What fuel do you use?
Discussion
Started off using Shell Vpower every 3 tanks on average,then went to using it every tank (40+ full tanks) then went back to standard as i couldn't notice any difference apart from £5 extra a tank.
I then used standard for 14 tanks and just can't tell any difference except saving £5,mine seems to run well using both. Not sure why but the tank it's on at the moment is VPower,I purposely used it but really don't know why.
I then used standard for 14 tanks and just can't tell any difference except saving £5,mine seems to run well using both. Not sure why but the tank it's on at the moment is VPower,I purposely used it but really don't know why.
The (original) sticker next to the fuel filler cap on mine says to use no less than 98RON, the engine warranty from TVR Power requires the use of 97/98RON. I fully appreciate what others have said and that the figures I quote are probably an arse covering exercise, but they might just be there for a reason.
To my knowledge 97RON is typical for most super unleaded supplies (and 95RON for regular unleaded) with the exception of Tesco Momentum at 99RON (which has had several bad reports) and Shell Nitro which I believe to also be 99RON. This would seem to guide the choice of which supplier you feel should be used. Interestingly when I refilled at Bedford Autodrome on a trackday they state their fuel (from a local independent supplier) is 98RON which is the only time I have seen this available in recent years.
My mapping is being done using Shell as this is all Dom says he will use.
Hope this waffle is of some use!
To my knowledge 97RON is typical for most super unleaded supplies (and 95RON for regular unleaded) with the exception of Tesco Momentum at 99RON (which has had several bad reports) and Shell Nitro which I believe to also be 99RON. This would seem to guide the choice of which supplier you feel should be used. Interestingly when I refilled at Bedford Autodrome on a trackday they state their fuel (from a local independent supplier) is 98RON which is the only time I have seen this available in recent years.
My mapping is being done using Shell as this is all Dom says he will use.
Hope this waffle is of some use!
If you are one of the very few of us that have a rebuilt Rover V8 with a raised compression ratio, or you have ditched the distributor for dynamic knock controlled timing which is none of us to my knowledge, you my well see a small benefit from the premium fuels.
For all the rest of us my advice is...
Stick to 95 Ron and save your money because the science & engineering fact conclusively proves premium fuels will give no advantage whatsoever in a standard Chimaera!
I would always recommend using science and an understanding of engineering to choose your fuel before letting the oil company marketing hype seduce you.
The bottom line is what we have in anything other than a heavily modified Chimaera is a low compression V8 that controls it's ignition timing using a prehistoric distributor, this system is a good 20 years or more behind the introduction of the knock controlled timing which is the only system that could ever hope to help you exploit the very small advantage offered by premium higher octane fuels.
It is therefore 100% scientific & engineering fact that you will see no benefit whatsoever putting three or so additional octane points fuel in your Chimaera, unless you choose you advance your timing beyond the point the engine will run safely on 95 Ron.
Anyone who says they can feel the difference when they put premium fuel in their Chimaera is either suffering from serious case of "placebo effect" or they've advanced their ignition timing to the point where they are experiencing piston damaging detonation (pinking) on 95 Ron, which is not something I'd recommend
TVR never would have released the car with ignition timing that would be unsafe if the owner accidentally put 95 Ron in it. Further proof is available when you see the ignition timing figures on a TVR Griff or Chimaera are indeed exactly the same as those used on the 95 Ron friendly Range Rover (same engine, same compression ratio).
TVR may have stuck a "98 Ron Only" sticker on the filler but I guarantee you this was just marketing hype to help convince owners they had purchased a sports car with a performance engine. The scientific & engineering facts are you simply will never enjoy a performance improvement from sticking 98 Ron fuel in your Chimaera with it's 95 Ron safe ignition timing.
I am using science and engineering to make the above statements, not marketing hype and ignorance. I'm sorry to debunk the myths but it's all in the science and engineering folks, IE the compression ratio & ignition timing!
If anyone wants to challenge me on the above scientific & engineering fact by all means bring it on, just make sure you've completely understood the science & engineering yourself and you're using science & engineering to make your case
For the rest of you still ignorantly clinging to the false belief premium fuels will make your TVR Chimaera run better just stick your fingers in your ears and shout... La la la la la ect
.
Also keep in mind all fuels in the UK have to conform to very strict BS quality & specification standards and all contain enough detergents to ensure a clean running engine, no matter how cheap or expensive your chosen fuel is.
