Interesting information about unlead fuel Part 2

Well it all started on Monday when I put half a tank of BP 97 RON in my car on the way home from work.

Driving home the temp gauge seemed abnormally high, pretty much at the top of the gauge.

Tuesday, to and from work gauge high again.

Yesterday, Wednesday, I had to do a longer journey, about 100 miles, gauge was high all the way, especially when going faster, which as you people know is normally the opposite way round.

So firstly I thinks perhaps the vacuum advance pipe has fallen off, giving rubbish timing at higher speeds, hence higher temps. Checked it, all ok.

Then I remembered reading the post about unleaded fuel. I figured if I had cr P petrol, it might affect the timing, in turn affecting engine temp. Bit of a longshot really. So, with no real hope of joy, I filled up to the top with ESSO 97 RON.

Well what do you know, dropped the temp by a quarter of a gauge. Not quite back to normal cos I still have a quarter tank of the BP stuff swilling about in there.

Anyway, I gave their "customer service" no. a ring and explained the situation, the friendly woman explained that their petrol is guaranteed 97 RON. I still have the reciept for the water. Wait and see what happens, they promised to investigate and reply in writing in 3 to 4 days.

Peter, probably not filling up at BP anytime soon.

Thats not good at all tallpete 8O - could be dodgy batch of petrol, but all the same. I use Optimax, BP Super and Esso Super and have to say not really noticed any problems or variance with running the car on any of these. There doesn't seen to be any independent information available as to how well fuels compare to each other and where they come from etc? I generally just stayed from the supermarket stuff as they put enough rubbish into the food they sell, so god knows what goes into their petrol .

Assume you read Hairyarse's post about fuel origins here . Interesting stuff and your experince would fit in. Although, without wishing to be to cynical there is nothing to validate the source of the information? Seen these "I work inside the motor trade and this it whats it really like" stories before? Could be genuine, but could be someone getting a bit poetic after a few pints ? Or a salesman for Esso.

Cheers

Absolutely, you never know!

Can only go on your own personal experiences really

I know what you mean. How impartial is any advice really?

I have used 97 and on rare occasions 95 from all sorts of petrol stations before and not had problems like this.

Peter.