VPower Ron 97 vs VPower Racing

[ssmann]

I always look out for information as such as I'm a bit of a nerd on this kind of stuff as well. As I have a mech eng background, technicalities are always of interest!

If you could advise, are there 'better' fuel stations out there than others? Or is it another myth? Personally I always fill up at a BHP, maybe it's a fake feel but I always feel better and smoother response with BHP. :listen:

Bro...generally all fuels are the same. The difference is in the additives and these come with premium fuels like Vpower racing etc. All refineries generally are built on similar principles and the only differentiation is on tech to produce quicker, cheaper and efficiently. For e.g. the Singapore Refinery Company where BHP gets its fuels from also supplies fuel to a number of other independent oil retailers in New Zealand and Australia. Feedstock is the same. How diff can these fuels be, apart from additives in the premium range.

The trick is in the additives. In my humble opinion, the market leader in fuel technology additives is Shell. Not bias, just stating the obvious based on factual data. Exxon does not really compete in the retailing business, they are a niche/top player in the production of crude. BP into alternatives and Chevron (Caltex) not big on the retail end. The largest and most significant presence of the fuel brand to the masses is Shell and Shell does invest alot in fuel technology, evidence by long standing partnership with Ferrari and F1.

My 2 cents worth.....

 

[t2ribena]

Bro...generally all fuels are the same. The difference is in the additives and these come with premium fuels like Vpower racing etc. All refineries generally are built on similar principles and the only differentiation is on tech to produce quicker, cheaper and efficiently. For e.g. the Singapore Refinery Company where BHP gets its fuels from also supplies fuel to a number of other independent oil retailers in New Zealand and Australia. Feedstock is the same. How diff can these fuels be, apart from additives in the premium range.

The trick is in the additives. In my humble opinion, the market leader in fuel technology additives is Shell. Not bias, just stating the obvious based on factual data. Exxon does not really compete in the retailing business, they are a niche/top player in the production of crude. BP into alternatives and Chevron (Caltex) not big on the retail end. The largest and most significant presence of the fuel brand to the masses is Shell and Shell does invest alot in fuel technology, evidence by long standing partnership with Ferrari and F1.

My 2 cents worth.....

the difference in fuel is not just the additives...the carbon atom in the fuel molecules could be different ranging from 4 to 12 in a molecule and this make some difference when the fuel is oxidized and burned...

also different type of crude oil separation method produces different types of fuel grade...

from these differences, the fuel is different in its density which contributes to the difference in the amount of energy produces when it is oxidized and burnt...

the same goes to mineral oil and fully synthetic, the main different is its film strength.

Anyway, regardless of all the differences, it is at the end of the day the question of the person's requirement and like. Fuel and engine oil is a never ending discussion...

 

[ssmann]

the difference in fuel is not just the additives...the carbon atom in the fuel molecules could be different ranging from 4 to 12 in a molecule and this make some difference when the fuel is oxidized and burned...

also different type of crude oil separation method produces different types of fuel grade...

from these differences, the fuel is different in its density which contributes to the difference in the amount of energy produces when it is oxidized and burnt...

the same goes to mineral oil and fully synthetic, the main different is its film strength.

Anyway, regardless of all the differences, it is at the end of the day the question of the person's requirement and like. Fuel and engine oil is a never ending discussion...

Thanks. Maybe I wasn't clear....comparing like for like...i.e. RON95 Shell vs RON95 Petronas. Off course diesel, aviation fuel etc have different seperation technologies

But overall, AGREE, never ending discussion, maybe this should feature on Myth Busters???

 

[lewint]

Generally, most fuels sold at Malaysian petrol stations are similar save for their additives as their base fuel is sourced from refineries in Port Dickson (Except Petronas, Malacca & Kertih sourced). Not sure about BHP, but the base fuel used for V Power Racing is sourced from the Pulau Bukom refinery in Singapore.

Allegedly, *ahem* V Power Racing is also said to be RON 98 since it is allegedly the same fuel as the V Power Racing sold in Singapore. It is also alleged *ahem* that Shell will not admit this officially as to do so would cause them to face complications in terms of subsidies, taxation and duties from the GaMen. Not for V Power Racing as this fuel is not subsidised (apparently), but for their other fuels.

Sounds silly or hard to believe? Try writing in (not over the phone, something in writing) to Shell and ask them for a definitive difference between V-Power 97 and V Power Racing. They will give you a long and windy reply espousing the wonders of their new and improved V-Power 97 fuel but will avoid mentioning anything to do with V Power Racing (okla, maybe one standard line or two and they will ask you to refer to their website for more information).

To be fair to Shell, asking them about the difference between V-Power 97 and V Power Racing is redundant. If you have been pumping V Power Racing regularly, when you swap to V-Power 97, the difference is apparent immediately. They know this and they know their target market.

Also an interesting write-up by Mr Paul Tan, Malaysia's premier motoring journalist:-

http://paultan.org/2010/09/28/not-all-fuels-are-the-same-we-dig-deeper-into-shell-v-power/