Cars & Transportation

I won't use Coles Express for fuel anymore

Cars & Transportation

Posted by: Amdor9

9th Aug 2010 08:53pm

Lately Coles Express has stopped displaying their unleaded 95 prices and they are now usually 10c/litre or more than the unleaded with ethanol. I will be buying at Caltex from now on as their unleaded 95 is normally only 2c/litre more than the ethanol blend. What have others found?


Comments 25

mikulski
  • 28th Aug 2012 10:46pm

As a mechanic by trade i can tell you all unless you have a car that's been designed for using high blends of ethanol(5% and higher) you are hurting your engine and pretty much your whole fuel system, i to was one that spoke up about unleaded fuel at its introduction, simply because i know the chemical reaction of these fuels in there burnt or half burnt state, the smell from the tail pipe on any car under hard acceleration is the best example, it equates to the same as the black smoke from a diesel engine only worse it's sulphur dioxide(mustard gas) and when it gets wet it turns to sulfur hydroxide (battery acid). end result i'll pay a bit more at the bowser and use my own bio-fuel and feel that bit better. Another bit of advice is shop around and work out your respective klm/L for each place you get fuel as this will be the easiest way to see which fuel your car is happy with, i've seen car's get 2-5 L/100km better fuel usage by changing fuel station and it shows in your engine performance.

mikulski
  • 28th Aug 2012 10:46pm

As a mechanic by trade i can tell you all unless you have a car that's been designed for using high blends of ethanol(5% and higher) you are hurting your engine and pretty much your whole fuel system, i to was one that spoke up about unleaded fuel at its introduction, simply because i know the chemical reaction of these fuels in there burnt or half burnt state, the smell from the tail pipe on any car under hard acceleration is the best example, it equates to the same as the black smoke from a diesel engine only worse it's sulphur dioxide(mustard gas) and when it gets wet it turns to sulfur hydroxide (battery acid). end result i'll pay a bit more at the bowser and use my own bio-fuel and feel that bit better. Another bit of advice is shop around and work out your respective klm/L for each place you get fuel as this will be the easiest way to see which fuel your car is happy with, i've seen car's get 2-5 L/100km better fuel usage by changing fuel station and it shows in your engine performance.

Anonymous
  • 10th Aug 2012 02:14pm

I totally agree and the staff are nearly always rude. I have given up Coles Express altogether...not even worth the FlyBuys anymore

Anonymous
  • 9th Aug 2012 02:35am

do not use unlend E10 for car

Julie
  • 29th May 2012 08:02am

I don'l know about what's cheaper but what you might keep in mind is that the big servos like Woolies and Coles have their underground tanks regularly checked for leaks and have to comply with strict measures that independent survos do not. We had to pay $1400 to get our diesel pump (that's just the pump, likely my husband could do it himself) replaced and the mechanic we took it to for diagnostic asked where we purchased our fuel from as there is one perticular survo in our the area which had been selling dirty fuel and he had replaced a few pumps already. So it's really the gamble and possible long term cost of using cheaper independent servos.

adamkr
  • 2nd Mar 2012 05:51pm

I’m rather annoyed about the whole 8/c / 16c discount voucher rip off at Coles. It’s all false advertising. It’s all hurting the independents and ripping consumers off.

3lions
  • 2nd Mar 2012 01:16pm

Hi Everyone,

How come they can put petrol up 21 cents within hours?
Here in SA it went from $1.31 to $1.52 overnight!

Getting harder to keep a car on the road these days, and with the no more 6 months rego available here ...Not impressed..

PGS
  • 17th Feb 2012 07:58pm

Our 2 local independants are cheaper than the Coles/WW stations with discount. I'd rather support them, the 2 rip-off 'big boys' have far too much already.

mysteron347
  • 3rd Dec 2011 03:34pm

Well, I won't use coles anything - but that's because it's owned by Wesfarmers - and you don't want to hear that story.

It was obvious when the majors bought into the petrol industry, as they are now doing to liquor and have foreshadowed pharmacy and many others, that their strategy was to first discount their competition out of the market, then mark up to what the gullible public will stand.

That, after all, is what they did in groceries. Same formula - same sheep falling for it.

It used to be that the sign shown outside of the station had to carry the ACTUAL price, in white on a black background. The "oh, that's just a quibble" mob has seen this degenerate into Rafferty's rules. First the colour, then the tag line "after xcents voucher" or whatever. The majors sit back laughing and counting their millions while the chooks argue about whether "the rools" are reasonable. The politicians sit idly by and collect their piles. The consumer-advocate groups are more interested in a thousand different "ratings" systems for everything under the sun.

The motoring advocates do nothing. Remember when we had a loading on the petrol price to discourage people from using leaded petrol? Guess what - we don't have leaded petrol any more, but we still have the loading. It's on 'premium grade' ULP, which is burnt more efficiently than standard grade. People are now discouraged from using the more efficient product because it generates revenue for the government (regardless of which tribe of dictators we have) and the motorists' advocates do nothing.

