Just bought a 2003 986 boxster S ..what fuel to use?
Discussion
Hi guys =)
I've just bought a 2003 986 boxster S and was wondering if I should use the higher octane fuel or standard unleaded. The dealer had already filled up the tank with standard unleaded before I bought it and I have no way of knowing what the previous owners (2) used. Should I switch over to the higher octane options available at some garages once the tank gets low?
Better performance? Better for the engine? Better MPG (in ratio to cost)?
If I did switch would the engine need to be completely drained before switching?
The dealer told me he had a real problem when he'd been running his golf on higher octane fuel for a good few months and then when he decided to switch back to regular fuel his car started making wierd sounds and playing up.
Many thanks for all advice on this!
Darren
I've just bought a 2003 986 boxster S and was wondering if I should use the higher octane fuel or standard unleaded. The dealer had already filled up the tank with standard unleaded before I bought it and I have no way of knowing what the previous owners (2) used. Should I switch over to the higher octane options available at some garages once the tank gets low?
Better performance? Better for the engine? Better MPG (in ratio to cost)?
If I did switch would the engine need to be completely drained before switching?
The dealer told me he had a real problem when he'd been running his golf on higher octane fuel for a good few months and then when he decided to switch back to regular fuel his car started making wierd sounds and playing up.
Many thanks for all advice on this!
Darren
Stick with Shell VMax, you can't go wrong. 
Check out a recent Fuel Test here: http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=...
C.
Check out a recent Fuel Test here: http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=...
C.
The car's tuned for 98RON (premium) as standard. It'll cope with 95RON (standard) by retarding the timing (performance).
I too use Shell V-Power (99RON). Performance is ever so slightly better but the main reason is all the anecdotal evidence I've read about how it keeps the engine clean.
I too use Shell V-Power (99RON). Performance is ever so slightly better but the main reason is all the anecdotal evidence I've read about how it keeps the engine clean.
I agree. Shell V-Power is slightly higher Octane rating than BP Ultimate. I find my car smoother and more economical running on it. I'm sure that the Boxster would cope with the lower octane stuff, and I wouldn't fret about what previous owners did.
Best of the lot is Aral Super Plus, 100. Not available in the UK. Treat your car to a holiday in the fatherland. And while you are there i would get it a service.
Best of the lot is Aral Super Plus, 100. Not available in the UK. Treat your car to a holiday in the fatherland. And while you are there i would get it a service.
Congrats to your new car. The best value for money option Porsche has in its range and a highly competent car as well IMHO.
The Box S works perfectly fine with 95RON as that's how it is sold in Italy (with unchanged bhp claims). I found that the engine sounds a bit more aggressive and has quicker pick-up when using Shell VPower. So that's what I used whenever it was available.
Running an S for about five years I averaged 10.2 litres/100km (sorry for the continental measures), including lots of in town driving as well as the odd stint on the Fatherland's motorways.
The Box S works perfectly fine with 95RON as that's how it is sold in Italy (with unchanged bhp claims). I found that the engine sounds a bit more aggressive and has quicker pick-up when using Shell VPower. So that's what I used whenever it was available.
Running an S for about five years I averaged 10.2 litres/100km (sorry for the continental measures), including lots of in town driving as well as the odd stint on the Fatherland's motorways.
You'll be fine with the higher octane stuff and if you need to use the odd tank of 95 because the better stuff isn't available that's not a snag either. The engine management system does something clever to adapt to whatever fuel is in it (within reason!), although I do recall reading somewhere it may take a tank or so of the better stuff for the system to realise and adjust accordingly. On my Boxter 2.7 I used to reckon performance and mpg improved by about 3% for about a 4% increase in cost, so not really anything in it (and if you do get better engine wear as a result that's a handy bonus as well).
I did once get some 100 octane juice in on the continent and that certainly felt quicker.
I did once get some 100 octane juice in on the continent and that certainly felt quicker.
TOENHEEL said:
I was using shell v power but found my fuel comsumption dropped a lot. Used 95 octane from sainsburys the other day and it bloody stinks. Especially on cold start ups.. think im going back to Tesco high octane.
I'm surprised because I find it noticeably more economical. Obviously not if you are giving it the welly. You mention cold starts. It wont be economical at all if you hammer off from a cold start. Being a lunatic I usually start the car and let it idle till its warm. (see Jackie Stewart, 'Principles of Performance Driving')Then go off. I find that again makes it smoother and more economical. What you lose on the idling you gain on the long trip. And if my neighbour starts on about my carbon footprint I stick my carbon boot up his jacksie.
cardigankid said:
TOENHEEL said:
I was using shell v power but found my fuel comsumption dropped a lot. Used 95 octane from sainsburys the other day and it bloody stinks. Especially on cold start ups.. think im going back to Tesco high octane.
I'm surprised because I find it noticeably more economical. Obviously not if you are giving it the welly. You mention cold starts. It wont be economical at all if you hammer off from a cold start. Being a lunatic I usually start the car and let it idle till its warm. (see Jackie Stewart, 'Principles of Performance Driving')Then go off. I find that again makes it smoother and more economical. What you lose on the idling you gain on the long trip. And if my neighbour starts on about my carbon footprint I stick my carbon boot up his jacksie.
Dischordant said:
Hi guys =)
I've just bought a 2003 986 boxster S and was wondering if I should use the higher octane fuel or standard unleaded. The dealer had already filled up the tank with standard unleaded before I bought it and I have no way of knowing what the previous owners (2) used. Should I switch over to the higher octane options available at some garages once the tank gets low?
Better performance? Better for the engine? Better MPG (in ratio to cost)?
If I did switch would the engine need to be completely drained before switching?
The dealer told me he had a real problem when he'd been running his golf on higher octane fuel for a good few months and then when he decided to switch back to regular fuel his car started making wierd sounds and playing up.
Many thanks for all advice on this!
Darren
It's OK to run the car on normal unleaded, we did when we had our Boxster 986 S. Engine will run smoother on higher octane though. If you shop at Tescos they have been handing out vouchers which bring the 99 octane down to the same price as normal unleaded. We now have a Boxster 987 S and tend to run that on the 98 or 99. Not using the car as a daily driver so not using vast amount of fuel.I've just bought a 2003 986 boxster S and was wondering if I should use the higher octane fuel or standard unleaded. The dealer had already filled up the tank with standard unleaded before I bought it and I have no way of knowing what the previous owners (2) used. Should I switch over to the higher octane options available at some garages once the tank gets low?
Better performance? Better for the engine? Better MPG (in ratio to cost)?
If I did switch would the engine need to be completely drained before switching?
The dealer told me he had a real problem when he'd been running his golf on higher octane fuel for a good few months and then when he decided to switch back to regular fuel his car started making wierd sounds and playing up.
Many thanks for all advice on this!
Darren
cardigankid said:
I agree. Shell V-Power is slightly higher Octane rating than BP Ultimate. I find my car smoother and more economical running on it. I'm sure that the Boxster would cope with the lower octane stuff, and I wouldn't fret about what previous owners did.
Best of the lot is Aral Super Plus, 100. Not available in the UK. Treat your car to a holiday in the fatherland. And while you are there i would get it a service.
ARAL was bought by BP a couple of years ago, they sell the same fuels just under different names so there is no difference between filling up at BP or ARAL Best of the lot is Aral Super Plus, 100. Not available in the UK. Treat your car to a holiday in the fatherland. And while you are there i would get it a service.
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