Frequently Asked Questions
From September 2023 our Synergy Supreme * 99 transitioned to contain up to a maximum of 5% ethanol at all Esso pumps irrespective of which part of the country they are located. The labelling at our pumps will remain as E5 for Synergy Supreme * 99 unleaded.
The octane rating of petrol is a measure of its resistance to knock, with higher octanes more resistant to knock. Petrol engines work by compressing air and fuel, then igniting the mixture with a spark. Certain engine conditions can cause all or part of the mixture to ignite on its own without the spark, creating what’s called “knock” in your engine. Fuels can be blended to meet different octane ratings at the refinery or fuel terminal.
The majority of today’s petrol vehicles are designed to run on regular octane fuel (95). However, using higher octane fuel than the minimum required can benefit fuel economy, power and acceleration even in vehicles calling for regular fuel. Engine design features like higher compression ratios and forced air induction (e.g. turbochargers or superchargers) can make engines more responsive to octane. The benefits achievable with higher octane depend not only on hardware design but also on the car’s calibration and the user’s driving style.
The latest addition to our diesel family is formulated with a minimum of 25% Esso Ethos™ Renewable Diesel. The renewable content helps reduce the life cycle GHG emissions by 15% when compared to our regular diesel (1). The “+” in Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel refers to the formulation of this product with our Esso Synergy additive technology. Esso Ethos+™ offers the same great protection and cleaning power as our regular diesel to protect your engine.
We use the methodology outlined in the amended Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 (SI 2007/3072) as amended (“RTFO”), which includes contributions from N2O and CH4, expressed in CO2 equivalents (CO2e). The life cycle GHG saving from biofuels and bio liquids (e.g. HVO) is calculated by comparing the carbon intensity of the HVO fuel with a fossil fuel comparator, using RTFO default values for the renewable and fossil fuel comparators. In this case, the expected life cycle GHG emission saving of 15.2% for Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel containing 25% HVO was calculated against the equivalent figure for regular diesel containing up to 7% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME).
GHG saving of biofuels & bio liquids = (E(F) – E(B) )/E(F)
E(F) = total emissions from the fossil fuel comparator
E(B) = total emissions from the biofuel or bio liquid
E(B) = E(HVO)
In the case of biofuels, life cycle GHG emissions will also include the emissions associated with cultivating, and harvesting the feedstocks used to make them. GHG emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (NOx).
Renewable fuels have lower life cycle GHG emissions than their conventional counterparts because the carbon in those fuels comes from a renewable energy source (for example biomass, oil extracted from plants, or used cooking oil). In those cases, the carbon from those sources has been drawn from the atmosphere to feed the plant’s growth, and when the fuel is burned, that carbon is returned to the atmosphere without a net increase in atmospheric carbon. The important thing to remember is that it’s across the overall life cycle that the environmental impacts of biofuels are compared to conventional fuels, not at the vehicle exhaust emissions at the end of the chain.
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel meets the BS EN590 specifications and works in all diesel engines marked as compatible with B7 fuel. It can be used interchangeably with other diesel fuels, and does not require any engine modification. It will not impact the warranty of a vehicle engine marked as compatible with B7 fuel.
Pure HVO contains approximately 4-5% less energy per litre than conventional diesel, though this impact is diluted for blends of HVO. Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel contains a minimum of 25% HVO, blended with conventional diesel and our proprietary Esso Synergy additive. It meets all BS EN590 fuel specifications. We therefore expect minimal impact to fuel economy.
B7 labelling means that Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel can be used in engines marked as compatible with B7 fuel.
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel contains our proprietary Synergy additive, designed to help clean vital parts of your engine, including your car’s fuel injectors. A cleaner engine means better performance.
Yes, this product contains our Esso Synergy additive. The Esso Synergy additive in Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel provides the same great protection and cleaning power as the additive in our regular diesel to protect your engine.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is a renewable fuel that can be made from a variety of feedstocks including vegetable and animal oils and fats, or residue feedstocks (such as used cooking oil). It is carefully refined to become a high quality fuel component regardless of the original feedstock.
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel does not contain palm oil. To supply the HVO used in Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel, we purchase independently verified, RTFO compliant, waste and residue feedstock, such as waste or used cooking oil (UCO).
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel has all the great advantages that our customers have come to expect from high quality Esso fuels, but with the added benefit of 15% lower life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with our regular diesel(1). However, it does cost more to manufacture because the renewable component of the diesel – the HVO - costs more than conventional diesel.
The petrol station owners who run Esso branded forecourts set their own prices for this product, however the HVO blend components of Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel cost more than normal diesel so this product does cost more than regular diesel to manufacture. Consumers can therefore expect to pay a little more per litre for the renewable benefits of this fuel compared to conventional diesel.
