Which fuel should I use in my car for BEST performance? (bioethanol EXPOSED!) QOTW #34 

Just to update, I've tested Shell V-power a few days ago--so after the E10 mandate and the panic buying--and there is still no ethanol in it I'm pleased to say. Not plugging my channel as I'm not monitised, I'm simply interested in keeping bioethanol out of classic car engines and educating people about it, but if you're interested too, I'm testing all the super unleadeds available in the South Midlands.

Thanks, goodbye Shell, hello Esso

Been using Esso synergy supreme 99 since this video. Great advice after a few tanks of Esso the car runs totally different. Always used Tesco momentum before hand but will always use synergy supreme from now on.

Interesting video. It might be different in each country: In Germany Shell VPower 100 and Aral Ultimate 102 have NO ethanol, same for BP Ultimate in Holland (despite the obliged E5 logo).

Bioethanol has one use. It's very knock resistant, so if you have some fancy turbo thing and you don't care about how much fuel you need to pump in it's great because you can run more boost, but that's E85. E10 is just pointless. I've been using Esso super for some time where I can. Even though my car is a 1991 built, it is allegedly compatible with E10, but I wouldn't trust the hoses with it at their age.

This video speaks volumes to me as an a level chemist. Lovely to see what I’m learning about hydrocarbons actually has some real world relevance!

Great video! I've read Texeco E5 is also free of Ethonal Very disappointed with V-Power. Been going out my way to buy it for yeaaaars

Just read this on their site "Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland)." :/

Could you do a vid on the cetane rating in diesel fuel?

But turbo cars thrive on ethanol!

ok i'm about enter the lions den here as i'm a porsche owner and a vauxhall owner I used to fill both up with BP ultimate and both of my cars seem to drink it like it was going out of fashion but now I filled both cars run on Esso synergy they both run smoother and both seem to get better MPg.

Only just been alerted to this video. I've had my 2019 petrol Porsche Macan S for 13 months now. On the 'Macan Forums' everyone has been saying up to now, that Shell V-Power and BP Ultimate are the best because of their additives, perhaps not realising about the bio-ethanol content. I'll be trying Esso now. Thanks for sharing this information !

E10 is Betty Swollox and my bikes and Aston will run like crap

Very interesting, wasn't aware of this. Will change to Esso.

There are crook station owners who order too much regular fuel so when the tanker truck comes, the left over regular has to be dumped in the supreme underground tank. I just wanted to whistle blow on this practice.

Any idea what the m/up of Texaco Supreme unleaded 97 petrol is?

...absolutely nailed it! The hypocrisy is unbelievable.

From the Esso site. "Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland)" So looks like you have to live in the right place in the UK.

Oddly, I've tested Shell V-power and it is ethanol-free in my part of the UK, as is Esso Supreme. With the E10 soon, I'm curious if the super unleaded will be E5. Hopefully not, as the mandate still only applies to premium (standard) 95 fuel, however the refineries that could only supply E5 super unleaded previously have actually expanded-most of the North of England and Wales, Devon and Cornwall are all with ethanol.

Okay, so I don't drive an Aston Martin but do drive a humble 18 plate Renault Clio 900cc 3cyl 90hp petrol. On E5 I used to get about 47-48mpg and 380 miles to the tank... On E10 I have been getting 41-42mpg and 320miles to the tank. Not only this but it has been running rough with less power and as you can see less economy. For this the tank now costs me £60 to fill with E10. I will run the tank (almost) dry and put the Esso 99 in and comment the result on here in a week or two... Watch this space!

My 2006 Honda civic broken down less than 300 miles into using E10 for first time which cost me £330 for a new fuel injector first month E10 came out when it went into Honda specialist I take it to there were 8 other civics before mine waiting to be done with same issue

Esso ultimate is not ethanol free in Devon, Cornwall, Teeside and Scotland according to their website! How about fuel additives? Or are these gimmicks?

I agree with previous comments. You've made it all very clear. I will be using Esso from now on 👍 thankyou

Thanks for another insightful video.The premium fuels also push the fact they contain various cleaning agents to help prolong the healthy life of your engine. Are these of any use?

