Shell V- power

[drybeer]

Hi.

When we were in Germany (amongst other countries) last summer, we were able to fill our sadly missed 911 Carrera 3.2 with stuff called "Shell V-power".

This was miles better than Optimax, and was clearly labelled as 100 octane. Smooth, amazing acceleration, no detonation effect. I'd gladly pay for this in the UK I told my un-interested wife.

Now over the last two months I've seen here in the UK, Optimax being phazed out by a new "V-power"

My glee could hardly be contained, and I immediately went to fill the Audi S4 Avant Bi-turbo with a tank of the stuff, but sadly am a bit dissappointed.

It's labelled as (only) 99 octane!

Does anyone know if this is in any way comparable to the seemingly amazing smooth and powerful 100 octane stuff on the continent, or is it really Optimax with a halfords octane booster, or what?

I now have a 993 C2 and it (V-power) feels no different from Optimax in it either.

Please help!

Andrew Dryburgh.

[drybeer]

No it was definately noticeable on our Carrera 3.2 at the time - so much so I raved on about it for ages.

Sadly we are not getting this fuel over here!

I agree that most ecu modules are not mapped for 100 ron or even 99, but the knock sensor part of the system will be set to "off" all this time with a good fuel.

Oddly, the review I saw in EVO mag said that tesco 99 was good value, but BP ultimate beat both tesco 99 and Optimax for low end torque (Golf GTi turbo) and Optimax beat them all on power at higher revs.

I notice Optimax to be much better than BP on my Audi S4 Avant biturbo, and will soon compare them on the 993.

[drybeer]

Sounds odd...

There must be some super unleaded somewhere?

[drybeer]

willibetz said:

Lurking Lawyer said:

Apparently Shell varies the octane rating of V Power across Europe - some markets get higher RON than others. That probably explains why it's rated as 100 RON in Germany but we get only 99 RON. So, we share the branding but not necessarily the same product.

Precisely - it's a brand, not a specification. If you're spending lots of money having your brand shown trackside in F1, you want it to be relevant to all the viewers, wherever they're watching. The product may differ, but the name is the game.

Lurking Lawyer said:

(BTW, from what I understand, adding octane booster to Optimax isn't a good idea - they don't mix well and can cause manganese crystals to form. Not really what you want clogging up your valves!)

Have you a source for that, because it makes absolutely no sense to me.

Thanks,
WilliBetz

There was an EVO magazine article where they compared Shell Optimax, Tesco 99, BP Ultimate unleaded together, and came to conclusion Optimax was the best all round fuel.

The next issue (sorry guys I cannot remember the issue numbers) had an interview with a Shell boffin who explained that:

Optimax is the only truly unique fuel available in the UK (whether this extands to Ulster I do not know).

The fuels in other "Super-unleadeds" can be anything - so if you buy at Asda it could be Esso, and Esso could be Shell, and BP could be Jet, and so on.

However Optimax is made from a base fuel and a unique pack of additives added before shipping, and no other petrol stations get this mix.

This also explains how Optimax (now V-power) would appear to "go off" after a while in storage in you tank...

The magazine article concluded that Optimax does not neccessarily have more Octane in it than other fuels.

But that Octane is only one ingredient in making a petrol give more performance.

The detergents to stop the accumulation of Manganese deposits and others ensure your engine runs more smoothly and cleanly, and this often otweights the Octane.

I hope this helps.

I use Shell every time unless it cannot be helped now, as otherwise you don't know what you are buying.

Andrew Dryburgh.

[drybeer]

willibetz said:

drybeer said:

The detergents to stop the accumulation of Manganese deposits and others ensure your engine runs more smoothly and cleanly, and this often otweights the Octane.

I hope this helps.

I use Shell every time unless it cannot be helped now, as otherwise you don't know what you are buying.

Thanks Andrew. I can understand that Shell has a unique additive package which differentiates their V-Power product in the marketplace. Other oil companies use similar techniques (eg. Tesco 99 and BP Ultimate 102), so it's not really fair to say that Shell's is the only differentiated product in the market.

It's the issue of crystalline manganese deposits that's news to me, and I'd be grateful for any more information (which Lurking Lawyer is trying to find - Thanks!)

WilliBetz

Yes appreciably other companies are marketing "high performace fuel" however if you saw the EVO article, it made clear that Optimax (now V power) is the only unique product available in the UK.

Otherwise Esso fuel can be from a BP depot and so on...

I too have no proof of manganese crystal build up...

Maybe it's the start of a scare tactic..

I would assume that octane booster products are meant to help with a tuned car where no high octane fuel is available...

Otherwise what's the use of putting octane boost in Optimax or V-power if your ecu is not mapped for 101 / 102 octane fuel! None I suspect.

Also - I tend to use WOT every day in my cars...

I don't think it makes me a bad driver, just using what I've got!

Andrew Dryburgh