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel provides Retail customers with lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to our regular diesel(1), but with the same great protection. We think customers will be delighted with this new premium fuel, however we continue to sell Esso Supreme+ Diesel at most other Esso service stations. To find an Esso station providing Esso Supreme+ Diesel, please visit https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/find-station/
Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel is available across 35 sites in South East England. Please visit https://www.esso.co.uk/en-gb/find-station/ to find your nearest station.
Filling up your vehicle with Esso Ethos+™ 25% Diesel is a great way you can make an immediate change. However don’t forget that there are other, simple steps you can take to help improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle and help lower your fuel bills too! Follow these five steps to drive more efficiently:
- ensure your tyres are correctly inflated,
- accelerate and brake smoothly,
- remove the roof rack from your car when not in use,
- drive with the windows up, and
- remove excess weight from your vehicle
In order to investigate your case, please get in touch with Customer Care via the Contact Us form: https://www.exxonmobil.co.uk/company/overview/contact-us/customer-support
You can sign up digitally either by scanning the Nectar QR code near the till or directly online with Nectar - Welcome to Nectar. Alternatively, you can pick up a Nectar card in store at participating Esso branded service stations, whilst stocks last.
- You must present your Nectar card or Nectar key tag at the time of your purchase at participating Esso branded service stations to qualify for any Nectar points or have previously added your Nectar card details to your Esso App account. Nectar points cannot be awarded retrospectively.
- Nectar collectors can earn 1 point per litre of Esso Synergy™ fuel or 2 points per pound spent on carwash, lubricants or shop products at participating Esso branded service stations.
- Points collected at participating Esso branded service stations will be credited to your Nectar account by Nectar 360 Limited and included in your statement for redemption via existing Nectar redemption options.
- Transactions using Key Fuels or UK Fuels bunker card(s) are not eligible for Nectar points.
- Nectar points issued on all transactions are capped at 100 points for unleaded and 250 points for diesel purchases and £200 for spend in shop.
- Restrictions may be placed on the issuance of Nectar points at participating Esso branded service stations. Esso may not issue Nectar points on transactions it considers to be above reasonable use or where it suspects fraudulent activity without any notice. Esso’s decision on these circumstances is final.
- Esso reserves the right to cancel, terminate, suspend or change the ability to earn or spend Nectar points at Esso branded service stations without notice (including, but not limited to suspension arising out of non-availability of the App or technical failure generally or at a particular Esso branded service station). Esso shall not be responsible for any losses suffered or incurred as a direct or indirect result of the act of cancellation, termination, suspension or change in the availability of the Nectar scheme at Esso branded service stations.
- Nectar points can be spent at participating Esso branded service stations only. Please see details of participating Esso branded service stations here. Nectar points cannot be spent at Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop.
- Nectar collectors can receive a 5 pence per litre discount on Esso Synergy™ fuel (diesel or petrol) for 300 Nectar points, with a minimum fill size of 10 litres at participating Esso branded service stations. Discount applies on the first 60 litres only. A maximum of 300 points can be exchanged for a 5 pence per litre discount in a single transaction. Nectar points cannot be spent on any other products at Esso branded service stations.
- You must present your Nectar card or Nectar key tag at the time of your purchase at participating Esso branded service stations to receive a redemption option or have previously added your Nectar card details to your Esso App account. Nectar points cannot be spent retrospectively.
- Transactions using Key Fuels, UK Fuels bunker card(s), Esso Card, Esso Commercial Vehicle Card, EuroShell, DKV and Allstar BP Supercharge are not eligible for the Nectar redemption option.
- Nectar points cannot be spent on LPG purchases [or for EV charging].
- Restrictions may be placed on the redemption of Nectar points at participating Esso branded service stations. Esso may not offer a redemption option on transactions it considers to be above reasonable use or where it suspects fraudulent activity without any notice. Esso’s decision on these circumstances is final.
- Esso reserves the right to cancel, terminate, suspend or change the ability to earn or spend Nectar points at Esso branded service stations without notice (including, but not limited to suspension arising out of non-availability of the App or technical failure generally or at a particular Esso branded service station). Esso shall not be responsible for any losses suffered or incurred as a direct or indirect result of the act of cancellation, termination, suspension or change in the availability of the Nectar scheme at Esso branded service stations.
You can use the “Find Esso Stations” option at the bottom of the app home screen to find your closest mobile-enabled site or check the Esso website. You will need to give permission for the app to access your location so it can search for sites near you and provide driving directions. The app is being rolled out to new sites all the time, so check there to see your nearest site.
What you have experienced is most likely a transaction hold on your account. When you commit to a fuel purchase using the Esso App by clicking on the Pay button, your bank is automatically advised that a fuel transaction is about to begin. Your bank then places a hold on your account according to the level of pre-authorization you have in place.
At no stage in the transaction does Esso have any hold on or access to your account or funds – we simply advise your bank when the transaction begins, and confirm when it is complete, we then provide the actual amount that should be paid.
