Fuel... high octane Vs Regular /// Branded Vs non-banded
Discussion
I am interested to hear thoughts and option about the above. Do you believe claims about improved efficiency, performance for high octane fuels versus regular? what do you use and why? Also Branded (Shell, BP, Esso) how do you rate them? Any preference and why? Versus supermarket; any notable difference?
My engine is much smoother with v-power in.
My car is much faster with v-power.
I get 5 more mpg out of a tank of v-power.
Im sure my engine is quieter with v-power.
My engine blew up using Asdas fuel.
Thats probably about it.
Standard 'normal' car.
Sod all difference.
My car is much faster with v-power.
I get 5 more mpg out of a tank of v-power.
Im sure my engine is quieter with v-power.
My engine blew up using Asdas fuel.
Thats probably about it.
Standard 'normal' car.
Sod all difference.
Edited by k15tox on Monday 26th March 16:42
Octane rating makes a difference if the car can use it - ie if it has a knock sensor or has been tuned for the higher octane stuff.
Brand makes no difference whatsoever that I've ever noticed. I've certainly never noticed any difference in any of my cars. I fill my cars up wherever is most convenient.
Brand makes no difference whatsoever that I've ever noticed. I've certainly never noticed any difference in any of my cars. I fill my cars up wherever is most convenient.
k15tox said:
My engine is much smoother with v-power in.
My car is much faster with v-power.
I get 5 more mpg out of a tank of v-power.
Im sure my engine is quieter with v-power.
My engine blew up using Asdas fuel.
Thats probably about it.
Standard 'normal' car.
Sod all difference.
My car is much faster with v-power.
I get 5 more mpg out of a tank of v-power.
Im sure my engine is quieter with v-power.
My engine blew up using Asdas fuel.
Thats probably about it.
Standard 'normal' car.
Sod all difference.
Edited by k15tox on Monday 26th March 16:42
All fuel starts out the exact same base product, taking unleaded as an example that 95' 98 etc. After that for 95 a detergent package is added.
Apart from the majors basically every other seller (supermarket etc) is getting the exact same additive package. So the fuel in your local 'A' supermarket will be the exact same as the fuel in your local 'B' supermarket, only difference aside would be supply route so some might have been from storage facility some direct from refinery, but for the sake of argument assuming both supermarkets took delivery the same day from the same source they will be the same.
Even branded majors fuels start out the same and for 95 they will add their own detergent package. For super fuel they can/will add more volume of the detergent element as well as an octane booster. Shell use a Gas to Liquid (GTL) component which is basically methane gas converted to a synthetic liquid 'fuel'. All of the others use ethanol.
I have always tried to use v-power or ultimate in my main car (M3's for the last 5 years) and anything at all in my work car (various diesels over the years). I have never once noticed an instant difference in using different fuels. my E46 M3 was on 50K miles when I bought her and I do believe the engine 'sweetened' up in my 3 years of ownership, possibly from the claimed additional cleaning who knows.
My E92 was from new and she's been fed on predominantly v-power but anytime I've put standard stuff in (including 2 trips into the depths of the Scottish highlands and to remote service stations) I've never noticed a single change to the ways she drives.
Apart from the majors basically every other seller (supermarket etc) is getting the exact same additive package. So the fuel in your local 'A' supermarket will be the exact same as the fuel in your local 'B' supermarket, only difference aside would be supply route so some might have been from storage facility some direct from refinery, but for the sake of argument assuming both supermarkets took delivery the same day from the same source they will be the same.
Even branded majors fuels start out the same and for 95 they will add their own detergent package. For super fuel they can/will add more volume of the detergent element as well as an octane booster. Shell use a Gas to Liquid (GTL) component which is basically methane gas converted to a synthetic liquid 'fuel'. All of the others use ethanol.
I have always tried to use v-power or ultimate in my main car (M3's for the last 5 years) and anything at all in my work car (various diesels over the years). I have never once noticed an instant difference in using different fuels. my E46 M3 was on 50K miles when I bought her and I do believe the engine 'sweetened' up in my 3 years of ownership, possibly from the claimed additional cleaning who knows.
My E92 was from new and she's been fed on predominantly v-power but anytime I've put standard stuff in (including 2 trips into the depths of the Scottish highlands and to remote service stations) I've never noticed a single change to the ways she drives.
Best one is the myth about supermarket diesel.
My OH's dad is a private courier driver, he bought his 56 transit tdci brandnew and its been fed nothing but morrisions/asda diesel.
just clocked 320,000 this week. still on the original engine, injectors, turbo and fuel pump.
its been serviced every 15k miles and the only thing that has been replaced is the clutch.
does make you wonder.
My OH's dad is a private courier driver, he bought his 56 transit tdci brandnew and its been fed nothing but morrisions/asda diesel.
just clocked 320,000 this week. still on the original engine, injectors, turbo and fuel pump.
its been serviced every 15k miles and the only thing that has been replaced is the clutch.
does make you wonder.
k15tox said:
Best one is the myth about supermarket diesel.
