Shell V-Power Diesel

Shell V-Power Diesel

17 August 2007, 85,954

n early August one of my local Shell filling stations started selling V-Power Diesel. Now V-Power Diesel is Shell’s answer to BP Ultimate Diesel (see this 1451), which I have tried in the past. And just like Ultimate Diesel, V-Power Diesel is a blend of synthetic fuel (manufactured using Shell’s Gas-To-Liquids technology) and mineral diesel. It has very little diesel smell, it produces less soot, it makes the engine smoother and quieter too.

Reading on the web, peoples’ experiences with different brands of diesel varies. Some people can’t tell any difference. Some people claim that there is no difference - a subtle distinction. Some people claim that a certain brand or brands is smoother, quieter or less sooty than another.

Assessing fuel consumption claims usually brings me to a smile. Why? Because not many people appear to keep detailed records, but claim that a certain brand produces a few more miles to the gallon than another. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that this record keeping system /link/ is proof of much really, but I’ll be able to spot a trend.

Writing of trends, some people find that V-Power Diesel is thirstier than Shell’s ordinary Diesel Extra. Shell claim that it produces a more complete burn and is more efficient. One poster reckoned that this would mean more power for a given unit of fuel, or the same power from less of a unit of fuel. Well yes it might, but it depends on what the unit it. Logically, one might expect the unit to be capacity, since we buy fuel in capacity. That’s certainly how I measure fuel consumption...

...but V-Power Diesel has a lower density than conventional diesel. In other words, for a given volume of ordinary diesel, you’ll have less V-Power Diesel. If it requires one kilogram of ordinary diesel to drive a certain distance, in capacity terms it may be more V-Power Diesel. Or something.

That may be why in the Saab and so far at least, V-Power Diesel is no more economical than Shell Diesel Extra. But it produces no soot that I can see, not even from a cold start up. On ordinary diesel, a cold start would result in an off white puff of unburnt diesel. Not on this new stuff.

As to how the car feels on the road, on V-Power Diesel I’m disappointed to write that the engine is smoother and quieter, especially when working it hard through firm acceleration. At a cruise there’s no difference in refinement. Chef spends a lot of his time at a cruise...

Anyway, although it’s highly unscientific, over two tanks the car has averaged 52·9 miles per gallon compared with 52·5 on BP Ultimate Diesel. Two tanks isn’t enough mileage.