If you really want your Chimaera engine to run cleaner you are way way better off simply swapping the dreadfully inappropriate B7ECS plugs specified by TVR with a set of BPR6ES. This spark plug change will give a real improvement and will be massively more effective than hoping a premium fuel will clean your engine better than cheap but still detergent rich supermarket 95 Ron.
If you don't want to listen to the science & engineering and just like the security blanket feeling putting premium fuel through your Chimaera gives you, then crack on.
You will definitely be wasting your money, but hey it's your money to waste not mine, all I can do is help those prepared to listen to science & engineering fact make a reasoned & rational decision on the fuel they choose for their Chimaera.
Honestly guys... Stick to 95 Ron and save your money because the science & engineering fact conclusively proves premium fuels will give no advantage whatsoever in a standard Chimaera!
For all the rest of us my advice is...
Stick to 95 Ron and save your money because the science & engineering fact conclusively proves premium fuels will give no advantage whatsoever in a standard Chimaera!
I would always recommend using science and an understanding of engineering to choose your fuel before letting the oil company marketing hype seduce you.
The bottom line is what we have in anything other than a heavily modified Chimaera is a low compression V8 that controls it's ignition timing using a prehistoric distributor, this system is a good 20 years or more behind the introduction of the knock controlled timing which is the only system that could ever hope to help you exploit the very small advantage offered by premium higher octane fuels.
It is therefore 100% scientific & engineering fact that you will see no benefit whatsoever putting three or so additional octane points fuel in your Chimaera, unless you choose you advance your timing beyond the point the engine will run safely on 95 Ron.
Anyone who says they can feel the difference when they put premium fuel in their Chimaera is either suffering from serious case of "placebo effect" or they've advanced their ignition timing to the point where they are experiencing piston damaging detonation (pinking) on 95 Ron, which is not something I'd recommend
TVR never would have released the car with ignition timing that would be unsafe if the owner accidentally put 95 Ron in it. Further proof is available when you see the ignition timing figures on a TVR Griff or Chimaera are indeed exactly the same as those used on the 95 Ron friendly Range Rover (same engine, same compression ratio).
TVR may have stuck a "98 Ron Only" sticker on the filler but I guarantee you this was just marketing hype to help convince owners they had purchased a sports car with a performance engine. The scientific & engineering facts are you simply will never enjoy a performance improvement from sticking 98 Ron fuel in your Chimaera with it's 95 Ron safe ignition timing.
I am using science and engineering to make the above statements, not marketing hype and ignorance. I'm sorry to debunk the myths but it's all in the science and engineering folks, IE the compression ratio & ignition timing!
If anyone wants to challenge me on the above scientific & engineering fact by all means bring it on, just make sure you've completely understood the science & engineering yourself and you're using science & engineering to make your case
For the rest of you still ignorantly clinging to the false belief premium fuels will make your TVR Chimaera run better just stick your fingers in your ears and shout... La la la la la ect
.Also keep in mind all fuels in the UK have to conform to very strict BS quality & specification standards and all contain enough detergents to ensure a clean running engine, no matter how cheap or expensive your chosen fuel is.
If you really want your Chimaera engine to run cleaner you are way way better off simply swapping the dreadfully inappropriate B7ECS plugs specified by TVR with a set of BPR6ES. This spark plug change will give a real improvement and will be massively more effective than hoping a premium fuel will clean your engine better than cheap but still detergent rich supermarket 95 Ron.
If you don't want to listen to the science & engineering and just like the security blanket feeling putting premium fuel through your Chimaera gives you, then crack on.
You will definitely be wasting your money, but hey it's your money to waste not mine, all I can do is help those prepared to listen to science & engineering fact make a reasoned & rational decision on the fuel they choose for their Chimaera.
Honestly guys... Stick to 95 Ron and save your money because the science & engineering fact conclusively proves premium fuels will give no advantage whatsoever in a standard Chimaera!
N7GTX said:
Richard 858 said:
Thanks COG that's conclusive enough, 97-99RON it is for me then
Yep, me too. With FI, no dizzy, Dom's advice and Dom's warranty, I'll do the same. 
And even then it's really just about how it's been mapped and taking advantage of a higher octane, you could easily run your blown Chimaera on 95 if it had been mapped safely for such a fuel.
Remember in the US pump gas as they call it is 93 Ron, and this is the land of blown V8 & hotrodders!
For all others with a standard compression ratio and naturally aspirated Chimaera, I'll say it again!
Stick to 95 Ron and save your money because the science & engineering fact conclusively proves premium fuels will give no advantage whatsoever in a standard Chimaera!
Dave
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