The speed at which pre-authorisation amounts are removed is determined by the bank or Credit Card Company. In most cases, banks debit the account and remove the pre-authorisation straightaway, but with some providers this can take longer. Where there is a delay, this is often cleared with 2 days, however in some instances we aware that providers have taken much longer. If you are being inconvenienced by this delay, we suggest reducing your maximum fuelling amount to a similar value as you are likely to fill, meaning only the value close to what you have actually spent is being held by your bank or credit card provider.
Please contact customer service for your bank issuer if you have any other questions on this matter.
a) At Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop you’ll collect one Clubcard point for every £3 spent on petrol or diesel. You can claim Clubcard points on the first 100 litres of each fuel purchased. For car washes or any other in-store purchases, collect 1 point for every £1 you spend. Sorry you can't collect points on tobacco or tobacco related products, lottery, stamps, prescription medicines, infant formulae milk, Tesco gift cards, 3rd party gift cards, saving stamps, in-store concessions, Paypoint payments or for purchases of some Tesco Bank products.
b) Bonus points
From time-to-time Esso may run promotions granting additional points. Further details will be available when a promotion is running.
Yes, all Esso branded service stations that have a Tesco Express shop attached now accept Clubcard vouchers towards payment for fuel or shop purchases. Both paper vouchers and digital vouchers on the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app are accepted – just present them before you pay.
In particular, the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app is a great way to see your Clubcard points balance and turn them into Faster Vouchers which can then be used within 24 hours.
Terms apply and certain shop products are excluded. See https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/help/terms-and-conditions for more details.
Esso works in partnership with Tesco at nearly 200 stores and this means you can collect Clubcard points and use Clubcard vouchers at any Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop. To find your nearest Esso branded service station with a Tesco Express shop please visit Esso Fuel Finder.
Please visit the Tesco Clubcard registration page of Tesco’s website.
Visit https://www.tesco.com/help/contact/ or call the Tesco Clubcard helpline (0800 591688) open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm , Saturday 9am to 6pm (closed Sundays).
You don't have to shop at Tesco to use Clubcard points. There are over 100 Reward Partners you can exchange your points for other than Tesco shopping, including your Clubcard vouchers at Esso in order to secure a fuel discount. Both paper vouchers and digital vouchers on the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app are accepted – just present them when you pay.
Yes, at Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop, you’ll collect one Clubcard point for every £3 spent on petrol or diesel. You can claim Clubcard points on the first 100 litres of each fuel purchase.
Clubcard points awarded will be shown on your receipt at the time of purchase. Your quarterly Tesco Clubcard statement (issued four times a year by Tesco Clubcard, usually in February, May, August and November) will show you the number of points awarded at Esso branded service stations under the Tesco Clubcard points summary detail. You can also visit 'My Tesco Clubcard Account' to see transaction details.
Yes, the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard App has a digital copy of your Clubcard which can be scanned at the till at any Esso branded service station with a Tesco Express shop. It also carries digital Clubcard vouchers which are now accepted towards payment for fuel or shop purchases when paying in store.
Where payment has been made using two means of payment (e.g. using a fuel card for fuel and then cash/credit card for store items) the customer should ask for the Tesco Clubcard to be processed before each part of the separate payments (certain products are excluded. See terms and conditions for details).
Customers must present their Tesco Clubcard at the time of purchase. Unfortunately, it is not possible to credit Clubcard points retrospectively.
Esso restricts the frequency with which a Tesco Clubcard may be used at Esso branded service stations and the maximum number of points per fuel or shop purchase to help prevent fraud. Any promotional or bonus points issued will not count towards these limits.
Clubcard points earned at Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop should typically appear on Tesco Clubcard accounts by midday the following working day.
On your Tesco Clubcard quarterly statement, points from Esso fuel are shown in the section that breaks down your points earned at Tesco and with other partners. However, if you look at a transaction level, they appear like a normal Tesco spend, but will usually have ‘Express’ in the name of the location where the points were earned.
From time to time Esso may run promotions using barcodes on coupons. Coupons may be distributed by being sent to customers, for example, in the Tesco Clubcard quarterly voucher statement or printed on customer receipts to be used on a subsequent visit.
The Tesco Clubcard operation is managed by Tesco Clubcard. Any queries regarding your Tesco Clubcard should be directed to Tesco Clubcard - the contact details are on the reverse of your Tesco Clubcard. You can contact the Tesco Clubcard helpline (0800 59 16 88) open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm (closed Sundays) or via https://www.tesco.com/help/contact/
Tesco Clubcard points will be issued on payments by cash, credit card, debit card, and fuel cards accepted at Esso branded service stations with a Tesco Express shop (Esso Card, Allstar, Shell Europe, BP Plus, Fuel Genie and Key Fuels cards).