Is supermarket petrol bad for my engine? Fuel myth explained

SUPERMARKET petrol can be cheaper than big-brand forecourts but is the quality any different?

Here is the difference between supermarket and branded petrol.

Petrol has become an extra income stream for supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda.

There are thousands of supermarket petrol stations across the UK.

They are often attached to large stores, making it convenient for drivers to top up their tanks once they have stocked up on pasta, bread and the rest of their groceries.

Supermarkets account for 19% of all petrol and diesel forecourts but make up almost 50% of total petrol sales, according to Statista.

Brands such as Tesco and Asda will often compete against each other and traditional petrol station giants such as BP and Esso in price wars to attract customers.

But a myth has emerged in recent years that supermarket petrol is of lower quality than other alternatives.

Research by price tracker website in 2018 found that around 40% of drivers believe supermarket fuel is an inferior product.

However, experts insist there is no difference when it comes to standard fuel.

All petrol stations use the same base fuel, which comes from the same refineries.

PetrolPrices said all fuel is governed by national and international standards and suggested drivers may mistakenly associate supermarket petrol with own-brand products that customers may see as inferior to the real thing.

Consumer watchdog Which? said the only difference is the additives that big brands add to the base fuel.

These include detergents and friction modifiers to preserve and lubricate the engine.

Which? said: "The specific formula of performance additives added to each brand’s unleaded is proprietary to each brand, although even cheap supermarket fuel will contain them.

"‘Super’ unleaded products typically have greater amounts of performance additives added."

Drivers using all types of petrol forecourts may have seen a difference in pricing since September.

The standard E5 unleaded petrol was replaced as the default by the more environmentally-friendly E10 fuel.

But it is estimated that around 600,000 vehicles that usually take unleaded petrol won't be compatible with the E10 version.

This could leave drivers stuck paying for pricier super unleaded petrol.

It comes as petrol prices hit a record high earlier this month.

There are cost-cutting steps you can take, such as car-pooling and sharing lifts, to reduce your petrol costs.

There are also simple things you can do to make a tank of fuel last longer, such as making sure your tyres are at the right pressure.

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun Money team?

Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk