The well-known name in the fuel world has also made over their forecourt image, but will their announcements tempt you to switch to their premium fuel?
New fuels
Actual benefits of using premium fuels (e.g. how well they clean) varies. Factors like other fuels you’ve used, the age and condition of your car; road conditions, your driving style, and journey time. Performance improvement may be more noticeable in high-performance cars.
Jet boasts that both new products contain more of their powerful anti-corrosion additive and use strong detergents that deep-clean and attack dirty deposits, improving acceleration and providing a smoother drive.
By coating these key components with a special film, Jet claims these products will prevent future build-up, which can help your engine to work better and prolong its life.
The brand says their results are the outcome of laboratory and engine research and tests by a world-leading road fuel detergent provider and that the detergent in their ultra-premium fuel undergoes world-recognised engine testing standards.
Jet says all their road fuels are “sulphur-free”—containing a sulphur content level of less than 10mg/kg—and their additives are expert-approved.
Jet-ting into the future
The Jet brand, who developed the contemporary design in response to feedback from dealers and consumers and say they’ve incorporated an array of improvements, unveiled a fresh image prototype at a new company-owned site—Jet Abbeyside, in Selby, North Yorkshire..
Oliver Müller, Retail Business Manager at Phillips 66, said:
‘Our dual range of Jet Ultra Premium fuels and our four-price LED-lit pole sign design are key elements of Jet’s new-look forecourt.
‘The pole sign mirrors our new soft-angled canopy design, while our Jet Ultra branding is an eye-catching ultramarine blue which stands out on the forecourt.
‘Introducing an attractive and recognisable premium fuels offering was one of our main objectives for 2019.
‘We commissioned independent consumer research, which showed that there is a willingness among consumers to try a new brand of premium fuels.
‘We wanted to tap into this opportunity and provide our dealers with a premium fuel product offering which not only complements their existing fuels mix but also puts them in a stronger position with their customer base.’
Jet says the makeover creates a welcoming environment that’s still the distinctive Jet brand.
Their company-owned sites plan to pilot the prototype before a further trial at several independent Jet filling-stations later this year.
Mary Wolf, Managing Director of UK Marketing for Phillips 66 Limited, said:
‘We are proud of Jet’s UK heritage, and we are dedicated to remaining a strong, reliable brand that is competitive in the market.
‘We’ve listened to the consumer, and to our dealers and have developed a new image that is modern and inviting and provides a safe, friendly, clean environment for consumers.
‘By strengthening our brand and reimaging our forecourts we will support our dealers to better compete in today’s challenging fuel market.’
Burning money?
Premium diesel can have a higher cetane rating than diesel, igniting quicker when injected into the compressed air in the engine.
It’s rare for the higher cetane rating to mean anything to the engine, as manufacturers now make diesel engines to strict standards to make little difference, but the effect using a premium diesel has on your car gives the engine a good clean.
Premium fuels are more so luxury products because the components are more expensive to create, making the price higher and, although built for unleaded petrol, it’s worth filling up high-performance cars or hot hatchbacks with super unleaded for longer journeys—or every 1,000 miles—just to give the engine an extra boost and keep it at full potential.
It’s also good practice to fill up with a premium diesel every 1,000 miles or before lots of long journeys, as this will help to clean out the engine and remove any residual soot or particulates.
While the cost may seem expensive, this habit will save you money in the long run by extending the life of the engine and helping to reduce the need for repairs and engine maintenance but unless you have money to (literally) burn or drive a high-performance car, it’s unnecessary to use premium fuels instead of regular fuel.
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All I read was “ting” the sound of the till.
Premium unleaded (98+ RON) has benefits over regular (95 RON) because it has a higher octane rating, and the engine can vary the timing of the ignition. However, the sensors which vary the timing will adjust it slowly to realise the potential of a higher octane rating, so it’s widely reckoned that just filling up for one tank has little performance improvement – you’ll only see these benefits after 2-3 tanks worth, and once regular octane fuel is sensed it will pull the timing straight back to prevent knocking (pinking), meaning it’ll take another 2-3 tanks to begin the improvement again. Essentially you’re paying more for these first 2-3 tanks each time for the detergents alone.
The jury’s still out on premium diesel performance (higher cetane ratings), but again the detergents will probably benefit the whole fuel/exhaust system. Honest John swears by Shell V-Power diesel.