My OH's dad is a private courier driver, he bought his 56 transit tdci brandnew and its been fed nothing but morrisions/asda diesel.
just clocked 320,000 this week. still on the original engine, injectors, turbo and fuel pump.
its been serviced every 15k miles and the only thing that has been replaced is the clutch
does make you wonder.
I'm wondering what brakes and tyres your dad uses! lolMy OH's dad is a private courier driver, he bought his 56 transit tdci brandnew and its been fed nothing but morrisions/asda diesel.
just clocked 320,000 this week. still on the original engine, injectors, turbo and fuel pump.
its been serviced every 15k miles and the only thing that has been replaced is the clutch
does make you wonder.
(sorry I had too)
In terms of your question OP- I remember a fifth gear episode where they tried this out and proved that turbo cars and cars with 200+ bhp would benefit from using high octane fuel. Anyone else remember it?
The only difference in a fuel will be the source conditions, so a refineries process on a given day, however it is all extremely strictly monitored, and then 3rd parties additives for 95 will be ever so slightly different from the majors additives.
Then as mentioned super fuels have the additional booster.
As a general rule there will be 100% no difference in all the 3rd party fuels in your geographic area. I'm not aware of the contracts in place but it's safe to say also that a Tesco fuel in Inverness will not be from the same source as a Tesco fuel in Brighton. So again this generalisation in certain supermarket fuels is quiet frankly nonsense.
The disclaimer is modified cars then that's another story as you've breached the margins and technology put in place by a manufacturer to accommodate all manor of fuels.
I've never in all my days noticed an instant change in a car from using different fuels, not once.
Then as mentioned super fuels have the additional booster.
As a general rule there will be 100% no difference in all the 3rd party fuels in your geographic area. I'm not aware of the contracts in place but it's safe to say also that a Tesco fuel in Inverness will not be from the same source as a Tesco fuel in Brighton. So again this generalisation in certain supermarket fuels is quiet frankly nonsense.
The disclaimer is modified cars then that's another story as you've breached the margins and technology put in place by a manufacturer to accommodate all manor of fuels.
I've never in all my days noticed an instant change in a car from using different fuels, not once.
Been a million threads like this.
1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
Dave Hedgehog said:
Im sure i had read that V Power was only made at one refinery
Interesting read this......http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/04/25/behind-the-scene...
RobCrezz said:
Been a million threads like this.
1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
of course it does to certain cars. modified and performance cars in particular.1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
my old 1.8 corsa had a knock sensor, you think putting high octane fuel in it would make a difference?
k15tox said:
RobCrezz said:
Been a million threads like this.
1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
of course it does to certain cars. modified and performance cars in particular.1) Lots of morons will claim that high octane petrol has no benefit (just because it makes no difference in their car).
2) People will correctly point out that a car with a knock sensor and an intelligent enough ecu will be able to adapt to the higher octane fuel (or be remapped for higher octane fuel) and advance ignition timing and/or increase turbo boost.
my old 1.8 corsa had a knock sensor, you think putting high octane fuel in it would make a difference?
As above. If your engine is calibrated to RON 95 (probably 95% of cars), your ECU won't advance the timing beyond this. RON 98 (V-Power) would be pointless.
However, in high performance engines calibrated to RON 98 there are obvious benefits. I owned a turbo Pug 207 in the Middle East. The difference between the fuels in those conditions was significant and very noticeable (both in terms of performance and mpg).
However, in high performance engines calibrated to RON 98 there are obvious benefits. I owned a turbo Pug 207 in the Middle East. The difference between the fuels in those conditions was significant and very noticeable (both in terms of performance and mpg).
k15tox said:
of course it does to certain cars. modified and performance cars in particular.
my old 1.8 corsa had a knock sensor, you think putting high octane fuel in it would make a difference?
Honestly, I have no idea if the ecu in a 1.8 corsa is adaptable like that or not. My point was that some cars do, or in the case of many jap cars, will pull timing and loose power if knock is detected due to a lower octane petrol.my old 1.8 corsa had a knock sensor, you think putting high octane fuel in it would make a difference?
It can work the other way also. Fuels with higher octane values burn slower - hence many really high-revving engines e.g. bikes use 95 octane (despite static comp. ratios that are rather high compared with most cars e.g. >> 11:1)
This does not mean it's not worth buying premium brands. I've a Yamaha R1 engine in a Fisher Fury, and it runs much smoother on Esso and Shell than anything else. Perhaps it shouldn't - but it does.
This does not mean it's not worth buying premium brands. I've a Yamaha R1 engine in a Fisher Fury, and it runs much smoother on Esso and Shell than anything else. Perhaps it shouldn't - but it does.
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