Fuel Quality

[cashmni1]

When crude oil is brought in to the country it is refined and made into petrol and diesel (i think). From that point the distribution company will sell and distribute to garages around theh country.With the fuel prices so different from garage to garage, does the quality also differ? What enables Shell or Texaco to be 6 to 10 cents more expensive than other brands, especially when it is all refined in the same refinery?

[v64paul]

broadly it's the same quality. in britain it has to be of a certain specification, hence the octane rating. it's manufacturers additives that enable them to claim their product is better. eg shell optimax or v max in europe. my local refinery has shell, bp, esso trucks loading fuel as well as the supermarket brands. so there really can't be that much difference. hence the major players huge profits recently...

[dilligaf]

Its a big rip off. We are now paying more for petrol which ever company. due to the price of oil going up recently. Who ever you are buying your petrol from bought the oil at least three months ago at the old price (before it was even loaded onto the tanker) so dont worry about the supplier. Once the price of oil drops see how long it is before you pay less at the pumps.
I have found it the price depends on where you are and what competition there is in the area.

[Alltorque]

Road fuel pricing varies across the country depending upon "what the market will stand" and service station population. However, don't forget that petrol duty/tax rates are in region of 73% in U.K. Whenever crude oil rises in price and the refiners raise their prices, Customs & Excise get a freebie increase in income also. Maybe that's why governments don't shout about road fuel prices. Next question is why doesn't jet fuel get taxed ? Environmentally it's at least as bad as petrol. Who's looking after who, and why ?