No ethanol mmmm seems to depend where you are www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/fuels/petrol

What a fantastic up load and so informative !! me not being the brightest spark on this planet I still had my doubts about the fuel industry this confirms it Thanks !!!!

I had 2 mr2 turbos rev 1 version and as they were jdm imports were designed for Japanese high octane fuels ranging from 99 to 103 octane. I noticed the best fuel for them was Shell and asda 99 anything else there was a power dip and needed the ECU resetting after using a tank of esso or BP, the rev 1-2 turbo ecu retarded the ignition but couldn't advance unless it was a rev 3 onwards. so once the other fuel was used and then back on v power or asda 99 I'd reset the ecu and there was instant power gained. So my thoughts are, does this effect some cars more than others or does Japan have ethanol content in their fuel and the JDM cars are tuned for it?

Very strange that cars mapped on E85 make more power and can run more timing

Which octane petrol do you recommend for a DB9? Is it safe for the Engine?

Turbo engines tuned for E85 in the state seem to be able to make far more power than those on regular petrol..

Great video - thanks very much! I’m interested in the V8V and your channel is very informative for people new to AM.

As the petrol shortages hit the UK, I found it hard at least here in London Shell Vpower for my Lexus RCF as the manual book of my cars says minimum Octane should be 98 and I always thought Vpower is the best, but recently as I couldn't find Shell's Vpower I filled with Esso Supreme 99 and oh boy not only the car runs faster it drives much smoother. That's why I start searching now if it's the fuel making it so good and I came to this vid. Thanks mate for making us understand it after this only Esso :)

Adding a bit of politics into the content I see

So what's in the esso fuel to make up the mix if not ethanol?

What’s in our Synergy Supreme+ 99 premium petrol Our Synergy Supreme+ 99 petrol has more cleaning power than our regular petrol - and includes molecules whose job it is to reduce the friction in your engine helping the moving parts work more efficiently.* Although our pumps have E5 labels on them, our Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place these E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps. There’s currently no requirement for renewable fuel, like ethanol, to be present in super unleaded petrol although this could change in the future, in which case we would comply with any new legislation.

Sorry, but I'll have to choose bp

Sorry but Shell nitro has no ethanol , you are incorrect

I didn't see any ads on this video: you might wanna check if this is not demonetized or anything. (Though I wouldn't know why. Best guess would be a frivolous report?)

The great ASTON MARIN church of MIKE Esso FACT FILE 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Very interesting, have also been filling up with only V-Power for years. Wonder if the effects are the same for a V10 R8??

I’ve just stumbled across this and am pretty annoyed to discover that Shell isn’t ethanol free. I always thought Tesco contained ethanol but Shell didn’t, and since my car specifies 98RON minimum that meant Shell was my only choice here in the UK. I noticed Esso’s Premium option was 99 when I was filling up my wife’s car the other day and thought I would investigate to see if it didn’t contain ethanol like I thought V-Power didn’t. I’ve been filling up with Shell V-Power for eight years on that basis and paying sometimes 10p+ a litre more for the privilege of using what I thought was the best fuel available - Very disappointed with Shell after this revelation. I’m however immediately keen to try Esso Synergy now!

Hi more great stuff - after a bit of searching on there web site and a visit to my Esso garage rather than Shell a bit confused. Emailed Esso. The details in the Esso response indicates premium 91 octane does not contain ethanol but there Supreme + does. No mention of Ultimate, plus no mention of ultimate on their web site or at the station. Are you testing 91 octane and calling this ultimate? From:Consumer.Care@exxonmobil.com> Thank you for taking the time to contact Imperial consumer care. SynergyTM- branded gasoline does contain ethanol, as do the far majority of all gasoline (regular, midgrade & premium). Here are the ethanol percentages found in the fuel sold at our branded retail service stations: · Regular unleaded gasoline (Octane 87) at selected locations contains 10% ethanol (ERUL or E10) · Midgrade gasoline (Octane 89) at locations with E10 contains 5% ethanol (midgrade is a blend of regular and premium gasoline) · Premium unleaded gasoline (Octane 91) does not contain ethanol · Supreme + gasoline (Octane 93 is only available at certain location) contains 10% ethanol Regards

I'm stunned! I've raved and used VPower for years and fill my V8 Cayenne up every week. I'm really disappointed and don't even know where I can find an Esso station 🙄

Knew this all along. Nothing but 100% petrol goes in my Lotus.

