What petrol do you use?

[burnt]

Really daft question but tomorrow I will have to fill my Exige S2 n/a up for the first time.

Does it benefit from super unleaded? Or just anything not supermarket?

[bogie]

anything - I always thought supermarket was ok too as at least it gets changed often !

[burnt]

bogie said:

anything - I always thought supermarket was ok too as at least it gets changed often !

Cheers Bogie!

[Alexbturbo]

I've generally found Tesco 99 the best in my Exige S although have also used v-power & the car has run fine with that as well So long as the petrol is 97ron/superunleaded shouldnt be a problem - I was also advised by the Lotus dealer who i bought mine from never to put regular unleaded/95ron in

Edited by Alexbturbo on Tuesday 24th June 22:20

[NathanE]

I use the supermarket nats piss in mine. Seems to work just fine. I might have to give the super duper stuff a few goes to see if it makes it any better.

[mrh3113]

I was reliably informed when I got my Exige that the NA toyota engine is designed to run on standard 95 unleaded and there's very little, if any benefit on splashing out on super. I do try and use shell/texaco as they are reputed to have the better detergents but that may be cobblers....

[jondude]

I use Tesco 99 and it does seem to give me more mpg.....have no idea if all the claims are true but I do buy it mainly for the cleansing properties it has. Allegedly.

[aelord]

I ve found no difference.

[tlracing]

Unless you have a higher-than-standard compression ratio, there's no need to use a high octane-number fuel.

Better to choose a standard one from a filling station that is clean, recently-refurbished and with a high turnover of fuel.

That way you stand the best chance of not getting water, debris and other contaminants as well!

[nsm3]

aelord said:

I ve found no difference.

+1

[Gooby]

Petrol is petrol. In the south all petrol is produced by esso at Fawley. Even if it is a shell filling station it is esso fuel. The only difference is the "additives" certain branded forecourts decide to put in. If the engine is in good shape then I dont see any value in them.

"high octane" fuels carry the same calorific value as low octane, the better burning characteristic is derrived by an additive that causes the fuel to form a finer mist when it is injected into the car. The finer mist with a larger surface area burns quicker and more efficiently. Good quality injectors can contribute to this effect.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Just standard unleaded, did a bit of a test for a few tanks on Super - it does seem to pick up a tiny amount better, but not enough to warrant a couple of quid per tank premium, was actually getting slightly poorer MPG as well.

[DamienCBR]

Well i have got a Sport 160 with K series engine. Have always used normal unleaded but decided that as my daily driver is a diesel and Vpower from Shell was still cheaper i would try it in the Lotus. Now, i would say there is little if no difference in performance but when it comes to MPG, yes there is a difference.

I was getting 27mpg before, which is general running around and fun, it is a weekend car. First tank for V Power was down to Goodwood and back, that did 37.8mpg WOW...... Next tank which was small motorway around 40 miles and the rest fun. 33mpg! OK 6p per litre more, 27p ish more a gallon for 6 extra miles per gallons, definately worth it.

Also it is a cleaner petrol so should be better for the engine.

D

[roger.daltrey]

Any advise on the fuel for the Europa S ?

I'd heard NA cars don't benefit from special fuels as much as T/C or S/C ones ?

[tlracing]

Again, all I can suggest is use the recommended fuel and buy from a good filling station (as above).

High octane fuels are only beneficial, in themselves, in high compression-ratio engines as their primary benefit is to reduce pre-ignition.

There may be some asides, such as better detergent capability, but when you bear in mind that there's more likely to be rubbish coming in from the atmosphere, I'd be inclined to use standard fuel, save the additional money and use it to make sure I had a decent air filter!

[aussiebeano]

Gooby said:

Petrol is petrol. In the south all petrol is produced by esso at Fawley. Even if it is a shell filling station it is esso fuel. The only difference is the "additives" certain branded forecourts decide to put in. If the engine is in good shape then I dont see any value in them.

"high octane" fuels carry the same calorific value as low octane, the better burning characteristic is derrived by an additive that causes the fuel to form a finer mist when it is injected into the car. The finer mist with a larger surface area burns quicker and more efficiently. Good quality injectors can contribute to this effect.

aaah - common sense. Think about it - there are key refineries in the UK - Shell, Texaco, Conoco, Murco, etc. They are all obliged to meet fairly strict specs and the differences are minor. All you get at a Tesco station is petrol from one of the refineries, that sends it to a terminal, that has trucks fill up at the terminal, who then deliver it to their customers - eg Tescos. I've worked in this caper for years in SE Asia, Oz and it appears very similar here in the UK

[wantalotus]

without a knock sensor isn't it just a waste of your hard earned cash, just a bit more into Mr Brown's very deep pockets.

[DamienCBR]

wantalotus said:

without a knock sensor isn't it just a waste of your hard earned cash, just a bit more into Mr Brown's very deep pockets.

Thats what i thought but with 6mpg more then it more than out ways the extra £.

D

[Grinnders]

I use http://www.petrolprices.com

With nearly £2 at stake per fill I won't necessarily drive out of my way but when the tank is low I may be able to factor a lower cost refill into my daily drive.

You can guarantee my nearest station will NEVER be the cheapest. Affluent area + no local competition + lethargy = big profits

Edited by Grinnders on Monday 30th June 11:56