Fifty Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Normally I use Optimax but finding myself short of gas have used Esso a couple of times. Having done that the car idled at 1000 rpm and just didnt feel smooth; also al instances of 2 tubby coming in late. Filled up with Optimax yesterday now everything fine again, smooth as silk. I presume theres a technical explanation apart from Esso being crap. Just passed MOT today to no problems at all. 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Higher octane fuels are less likely to detonate before the spark. Hence turbo engines NEED to use it due to the higher compression being much more likely to cause pre-det. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 Yes but the Esso is supposed to be 97 ron same as Optimax? 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I thought Optimax was 98 RON and normal super unleaded was 96? I don't know really just know that the Research Octane Number is the ability of a fuel to burn without detonation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 Still weird but I just wondered why it seemed to make a big difference to the car. No sweat anyhow 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Ive been using Sainsburys Super Unleaded recently and have found no change whatsoever in performance or ride to Optimax. the only thing i have found is that i get 50 more miles out of a tank with Sainsburys so seeing as Optimax is generally a lot more expensive and i can get my Nectar points at Sainsburys, im reluctant to go back unless someone can prove without doubt that it causes damage to the engine. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I dunno I'd suggest getting it checked for det somewhere though just in case - so many people on here swear by using Optimax or BP Ultimate I wouldn't risk anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 BP ultimate is exactly the same as Sainsburys Super from what ive heard. Just sainsburys is cheaper being a supermarket Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 BP ultimate is exactly the same as Sainsburys Super from what ive heard. Just sainsburys is cheaper being a supermarket Gaz Is it? I just remember on the Gumball we marked out all Shell and BP stations to stop at - nothing else was good enough. Anyone else know for sure the RONs of different fuels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terribleturner Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Isn't it something like Optimax is 98, BP Ultimate 97, Sainsburys is 97 ron and Tescos is 95 (same as normal unleaded). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Isn't it something like Optimax is 98, BP Ultimate 97, Sainsburys is 97 ron and Tescos is 95 (same as normal unleaded). Thats correct and ive even heard, on here i think, that with Optimax youre never guranteed to get the 98, thats why they dont have it printed on the pumps. It varies depending on a few factors that i cant remember (a search will find you the thread) whereas Sainsburies and BP stick to a set 97ron (but sainsburies is far cheaper. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Reckon the higher octane the fuel -the better as jap cars are mapped to run around 100 ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 FAQ section, thread on types of fuel. Mawby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hadyn Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 i put £5s worth of 95 ron to get me to the nearest shell station - my supe ran like shite until i got to the shell station - stock ecus are mapped for 100ron arent they on a j-spec? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toms Supra Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Optimax is by far the best fuel it even made a difference in my 306 gti. My supra runs it now and ticks over noticeably higher like a couple of hundered rpm. i have to drive an extra 15 miles to get sum but its sooooo worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terribleturner Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 stock ecus are mapped for 100ron arent they on a j-spec? Yes they are as far as im aware. There's loads of threads on this subject. Here's a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotasuprauk Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Ive been using Sainsburys Super Unleaded recently and have found no change whatsoever in performance or ride to Optimax. the only thing i have found is that i get 50 more miles out of a tank with Sainsburys so seeing as Optimax is generally a lot more expensive and i can get my Nectar points at Sainsburys, im reluctant to go back unless someone can prove without doubt that it causes damage to the engine. Gaz Mines a NA so its a bit different but I use Sainsbury's Super Unleaded as my normal fuel. Its 97 RON and runs without ANY noticeable difference to Optimax only returns much better MPG and the fuels much cheaper. I do think Shell take the piss with the extra 7p a litre over 95 compared to Sainsbury's that charge an extra 2p and the fact they don't actually say what the RON is. They say it could be up to 98 that means it could also be 96 surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Optimax has all kinds of additives to help clean your engine etc.. I have tried them all and found them all to have no difference at all on my TT or NA. So like a few others have said I used the Sainbury's Super in my TT and the normal unleaded in my NA. No problems whatsoever, and its cheaper. For the record you can get Nectar points on BP Ultimate. You are only risking detonation at high boost levels when temperature in and out of the engine significantly increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ctrl211 Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I have a Soarer TT and regually use Sainsburys fuel. My car runs without any problems. I put in Optimax every now and again but I can't notice any difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 i put £5s worth of 95 ron to get me to the nearest shell station - my supe ran like shite until i got to the shell station - stock ecus are mapped for 100ron arent they on a j-spec? 101 Ron in japan. You should aim to get as close as you can, unless of course you dont propose to drive it any faster than a milk float:flame: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blert596 Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 So guys (and gals), Am I OK just using normal unleaded from a variety of different stations in my SZ? Or should I be using the expensive stuff....or is that only really necessary in the Turbos? Mainly just have a 5 mile run to work and after that motorway or dual carriageways. On a better note had a little blast to 140mph (indicated) the other day (then got up to traffic and was a bit worried about the cops). Had thrashed my Prelude 2.3i to indicate thisonce , but was screaming its head off. This felt nice, and had a bit more as well. Also had indicated 125 in 3rd at the redline mark. Love this car more every time I get in it!! Does this sound about normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 So guys (and gals), Am I OK just using normal unleaded from a variety of different stations in my SZ? Or should I be using the expensive stuff....or is that only really necessary in the Turbos? Mainly just have a 5 mile run to work and after that motorway or dual carriageways. On a better note had a little blast to 140mph (indicated) the other day (then got up to traffic and was a bit worried about the cops). Had thrashed my Prelude 2.3i to indicate thisonce , but was screaming its head off. This felt nice, and had a bit more as well. Also had indicated 125 in 3rd at the redline mark. Love this car more every time I get in it!! Does this sound about normal? 125mph in third! Are you sure you don't mean 4th? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get that in 3rd. If so, its much faster than my SZ-R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale B Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Actually you'll find that Shell Optimax is a bit of a con...You'll notice that at on the pumps Shell dont actually quote a "RON" it merely states "optimax", this is because their addative deteriorates over time and if in the holder long enough can actually revert to 95RON, so it is possible to be paying for 98 and filling up with 95 (albeit a remote possibility). BP ESSO etc all quote an actual RON rate ... so basically you ARE getting what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Petrol stations I believe are allowed to fill up up to 10% of the wrong fuel into the tanks anyway before they have to empty them. Dunno how stupid the filler lorry drivers are enough to do it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotasuprauk Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 So guys (and gals), Am I OK just using normal unleaded from a variety of different stations in my SZ? Or should I be using the expensive stuff....or is that only really necessary in the Turbos? I'm using Super unleaded at the moment in my NA but I really don't think its necessary in a NA at all! In fact on the next fill up I might try 95 again just for comparison of performance and MPG. When I first got the car I always used normal unleaded and it was fine. So its up to you but I wouldn't worry about using normal unleaded too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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