just around the time they started appearing here. I just have a thing about Tesco, I’ve no idea why.

Jefferson; Ah, another sceptic! You’re dead right about ditching the motors, though I don’t fancy taxiing people around in a rickshaw… I’d be wanting seriously excellent runners for that gig!
Thanks for the link! That’s exactly what I was on about when I was replying to Baino :) Internal corrosion… coca cola for cars.

Roy; That’s gas! (sorry) I must get TAT to read these comments… he’s convinced otherwise! My question still stands though – how do you really know for sure?

We are having a petrol shortage here. I had to drive 15km the other day to get gas, and it was 10% ethanol! Seriously! :)

They say we are having a gas shortage due to the hurricanes. Bullox! The same pipeline that supplies the Northeast, which is not having a shortage, is the same line that runs under my city. Hmm…me thinks that something is a bit fishy about that situation.

I say we do away with all of the vehicles and start walking. :)

Interesting facts about Ethanol: http://www.calgasoline.com/facttopten.htm

Petrol is petrol however you look at it. But! Some petrol is more equal than others. (Diesel doesn’t matter.)

Topaz bought the Shell and Statoil Franchises and to the best of my knowledge Esso left the market long before that, If you see an Esso station it just hasn’t been rebranded yet. One of two of my local former Esso stations is still branded as esso despite Ted Castle tankers paying frequent visits. The other has been rebranded Vivo.

Anyway, back to petrol. Most petrol sold here in Ireland is either Regular (90 – 95 Octane) or more expensive Premium (98 Octane+.)

Octane can best be described as how explosive petrol is. This explosion subsequently makes your engine purr along. However some cars need fuel that burns at a higher temperature to avoid what is known as pre-ignition. This is where the engine runs so hot the fuel ignites in the wrong place causing major problems.

It can be best summed up as thus, if you have an Aston Martin then you need to fill up with Premium. If you have any ordinary car from a Ford Fiesta to an Opel Vectra then regular will do.

Some service stations do provide petrol with additives. Typically these will be formulated to “clean” your engine by dissolving carbon build up etc. But I can lend my own experience..

If I fill my car up with 57 litres of 90 Octane fuel I will get about 390 miles before I have to fill up again. If I fill up with a slightly more expensive 95 octane then I will get about 450 miles.

If you fill up at Tesco, Amber, Great Gas etc, you aren’t losing out. The fuel isn’t tainted and you can’t ‘water down’ petrol. Like I said at the start some petrol is more equal than others.

Xbox; Maybe they put thumbtacks outside on the pavement. That’s what I’d do if I owned a bike repair shop.

Maxi; Yeah but you can’t write off Pixie Dust against your V.A.T. I know, I’ve tried.

Stipes; Collect free plastic bags and sell them in Tesco in the south for the low low price of 10c?

Baino; You’re dead right, I’ve thought about doing that but it’s like everything else… someday I’ll get around to it.
I did hear though, that ethanol can have detrimental effects on one’s fuel tank over a long period. Could be wrong?
This isn’t ethanol I’m on about though, because they’d mark it on the pumps. This is something more sinister. Rat blood maybe? Smurf tears? I’ve no idea.