Gull using Butane

[oneofsix]

Gull could be gaining a tax advantage of around 1 or 2 cents per litre... hmmm... Gull sells their petrol for up to 20c a litre cheaper than their competitors. Is NZ Customs about to be privatised or something?

fighting for their jobs?

When I first posted I thought customs were protecting the NZ public More like supporting the petrol cartel as request by BP?

[pete376403]

Don't you guys read the information labels attached to the pumps? Mobils pumps pretty clearly state that the 91 blend may contain "up to 10%(IIRC) ethanol" and the 96 blend conatians up to 5% ethanol. It's not like they are trying to hide anything.

[MarkW]

Both my Honda Deauvilles (made in the Montessa factory in Spain) run further and better on Gull 91 than they do on any other NZ fuel.

Both my DRZ's need 95 octane and run on any brand of 95 but after half a tank of 10% ethanol Gull fuel they don't idle very well until they get a non ethanol blend.

My Subaru Forestor also needs 95 octane and there is a specific warning to NOT use any ethanol fuel in it. So no Gull fuel at all.

Then the Nissan X-Trail runs on 91 but uses far more Gull 91 than it does any of the other brands.

Doesn't life get complicated!

[sootie]

Both my Honda Deauvilles (made in the Montessa factory in Spain) run further and better on Gull 91 than they do on any other NZ fuel.

Both my DRZ's need 95 octane and run on any brand of 95 but after half a tank of 10% ethanol Gull fuel they don't idle very well until they get a non ethanol blend.

My Subaru Forestor also needs 95 octane and there is a specific warning to NOT use any ethanol fuel in it. So no Gull fuel at all.

Then the Nissan X-Trail runs on 91 but uses far more Gull 91 than it does any of the other brands.

Doesn't life get complicated!

Found these statement interesting, and I believe them.
I have had vehicles run better on Gull 91 than any other fuel I have ever used. Usually however nowdays the performance is just similar to other fuels. Does this reflect buying from all over the place on the spot market? It might also explain the funny (sulphurous?) smell sometimes.
As mentioned in an earlier blog I stopped using Gull because I believe they filled one of their 91 Octane tanks with their ethanol blend by mistake & it nearly ruined a ride for me. I can't prove this, but it still got them ex-communicated for supply of bike fuel to me!
cheers

[sinfull]

Don't you guys read the information labels attached to the pumps? Mobils pumps pretty clearly state that the 91 blend may contain "up to 10%(IIRC) ethanol" and the 96 blend conatians up to 5% ethanol. It's not like they are trying to hide anything.

All the more reason to eat BP pies

[Geeen]

Was talking to my local bike shop today, they had a customer come in with a bike running poorly. Turns out it was filled at Gull and the fuel left a film of crap over all the plugs and other internals. The thing that would've pissed me of the most was the customer had bought it brand new 2 days before. Did a bit of "internet research" a while ago about bikes with plastic tanks and Ethanol blends, some shocking stories out there. Like the Ducati owners who had Ethanol mix fuel warp and expand their tanks, fuel lines being dissolved etc. Thats why I stick with Caltex.....

[nzspokes]

My Bandit manual says it can take up to 10% ethanol blend. Runs fine on it and has not assploded. Also my Maxima runs well on it for 20000ks.

[Garfield]

Both my Honda Deauvilles (made in the Montessa factory in Spain) run further and better on Gull 91 than they do on any other NZ fuel.

Both my DRZ's need 95 octane and run on any brand of 95 but after half a tank of 10% ethanol Gull fuel they don't idle very well until they get a non ethanol blend.

My Subaru Forestor also needs 95 octane and there is a specific warning to NOT use any ethanol fuel in it. So no Gull fuel at all.

Then the Nissan X-Trail runs on 91 but uses far more Gull 91 than it does any of the other brands.

Doesn't life get complicated!

Similar story, my Subaru runs on 95 and the warning is not to use ethanol fuel.

I use BP 95 in the Bandit as I have heard too many stories of bikes idling badly and the ethanol turning fuel lines to crap.. I was told by a friend at the AA that ethanol fuel was ok to use in later model cars made specifically for the NZ market. Any car / vehicle made for overseas markets should not use ethanol fuels. Why........ I don't know......

[sootie]

Similar story, my Subaru runs on 95 and the warning is not to use ethanol fuel.

I use BP 95 in the Bandit as I have heard too many stories of bikes idling badly and the ethanol turning fuel lines to crap.. I was told by a friend at the AA that ethanol fuel was ok to use in later model cars made specifically for the NZ market. Any car / vehicle made for overseas markets should not use ethanol fuels. Why........ I don't know......

Further to my earlier story, there are at least two possible issues with ethanol fuels in older engines. In some cases the fuel line and other fuel containment plastics or rubbers can actually be attacked by the ethanol. (Hence the stories of sticky films, lumps of goo etc.) Actually this is not usually the problem unless a vehicle is pretty old (at least pre 90s).

