Which kind of petrol....?

nykS5 · Post by **nykS5** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 9:20 pm

Hi everyone....

Which kind of petrol should I be putting in my CC? Its a 2.0SE. At the moment I'm just sticking unleaded in it...but should I be using the super unleaded or whatever its called? And what benefits does it have over the ordinary stuff?

Cheers

Nyk xx

Esselle · Post by **Esselle** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:08 pm

Hi Nyk

That's a very good question! Price difference is the only one i'm aware of...

nykS5 · Post by **nykS5** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:31 pm

Hi!

Well if thats the only thing I'll stay with what I'm doing....

Nyk x

Esselle · Post by **Esselle** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:54 pm

I'm sure someone will come up with a technical reason for it being more expensive, but I don't know anyone who uses it.

teddy206 GTi · Post by **teddy206 GTi** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:07 pm

I've used Optimax and BP Ultimate in my GTi and when i first got the car i couldn't tell the difference between the fuels but with the Optimax it definately run smoother. It's more noticable driving round town than when you have foot to the floor.

Only used Ultimate once so can't tell the difference between it and Optimax. Normal UL seems a bit lumpy.

carl · Post by **carl** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:59 am

I used to get at least 10% better fuel economy in the Impreza when using Optimax. I've tried it in the CC but it doesn't seem to make any difference, nor any difference to power/smoothness, so it doesn't justify the extra cost. I don't put anything except Optimax in the TVR. I think it's mapped to run on normal UL, but it doesn't seem worth the risk for the amount of mileage I do.

britboy · Post by **britboy** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 2:26 pm

It's more oxygenated therefore can give between 2% and 12% more performance then the normal stuff.

Just use the normal stuff for your car.

Impreza has a computer which can tell which type of petrol you've put in there and change the engine management system accordingly.

Pergeot it will make no noticable difference though. Apart from in your wallet.

teddy206 GTi · Post by **teddy206 GTi** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 7:12 pm

Pretty much all cars adjust to different octanes of petrol used...

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:38 am

i have tried optimax twice, for approx 1500 milers each time and i noticed a massive difference - normally 5/6p per litre

mpg increases by approx 1mpg maximum and performance difference is minimal so save your cash and just stick to the cheap stuff

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 12:48 am

Pretty much all cars adjust to different octanes of petrol used...

Pretty sure mine doesn't. Later Cerbs have a 95/98 switch -- but mine doesn't

Darth Bourj · Post by **Darth Bourj** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 6:30 pm

The higher octane of optimax and super unleaded petrol will result in less carbon deposits building up in the engine. So the effects of using it may not be immediately apparent. I have been lead to believe that it will increase the life of the catalyst and maintain good engine performance/ economy. That said it probably isnâ€™t worth the extra cash. Although I always use it.

It is probably more noticeable in performance engines like that of an imprezza. I believe the engine timing decreases slightly due to the cleaner explosive nature of such fuels. Non Injected/ ECU cars will not notice real improvement unless the timing is changed. As I understood it-Any fuel-injected car will automatically adjust it-self. I canâ€™t think of any new cars that still use carbs.

I had a similar discussion with my old chap a couple of months ago. He thought it was unnecessary buying super unleaded etc. He owns a 6-month-old Picasso with the same 138bhp engine as the cc. He had always purchased his petrol from ASDA and Tescos. Last week his multiplexed Picasso came up with an engine fault.

When he took it to the dealer they said it was due to poor/ dirty petrol. So say the cars engine management system is so strict concerning air pollution that it sensed an issue. The petrol was drained and injectors were cleaned and touch wood his car has been ok ever since. He was advised to use branded petrol such as BP or Shell. Although I was under the impression that one of the supermarkets used the same petrol. Anyway he isnâ€™t using supermarket petrol anymore.

teddy206 GTi · Post by **teddy206 GTi** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:20 pm

I'd stick Optimax in anything.
Any improvement in performance will be felt more in a more powerful car but even in our Punto Sporting (1.2 16V) Optimax works better. I wouldn't go as far to say it's faster but it's definately smoother to drive.

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 10:22 pm

Interestingly I noticed today that the filler cap on the TVR says "Use 98 octane super unleaded only".

Anyway, I'd certainly agree with the advice to steer clear of supermarket fuels in any car -- stick to Shell, BP, Esso and Texaco.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Wed Dec 24, 2003 10:00 am

Interestingly I noticed today that the filler cap on the TVR says "Use 98 octane super unleaded only".

Anyway, I'd certainly agree with the advice to steer clear of supermarket fuels in any car -- stick to Shell, BP, Esso and Texaco.

Isnt tesco texaco? It used to have a texaco logo on the one near us, dunno if its still there. Im going to continue to use supermarket fuel! and continue to replace cars every 3 years, so i do not see what difference its gonna make.

nykS5 · Post by **nykS5** » Wed Dec 24, 2003 10:30 am

Sorry to be thick here...(female and blonde and all that...) Why shouldnt I be using supermarket fuel? Isnt it the same as the rest?

Nyk x