Hey!!! What's this I hear?

Muggins

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Location
Barrie, Canada
TDI
02 Golf GL 4dr 5spd
I was at the local Sunoco here in Barrie, on Blake St. I asked the attendant why they didn't have a sign posting the diesel price. The guy said they were told not to, by Petrocan. He said Petrocan took over that location and all the others in Barrie, well, the one on Dunlop St. as well. He said Sunoco was getting out of Barrie.

What's that all about? Anybody know anything? I'm sure Sunoco says nothing official. Keep consumers in the dark, like mushrooms.

Does anyone know what's going on with Sunoco selling off its stations in Barrie? Is this true? Anyone know anything that's definitive and factual?
But I'm ticked about this. I only use the Gold diesel, for what it's worth. Who knows.
 

LNXGUY

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Location
Barrie, Ont, Canada
TDI
'05 Jetta TDI Wagon
Hey Gary, long time!!

I think we better ask Peter, I'm sure he'll have some insight as to what's going on...

Personally, I wish there were Gold stations that weren't full serve around here... I don't need a pump jockey pumping my fuel and I'd rather pay a lower price.
 

Muggins

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Location
Barrie, Canada
TDI
02 Golf GL 4dr 5spd
Hi Bill...Ya...long time huh? Are you still driving the same burgundy Jetta with the original motor? If so, that's amazing....What's the kilometres on it?

Ya....I know what you mean, but I just want to know what's going on? Friggn' Sunoco will keep us in the dark unless it suites their purposes. And this obviously doesn't suit their purposes, to say anything.
 

LNXGUY

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Location
Barrie, Ont, Canada
TDI
'05 Jetta TDI Wagon
Yup, same car, same clutch, same everything, lol... Just over 519,000kms on it now..

Hopefully we can get some answer in the near future.
 

Muggins

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Location
Barrie, Canada
TDI
02 Golf GL 4dr 5spd
That's amazing, Bill!! I can't believe the mileage you have on it!! And the same clutch? What's your secret? I need driving lessons and probably lots of others, too.

Half a million clicks with the same clutch?? How do you do that?
 

redlinedave

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Location
whitby ont cnd
TDI
03 jetta wagon
Muggins said:
That's amazing, Bill!! I can't believe the mileage you have on it!! And the same clutch? What's your secret? I need driving lessons and probably lots of others, too.

Half a million clicks with the same clutch?? How do you do that?
Dont step on the fuel until clutch pedel is up all the way,dont push
it all the way to the floor when shifting
 

OhMagoo

Veteran Member
Joined
May 11, 2005
Location
Barrie ON
TDI
'05 Jetta, '05 Passat
Gary, welcome back. Sunoco bought Petro-Can. The wise business folks decided that only one brand is more efficient and profitable. So, since Sunoco had 500 some sites and PC has some 5000 sites, that decision was made simple...re-brand the Sunoco sites to PC. The Competition bureau said that 106 sites in the greater GTA had to be taken off the list to get the deal approved. It was suspected inside the industry that Ultramar and Parkland (a large retailer from the west) were competing for these 106 sites. But in a big announcement 2 days ago, Husky bought 98 of these sites. Furthermore, while at the terminal loading the other day, I had conversation with one of the terminal operators. In this discussion I was advised that 2 weeks ago an official announcement was made stating that Gold diesel will disappear along with most of the Ultra94 gas. Though, this doesn't make sense since Suncor just spent money at the terminal to allow quicker loading of northern Sunoco Gold. The other thing that doesn't make a lot of sense is Sunoco just spent money on a number of retail sites converting them to dual diesel retailers (offering both diesel and Gold diesel). So, we'll have to see what happens in time. I doubt this will be a quick thing so Gold will still be available for some time.
The way changes have come about at hidden levels, Suncor/Petro-Can have been working on this deal for some time planning the changes and moves...I suspect a couple of years. As soon as they got the initial approvals, alot of things happened really quickly. Almost too quickly. So, we'll have to wait and see what evolves. Things change and people in positions change.
 

LNXGUY

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Location
Barrie, Ont, Canada
TDI
'05 Jetta TDI Wagon
redlinedave said:
Dont step on the fuel until clutch pedel is up all the way,dont push
it all the way to the floor when shifting
Having a factory LUK doesn't hurt either :)

Gary, the last 200,000kms or so I've been pushing 251ftlbs through the poor thing, lol.. There is a Spec Stg II on the shelf for when she finally gives up.
 

Muggins

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Location
Barrie, Canada
TDI
02 Golf GL 4dr 5spd
LNXGUY said:
Having a factory LUK doesn't hurt either :)

Gary, the last 200,000kms or so I've been pushing 251ftlbs through the poor thing, lol.. There is a Spec Stg II on the shelf for when she finally gives up.

What a testament to clutch durability. That's impressive.

So Sunoco buys Petrocan and rebrands everything Petrocan because of overwhelming number of stations of its former rival. Hoping they still use the same Gold diesel formulation, no matter what it's called in the future. That is if you swallow the marketing/advertising hype surrounding the fuel.
 

craig01b

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Location
Guelph, Ontario.
TDI
None
Sounds to me like less competition...the Canadian way it seems.

Clutches...when i swapped out the original sachs in mine (due slipping in higher gears with the mods). It was perfect looking at 360,000 kms. Be gentle and smart, a clutch will last a long time. I just looked at a friends Tercel, a 99 with 520,000 kms....and we decided to reinstall it. He is even more gentle with a clutch than I am. I advised replacing, but, with a divorce, and tight money....well...will we see how far into the future he gets with that clutch. You can eat a clutch being silly in 5000 kms...or less, or, it can last a very long time. Its one of those things where our input as drivers dictates the change interval.