Carburetted engines have another problem. They need to be retuned for a different fuel, and this may even require re-jetting etc. I picked this was why my bike started running badly. A change of fuel certainly fixed the problem.

Modern engines with fuel injection & computer management systems usually cope very well with fuel changes. An oxygen sensor in the exhaust system "talks" to the computer once it warms up, and the mixture is adjusted without the need for an owner to twiddle anything.

Maybe this helps to explain things mentioned

[Edbear]

Don't you guys read the information labels attached to the pumps? Mobils pumps pretty clearly state that the 91 blend may contain "up to 10%(IIRC) ethanol" and the 96 blend conatians up to 5% ethanol. It's not like they are trying to hide anything.

You expect people to read?

Further to my earlier story, there are at least two possible issues with ethanol fuels in older engines. In some cases the fuel line and other fuel containment plastics or rubbers can actually be attacked by the ethanol. (Hence the stories of sticky films, lumps of goo etc.) Actually this is not usually the problem unless a vehicle is pretty old (at least pre 90s).

Carburetted engines have another problem. They need to be retuned for a different fuel, and this may even require re-jetting etc. I picked this was why my bike started running badly. A change of fuel certainly fixed the problem.

Modern engines with fuel injection & computer management systems usually cope very well with fuel changes. An oxygen sensor in the exhaust system "talks" to the computer once it warms up, and the mixture is adjusted without the need for an owner to twiddle anything.

Maybe this helps to explain things mentioned

Yup. My new Kizashi will run the same on any brand. Haven't checked on the blended fuel though. I'll have to read the manual again.

The MX5 does notice the difference and runs best on 95. My C50T ran fine on blended and was approved for it. 98 was best though it seemed to be tuned to it despite the manual saying it could use 91.

[Eddieb]

Up until recently I ran my bike (DR650) and car (BMW 520i) almost exclusively on Shell/Z 95, mainly because they were my local garage. However when Z introduced their new additive formula 4 months or so ago I noticed both vehicles felt like they had lost power and were definately getting lower mileage per tank.

I've now changed to Caltex 95 and both vehicles feel like they are running stronger and both have recorded increased economy.

[Conquiztador]

Interesting topic. My youngest rides MX and currently it is a KTM 2stroke 65cc that needs premix. We have found that BP 91 works well. Once, before I knew about the ethanol mix at Gull, we used Gull. And the bike did perform poorly. At that stage I did not understand why. But later I concluded that the ethanol was the cause. As there is no "ping'ing" in the motor when warm I do not use higher octane petrol as there is no need.

In NZ we are not allowed to do any engine modifications to Mini bikes (kids riding in 11yo and under classes) This also applies to the fuel. But this does not apply to Junior and senior MX racing. Would be interesting to find out what fuel is used by the top riders (I have learnt that there is a mutitude of specifically made racing fuels for all and any occasions and uses).

[sootie]

Up until recently I ran my bike (DR650) and car (BMW 520i) almost exclusively on Shell/Z 95, mainly because they were my local garage. However when Z introduced their new additive formula 4 months or so ago I noticed both vehicles felt like they had lost power and were definately getting lower mileage per tank.

I've now changed to Caltex 95 and both vehicles feel like they are running stronger and both have recorded increased economy.

As I understand it, all NZ petrol is now produced by the refinery at Marsden Point (except for Gull which is bought on the spot market from various sources overseas.) All product including avgas, petrol, diesel, aviation fuel etc is piped down the one pipeline from Marsden point to Wiri.
From Wiri the product goes out to the various retail suppliers. These suppliers titivate their product in their own way & then distribute it. I think the exact formulas are kept pretty quiet, but there are some differences in performance which arise I am told. Your findings may well be correct.

[BigAl]

After doing some research Mobil seem to be using an Ethanol blend E10 in Synergy 8000 (98 octane) around the Wellington area and I checked my local ham station who said that they weren't.

It should be labelled on the pump so pays to check.

[Old Steve]

As I understand it, all NZ petrol is now produced by the refinery at Marsden Point (except for Gull which is bought on the spot market from various sources overseas.) All product including avgas, petrol, diesel, aviation fuel etc is piped down the one pipeline from Marsden point to Wiri.

You bloody JAFA!!! There is a part of New Zealand which is below the Bombay Hills you know!

Yes all AUCKLAND fuel comes down the pipeline from Marsden point to WOSL (Wiri). Northland's fuel is despatched by road tanker from a delivery point adjacent to Marsden point. Other ports around the country receive their fuel by ocean tanker, either from Marsden point by NZ operated coastal tankers or direct from overseas. Marsden Point cannot produce enough fuel to completely supply the NZ market. Mt Maunganui receives completely imported petrol because it is such a deep port, so large ocean tankers from overseas unload there first so they are lighter (draw less draught) and they can then go into other ports and unload.