For my petrol direct injection car the performance benefits are negligible but the fuel keeps injectors clean, the high pressure pump lubricated and with very high quality engine oil, there is no measurable reduction in airflow either by MAF data or a dynamometer even after the sort of mileage most cars record a 10-15% reduction. Shell and BP fuels produce great benefits. I hope Jet will also be as good.
Cant always get it where I live,Holbeach Lincolnshire.
Just an excuse to raise the price . I won’t be buying it .diesel is diesel
Three years ago we bought an Audi SQ5 and ran it on diesel as you say, after about several months we began having problems and then it went into limp mode. We had it diagnosed and repaired under warranty but we’re advised to use premium diesel.
Since then we have always used either Shell V power or Jet ultra and never had any issues and we get a better mpg return and improved performance which all considered is worth the 10p per litre extra cost.
I regularly fill up with premium diesel in France where it is only 5c dearer than regular. I hesitate to do so in England so add some diesel cleaner to the tank if I have used it a lot over here (available from Poundland for £2) I drive a fairly new 2l Skoda Yeti and the performance is really noticeable. A bonus in France is that I am a member of the Total fuel group and fill up at their Total Access pumps at supermarket prices. For every 30l I also get a month’s breakdown cover!!
As I drive proper cars made before 1970 and then used to fill up with Cleveland Discol and national Benzole both of which had 15% alchohol, I do not understand all the hyperbole about todays reluctance to use 10% alchohol or these ‘new’ premium fuels. The advantages of alchohol in the fuel is all that Jet claim but with the advantanges that the combustion temperatures are lower, no pinking (pre ignition for moronbie phone users) and the engines ran cooler and sweeter.
The only problem is that PetrolPrices do not seem to be able to tell you where these Jet stations are.
Nigel, the problem with ethanol alcohol is that you get less miles to the gallon because it has a lower energy density than petrol, it’s also hydroscopic so fills your tank with water and on your old cars natural rubber components of the fuel system desintigrate, you’ll find a gray sticky stuff jamming up your carb. Oh and classic motorcycle tanks, either lined or fibreglass melt. So all in all total s***e, your paying for petrol at expensive prices and getting alcohol that wrecks your car/ motorcycle while paying rip off vat on top of tax. Yeah, right good deal for the motorist yet again.
Nigel, the problem with ethanol alcohol is that you get less miles to the gallon because it has a lower energy density than petrol, its hydroscopic, so fills your tank with water, and on your old cars destroys the natural rubber fuel system components. Oh and on motorcycle fuel tanks that are lined, ruins that and fibreglass tanks melt. So all in all total junk. Your buying petrol at ridiculous prices only to find in wrecks your vehicle, your paying vat on tax for petrol and getting alcohol. Motorist being ripped off yet again.
I use the Tesco Super Unleaded all the time now after using a fuel system cleaner a couple of months ago, twice to be absolutely sure and I did two very long runs each time.
My car now runs much smoother, it accelerates far better than before without that irritating hesitation you sometimes get and I’m getting far more MPG than ever before so I’m sticking to Super Unleaded now because I don’t do much driving these days and the evidence of the effectiveness of higher octane seems to be obvious.
stevmk2
It would be nice to know the proportion of Bio-ethanol in the unleaded.
I’m sure this has been covered. The government site states legislation of a maximum 5% but all 95 octane unleaded to EN228 is produced at 5%.
Super unleaded is not currently covered but typically has 1-4% bio-ethanol content.
The file is downloadable and called transport renewable directive or something.
Years ago were told to avoid cheap Jet rubbish…still do, so is this a last chance saloon for Jet? Or is it now expensive Jet rubbish?
I purchased a new Nissan Micra 3 months ago and the fuel economy has gradually improved. I use standard normal unleaded petrol from Tesco. The mpg is displayed on the dash and the most remarkable reading thus far is a figure of 67.7 mpg on a journey of 70 miles on open roads and dual carriageway travelling at 65 -70 mph.
This betters the blurb from Nissan of 54 mpg.
Hi. my Vauxhall Corsa is now six years old, after starting to use Jet ultra petrol I have noticed a vast difference in engine performance , no more pinking when under load and much more get up and go so I think the extra I pay per litre is well worth it.