C
 
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Peytron

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Location
Canada
TDI
Jetta
I frequently fill at Dunlop & Ferndale. Sunoco stopped posting the price, but the Pioneer across the street still does, Sunoco is almost always 5 cents higher.
 

Silver02TDI

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Location
Toronto, Ottawa
TDI
2012 Golf Wagon TDI Highline
Sunoco = best fuel
PetroCan = worst fuel

I stopped using PetroCan ten years ago... Unless I was absolutely stuck. By getting rid of the Sunoco brand, they will lose customers. I also know a lot of people that only use Ultra 94 (for their sports cars) that will absolutely not put PetroCan into their vehicles. They better make it very clear what they are planning on doing with the superior Sunoco products
 

Ferbie

Active member
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Location
Alliston, ON, Canada
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
Peytron said:
I frequently fill at Dunlop & Ferndale. Sunoco stopped posting the price, but the Pioneer across the street still does, Sunoco is almost always 5 cents higher.
Same thing has happened in Alliston, driving me nuts!! They are 5 cents more all of a sudden than ALL the other places with diesel; both Pioneer and Esso.

When I complained that they stopped posting their price, the only line I could get out of them was "head office". Pisses me off though, that's for sure.
 

OhMagoo

Veteran Member
Joined
May 11, 2005
Location
Barrie ON
TDI
'05 Jetta, '05 Passat
LNXGUY said:
So Gold is going to be completely gone? Not just rebranded under something else? That blows if so...
That's what I was advised. Until it happens who knows for sure though.
 

Peytron

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Location
Canada
TDI
Jetta
We can always buy the premium diesel from Shell, does anyone have a link to possible differences between Shell's higher grade and Sunoco Gold?
 

thedarkend

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Location
The Junction (T.O.)
TDI
1997 Jetta TDI
There are several posts in the forums debating the two and so far from what I've read and from personal experience Shell V-Power seems to be the winner.

When it comes to cetane values they are roughly the same with a minimum of 45. Where the mystery comes is with the maximum which Sunoco claims is 50 while Shell has yet to make mention. Refer to this thread if your interested in what gives you more bang for your buck.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=210677&highlight=cetane

In the end it really comes down to who has the better additive package. Sadly, since they are not willing to let us take a peek at their uber-secret-squirrel recipe it comes down to two simple things. Personal milage gains and how our engine runs after using it.

But, if it helps..... Audi (VW) chose to run regular consumer Shell V-Power in the R10. Three wins at Le Mans is proof enough for me :D

http://www.shell.ca/home/content/can-en/products_services/on_the_road/fuels/shell_vpower_diesel/

Meanwhile it's really sneaky of them that they are no longer showing the price of diesel on the signs up there. Personally I don't fill up at any stations that don't show their price where I can see it before pulling in.

As for pump-jockeys I don't let them anywhere near the car. I sometimes fill up at a Pioneer in Burlington and they've got a full-serve for both of their diesel pumps. I just tell the guy not to worry about it and do it myself.

Never had any issues yet and they seem to really like the fact that they don't have to leave the warmth of their booth during the winter.
 

daniel_mad

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Location
Toronto
TDI
2005 VW Golf TDI 127hp
I've noticed this too. I usually got to my sunoco at weston and rogers, and they took down the sign as well. now i have idea how much diesel is until i actually need it and pay up for it.
 

TDIFred

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Location
Hamilton, Ontario
TDI
Jetta Sportwagen, 2009, Graphite
and yet Shell has installed new neon green diesel fuel price signs at some of their stations.
sadly, they are at least a nickel or seven cents more than either Esso (7) or Sunoco Gold (5).
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Between the V-power marketing, the Audi TDI connection, and the super bright green LED signs I am switching to Shell if they take my Sunoco Gold away.

If I have to I am switching to the cleanest station with pay at the pump, and a clearly posted price (Shell).

Any Petro Canada station that I have seen has not been clean, not had pay at the pump, and not posted the price for diesel. It is as if they just do not care about diesel customers.
 

2ManyKMfor1Tank

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Location
Grand Valley, ON
TDI
2000 Jetta
I fill up at Sunoco when I can, but because of their location it is rare. I have been filling up regularly at Esso on Gordon Road and have yet to have a bad tank from there. I think a big part of the reason is they sell alot of diesel being close to the 401.
 

Ferbie

Active member
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Location
Alliston, ON, Canada
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
So from talking to one of the guys at the Sunoco in Alliston (NOT the owners, a younger guy I know) it seems that our Sunoco is one of the stations that has been purchased by Husky. He wasn't supposed to say anything, but I was complaining about the lack of price on the sign and the consistently higher prices, and he said that he received an email saying that it would become a Husky.

So....... that being said....... what's Husky diesel like? :)
 

P2B

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 11, 2006
Location
Toronto & Muskoka, Canada
TDI
2002 Jetta, 2003 Jetta, 2003 Jetta Wagon
Ferbie said:
So....... that being said....... what's Husky diesel like? :)
I normally fill at either the Husky at Hwy 88 or the Sunoco in Waubaushene depending where on my cottage commute the fuel light comes on. I've had three TDIs over the past 9 years and have recorded every tank in a spreadsheet, always vented to the top of the filler neck.

My records say there's no difference in average fuel economy between Husky and Sunoco Gold, and I have never noticed a difference in performance.

Simon
 
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