Also Texico 99 has no ethanol

I have been using only Esso for quite a while now after having been a Shell customer for years. I actually wrote to Esso HQ in the UK and they confirmed that ZERO bio-ethanol is used in their high end fuel.

Just as a. Fyi. Esso does contain ethanol above Birmingham due to delivery constraints.

Filled Vanquish up with Esso Supreme + unleaded Friday (worth checking online as not all Esso garages stock). Done about 200 miles and there is definably a difference, the car used to hesitate when pulling slowly away from junctions/islands not any more this has now gone and seems a lot smoother.

Esso supreme is ethanol free vpower and momentum depend on region in Devon and Cornwall momentum has up to 5% but if you buy it in Bristol it’s doesn’t

Go to 8:42, thank me later

Superb information! I have two classics, which up until I viewed this video, I always used Shell V-Power. Not any more, ESSO all the way now. Thank you!

The bio ethanol industry needs to be exposed for their dishonesty i their claims of a green fuel all the while damaging the cars owned by the public. Email your congress or parliament representatives.

Esso say in Scotland they do put Ethanol in. Worth knowing for people who live where or people traveling here.

A really interesting video and as an uninformed V-Power advocate I am questioning my choice. Here's and interesting video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ATGSBi1kBl0.html that discusses wear effects. It seems to me that the sophistication of the engine and the basic energy density of the fuel are the biggest determinants of the pros and cons for any particular vehicle. I am now wondering which of my cars have the flex fuel capability.. more research needed! Thank you for these videos.

Quick and dirty test concluded ....! 🤣 I only use Esso Ultimate and as a bonus you can collect Nectar points so, result! 😎

Recently acquired a V8S and the dealership on answering the question which fuel I should use actually told me to use the 'normal' everyday fuel and just every now and again put some premium fuel in - seeing some of the responses which of the Esso fuels should be used as there seems to be some confusion over Esso Ultimate and its availability and whether Supreme+ does contain ethanol??

What's esso ultimate???? So which petrol has no ethanol normal unleaded or the higher octane from esso

Esso garages on England have no ethanol, not in Scotland unfortunately :(

Very informative video, however I’m in the states just about every fuel has ethanol in it what can I do for my ‘11 DB9

I think waste money if car not need premium. But if need, I think ESSO runs more power, with regular. I doubt v-power can do something, but asking more money. Put all kinds, who knows which one doing what.

Does this video still hold true it would be good to do a refresh 2 years on.

Any update for current fuels ? have a choice between Shell Vpower, Esso and Momentum. Looking for race car so power.

Thanks for your advice and as usual backed up by your experience and research. One question if driving in Europe would fuel not containing ethanol be available?

Informative video, been using esso 99 octane synergy for a while but this and other high performance petrol will only be available until 2026.

...google search to find the nearest Esso station!

Burning petrol is my bag

My tvr runs better on esso than shell vpower

Just what I needed to know👍

Is this still the case in 2021

Ture all I can say

Nice!!! Esso is my local.. win win!!!

Thank you.

V power being 99 octane and esso premium being 97 octane would the esso still run better for performance too??

Is Esso Ultimate the same as Esso Supreme+? There's no mention of Esso Ultimate on their website anymore

I have a daily driver Suzuki Swift boosterjet. I feel as though there is a difference. I can feel. Between Shell V Power and Esso. It was a guy who. I met years ago at a classic car meeting. That told me ethanol is bad in fuel. It rots out fiberglass fuel tank. Esso has no ethanol in. I have found I get more performance and better mph with pure petrol.

From September 2023 Esso Supreme+ 99 will contain up to 5% ethanol.

Shell with it's Vpower has been ripping me off 😬😬😬

STEP TO ME, YOU'LL REGRET IT.