Sunday, March 21, 2010

A smoother drive?

Let me just say on the onset that I'm not a car expert. I can tell different models or makes of cars apart, but if you asked me how powerful a car was, or what year model a certain car is, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Neither am I an engine expert. If I took apart my car's engine, I might as well buy a new car as I'd never be able to put the engine back together. Oh, and one last thing - I'm in no way affiliated to any of the brands I'm going to mention later in this post, though I wish I was so that I'd get paid megabucks for it.

Okay, now that that's out of the way - let me ask in introduction what petrol brand do you use? When I first got my car about 9 years ago, I was a Shell user through and through. I guess it was because my parents used it and nothing else, so I was just sort of continuing the tradition. Yes, yes...lousy reason, I know but that's what it is.

But, then a friend told me about how Esso fuels were much better - your car had more power, and the drive was smoother. I didn't try it then and there, but I eventually did. And what did I find out? True enough the car responded better, and the drive was smoother. It was almost as if I had just had the car serviced. And ever since then I used Esso almost exclusively. But, just last week I filled up with Shell again as no Esso stations were open on my way to work, and the car was running dangerously low on fuel. And since I'd pass a Shell station on my way, so that's where I filled up. No perceptible difference...

until...

with the tank about half full, I filled up again at Esso yesterday. So, in my tank was half Shell, half Esso. I can't say whether the drive felt any different then, but just this evening, it did - quite perceptibly. The car was quieter, and smoother. I told my wife that it felt just like the first time I filled up with Esso.

So, here's the thing. Each fuel company promotes its own fuels saying how good they are and I suppose each adds their own special formula of fuel additive as well. But, I'm just wondering if mixing those two will actually give 'better' performance. My wife suggested that I try filling up using alternate brands next time. I suppose I'll try just to see if this continues.

Now, I must say that what I've said is just based on my observation and 'feel'. It'd be interesting to know if anyone else has a similar experience. Drop me a comment if you do or don't think that mixing different brands of fuel has resulted in better performance for your car.

It could be just that I'm imagining things.

8 comments:

carolchs said...

Interesting.
I am yet to try Esso. Perhaps my car's next pump buli pigi try Esso ni.

TS Lim said...

Was it RON97 that you tried? The problem here is that how it 'felt' really isn't scientific enough to mean anything. Personally, I feel RON97 gives more power than RON95 and yea I'm an ESSO user too. =)

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

I personally think the brand of fuel doesn't make much difference. I've tried them all and so far and as strange as it may sound I'm kinda leaning towards Petronas and Shell.

This is based on my experience only. I could be wrong so don't take my word for it but the reason you felt the car behaved differently is just psycological as everytime I try a different brand my car always feels likeit runs smoother but in the end you get used to the way your car runs on that fuel and when you try another brand, it somehow feels different ... I hope I'm not confusing you ... LOL!

Mas Light said...

Bukan sama ka sumua tu? @_@

I haf no idea. I've been a loyal Shell *uhuk filler ever since I got my car ;)

Perry R. Lim said...

Chegu Carol: Try it out and let me know if you feel any difference.

Perry R. Lim said...

TS Lim: No, I use RON95. I see no need to pay the extra 20 sen as I don't notice any drop in performance from using RON95.

As for the smoother drive, it was just my observation. It could just be my imagination playing tricks on me, though I doubt it. :)

Perry R. Lim said...

Nick: It may have been psychological...but the thing is, I didn't feel the difference right after I pumped. As I said, I only felt it the next day. I would probably have forgotten that I even pumped at Shell until I felt it. Delayed reaction maybe?

Perry R. Lim said...

maslight: Inda tau la. Maybe semua sama la. But, just my observation.

 
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