Yeah - know about it. Saw it coming years ago. Was shouted down then. Now it's likely too late to do anything. Vested interests have the say-so.

Anonymous
  • 23rd Nov 2011 12:04am

Unleaded 95 has been replaced by another type of fuel mixture by the big companies that make the fuel. one of these is known as V power.

loismary
  • 6th Jun 2011 10:13am

It's nice to buy from the independents and give them support, we usually find them cheaper also.

Sammbo
  • 5th Jun 2011 03:19pm

The jury is still out on ethanol based fuels.

In fact, some car manufacturers (I include Maserati and Mazda) recommend against using an ethanol blend or ethanol based fuels.

I will take their advice and stick to 95 or 98 octane unleaded petrol

chicoco
  • 25th Jan 2012 05:08pm
The jury is still out on ethanol based fuels.

In fact, some car manufacturers (I include Maserati and Mazda) recommend against using an ethanol blend or ethanol based fuels.

I...

I have not tried ethanol in my Peugeot 307, but I have checked with the dealer,who says that I could use ethanol but not to go below 95 ron,I use 95 around the city but go to 98 for longer trips.As regards to Woolworths or Coles, they are realy good at the misleading that their prices are better, but sadly I use Caltex fuel cards, so I am STUCK between a rock and a hard place.

peterpat
  • 18th May 2011 12:04am

The motormouth web site is a great source for petrol price info both city and country prices.

mustang6000
  • 27th Nov 2011 08:57am
The motormouth web site is a great source for petrol price info both city and country prices.

Totally agree peterpat. I used motormouth for many years when I lived in Sydney, Brisbane & the Gold Coast, however as they do not cover the area of regional Qld I now live in, I have to rely on local knowledge. I still prefer to support the independants, but they are becoming harder to find.

Anonymous
  • 13th May 2011 12:51pm

It is not only Coles doing this,it is also Woolworths.I will give you an example;i went into Woolworths the other day,the sign displayed a $1.51,so i put some fuel in the car,gave the cashier my fuel card to get 4 cents a litre off.Drove off and going down the road a couple of K's noticed a servo with the fuel price at $1.46,so tell me how can Coles or Woolworths be saying they help families by having the lowest prices

kathyren
  • 10th Jan 2011 01:16pm

unleaded 98 is better.

Ziah
  • 27th Nov 2010 12:37pm

I have never seen an ethanol blend advertised here in WA...

Ann818
  • 17th Nov 2010 08:07am

Thanks for the tip. Was surprised to find the same thing recently, and also that even when Coles Express ethanol brand is the most discounted (usually on Wednesday or Thursday), the unleaded 95 doesn't seem to be discounted any more than usual.

nette
  • 20th Nov 2010 03:46pm
Thanks for the tip. Was surprised to find the same thing recently, and also that even when Coles Express ethanol brand is the most discounted (usually on Wednesday or Thursday), the unleaded 95...

Hi Ann
The unleaded 95 won't change much because the government want it completely phased out, many petrol stations started doing this from July 31st.
Unfortunately ethanol isn't as kind to some cars as it forms vapour in the fuel tank and can cause problems especially in older cars (which the government also want off the roads).

PukPuk
  • 26th Oct 2010 09:38am

Havent noticed that difference yet. Most of the servos I go through only have the standard 3c litre difference between unleaded and ethonal blended fuel. But will look out for it now.

TheFourRings
  • 23rd Oct 2010 10:35pm

Yep u r right, I have done the same. It will not be long when 2 co-operations own our service stations, hardware stores, food outlets amd alcohol shops.
One of the giants even has a sim card for mobile service.
Hmm When will they offer discount home loans, Bonus points if you transfer ur loan to them, then when you shop u can credit discount points. This is my prediction.

misstarnia
  • 17th Aug 2010 10:58am

I've stopped using Caltex Woolworths for my fuel as they are doing the same thing. Their boards display a good price but it is for E10 which is in very tiny print. I've started travelling outside my area to an independent who is always $1.17 if not less per litre for Unleaded 98. This also puts both large organisations in the limelight because their discount system is a crock

Amdor9
  • 12th Aug 2010 08:58pm

I have a 1993 Mazda so that doesn't like ethanol

lpullman
  • 12th Aug 2010 05:30pm

Coles Express has always been more expensive. So have the Woolworths / Caltex stations. Shouldn't surprise anyone. Buy from the independents, they are always cheaper.

Personally, I usually buy 98 octane, which is always 20c more than 91 octane regular unlead. My car runs noticeably better at low speed so I use fewer revs around town.

All petrol sold in Australia has an ethanol content. It's used to adjust the volatility across the seasons. Summer petrol is less volatile than winter petrol. From memory it ranges from about 2% to 10% depending on the temperature. The upper limit is mandated by law.

E10 is 10% ethanol all year round (the maximum the law will allow). From what I've read it's generally between 93 and 96 octane. Some injected engines run much better on it (my Falcon was one) others are not so happy (my old BMW). Carburetter fed vehicles are less happy on it.

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