I spent a while searching this forum over the weekend on the subject of 'Running Rough' and premium fuel vs regular....of which there is much debate. My SD4 auto has been running rough for over 12 months now....drives ok, but when engine warmed up and you stop and put gearbox in neutral or park it ticks over so lumpy the car shakes at times. Wondered if injectors on the way out, but strangely it's cured by a bottle of Redex (250ml) chucked in the tank. Almost immediately on re-filling it runs lumpy again. Doesn't seem to matter if I use my local Shell garage or Jet garage to fill up. However last week I thought I'd splash out on the Shell V Power. For the first 3 days or so there was no change then it's gradually improved to the point it's cured again (without Redex). I know this fuel supposedly has extra cleaning agents in so probs equivalent to Redex?

It seems most other Freel2 drivers don't feel the need to use premium fuel (and it's 20p/litre more!) so wondering what's going on here .
Car well serviced and fuel filter recenty done. No fault codes. Do I just keep chucking Redex in ??!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts,
Rob

Have you put a reader on it

Is this used for short stop start journeys? if so get on the motorway and try giving it a fast long run. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

thanks for the replies folks. In answer to your questions....yes the reader showed no faults.
And regarding short runs - yes it does a lot of short runs unfortunately. However a couple of months a go I did a very long drive up to the Scottish Highlands. And that didn't cure it!

Thanks
Rob

I only ever ran my Sd4 on BP Utimate and the majority of driving was in town, it never missed a beat or had any DPF issue's in the time I owned it. .My wife's DS gets the same and that's been without any DPF/running issues.When I first got my diesel focus I started running that on ultimate and it certainly ran better after a few tanks. 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (Now gone)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S (Gone,but what a car)
2020 Ford Fiesta ActiveX 1.0 Ecoboost
2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 Tsi SEL

I would guess 99`% of people with 10 year old car would be using supermarket or whatever the cheapest fuel is to run their car, no matter what model it is.

+1 for BP Ultimate. I find that the extra cost per litre is offset by the improved fuel economy and, to my mind, smoother running. I found this even more so with Ultimate petrol in my C70 Volvo, especially the smoother running.

Mine runs almost exclusively on regular Tesco diesel without any issues.
Has it had a recent fuel filter change? Might do no harm if its been on a while. Genuine part seems to be recommended for this filter although I'm using a Bosch one presently without any problems. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Local Sainsburys as it is the lowest price no running probs at all, when I was working as a HGV driving Instructor running Euro 6 Trucks we had to fill up at Sainsburys as when you have eight trucks and 300+ litres a time to fill its a big saving never had any running probs with those either. (and there was all those Nectar points ) 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented

Did your problem exist before your last service and fuel filter change?

Was it a genuine filter or look-alike.

How many miles has the car done, does it tick-over at above/below normal revs.?

Have you managed to get some rubbish or water into tank?

Have you any error codes?

If all above OK, perhaps it may be a good idea to have the tank cleaned out, filter changed and 'new fresh' fuel put into clean tank.
AND of course take it for a 50 mile fast motorway run. -- give it a treat!

Mine has always run on Tesco/Morrison standard diesel and have had scheduled fuel filter changes, it ticks over with no problem. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

It's all very well saying I use the cheapest fuel available at this or that supermarket, and saying I've had no issues. The question is, what are the long term cost/benefit results? Personally I find the most expensive diesel gives the best performance AND the best MPG.

Life is full of what if,s. But as a motor gets older and worth less people generally don’t pay to much attention to what if,s , or performance etc and long term affects. It’s all horses for courses

thanks for all the feedback folks - certainly some food for thought there.

For those who have mentioned fault codes - it has been tested and none showing. Fuel filter - yes replaced not that long ago and maybe a suspect as it wasn't LR original OEM part. I asked for OEM but garage insisted on using a replacement as he always used them and never had any issues. I do believe it was a Mann filter. Maybe this is the cause? However if the filter is the problem I wonder why premium fuel would help resolve the problem?

I'm pretty sure no rubbish or other contaminants could have got in tank. And I never use supermarket diesel.

Car done just 61k miles and tick over speed seems fine - just very rough.

And regarding BP ultimate diesel - that did keep coming up on searches so may use some of that at some point. But at the end of the day the car really shouldn't sound as lumpy as it does on regular Shell fuel should it ?

Thanks again,
Rob

i use mann filters,on 3 freelanders,no problems

Going off slightly at a tangent, having already answered the main query about fuel quality; Just A Driver suggested that most old car owners will use cheap fuels and servicing due to the age of the vehicle. Not me squire ! I run a 2012 SD4 HSE which to me is the perfect vehicle that I plan to run till my demise regardless of cost ! It will get the best of attention, I love it to death!
An accountant will tell you (and has) when to trade in the car for a more economically and tax efficient vehicle: but I say "what about the love? what about the investment? what about the history? Having had three Range Rovers in an earlier life, one of which I kept for 11 years covering 360,000 miles, I know what devotion means. Five petrol tanks, three steering boxes, two engines, etc, etc. Long live my Freelander and :censored: the fuel bill !