Discussion
Does everyone use Shell V-power for their Mac's?
Is the 20p a litre premium worth it or is there no real significant benefit from normal unleaded?
Just wondered that when i was filling up last night.
Have always put it in the previous Ferraris and carried that on since i got the Mac, but just use normal unleaded in the wifes near 600bhp AMG and never noticed any performance loss in that whatsoever....
Is the 20p a litre premium worth it or is there no real significant benefit from normal unleaded?
Just wondered that when i was filling up last night.
Have always put it in the previous Ferraris and carried that on since i got the Mac, but just use normal unleaded in the wifes near 600bhp AMG and never noticed any performance loss in that whatsoever....
355spiderguy said:
Does everyone use Shell V-power for their Mac's?
Is the 20p a litre premium worth it or is there no real significant benefit from normal unleaded?
Just wondered that when i was filling up last night.
Have always put it in the previous Ferraris and carried that on since i got the Mac, but just use normal unleaded in the wifes near 600bhp AMG and never noticed any performance loss in that whatsoever....
Unless you are doing some serious high-performance stuff, I doubt the difference is noticeable. I will probably be booking my 720 for a run on the dyno at Litchfields in Tewkesbury. One of the chaps there said it is better to put V-Power in for the run.Is the 20p a litre premium worth it or is there no real significant benefit from normal unleaded?
Just wondered that when i was filling up last night.
Have always put it in the previous Ferraris and carried that on since i got the Mac, but just use normal unleaded in the wifes near 600bhp AMG and never noticed any performance loss in that whatsoever....
This is what the owners manual says:
Whilst I don't have a McLaren I tend to alternate between V-Power and Tesco Super Unleaded.
One thing I have noticed is that the V-Power premium can vary massively between Shell garages whilst Tesco seems to be pretty consistent and it simply comes down to whether you live near a Tesco that sells it.
One thing I have noticed is that the V-Power premium can vary massively between Shell garages whilst Tesco seems to be pretty consistent and it simply comes down to whether you live near a Tesco that sells it.
Thanks for that.
We have 2 Shell garages 'locally', however the easier one to get to doesn't sell V-Power petrol bizarrely enough...it offers V-Power diesel instead.
We have a more local Tesco; will have a lookie to see, although most likely to just go with good old plain unleaded from now on..
We have 2 Shell garages 'locally', however the easier one to get to doesn't sell V-Power petrol bizarrely enough...it offers V-Power diesel instead.
We have a more local Tesco; will have a lookie to see, although most likely to just go with good old plain unleaded from now on..
I've tried to detect a marked difference in performance/engine sound etc when paying for V Power and can't say I've noticed any benefit. My local Ferrari main dealer fills all their cars up with standard unleaded at a local garage so what do we know.
If I ever think my car's too slow I might just try some.
If I ever think my car's too slow I might just try some.
It's not just the RON, though - V-Power has extra cleaning additives as well, doesn't it? I'm probably wasting my money but I put V-power in all our cars whenever possible. It definitely makes a difference in the classic which doesn't have knock sensors and variable timing (and which is specifically tuned for 98/99 RON) but the other modern stuff? Day to day, probably not, but I use it anyway, just in case!
The higher RON only really helps to prevent situations when the sensors pick up potential knocking, and the electronics respond by retarding the timing, causing loss of power.
Mac turbo engines don’t run at very high compression ratios, so less of an issue. Probably mostly helps if you push the engine when cold, which you shouldn’t do anyway.
Mac turbo engines don’t run at very high compression ratios, so less of an issue. Probably mostly helps if you push the engine when cold, which you shouldn’t do anyway.
Always used V Power on all my performance cars (petrol).
Higher octane means more power due to less knocking plus cleaning additives.
Unless you daily it, it's well worth the extra. But even on my daily hot hatch I used V Power.
Unlikely you'll notice any difference in one simple swap. ECU needs several miles in various conditions to adapt map to different fuel.
It's a must, stop.
Higher octane means more power due to less knocking plus cleaning additives.
Unless you daily it, it's well worth the extra. But even on my daily hot hatch I used V Power.
Unlikely you'll notice any difference in one simple swap. ECU needs several miles in various conditions to adapt map to different fuel.
It's a must, stop.
LotusJas said:
I only use V-Power.
Unless I've no choice, and even then will try for BP Ultimate as a second choice.
I’m same as you Jas. Unless I've no choice, and even then will try for BP Ultimate as a second choice.
Interesting the mpg on the wife’s Merc started dropping after 2 years so I started using Millers oils petrol power fuel treatment.
I bought it with some scepticism but have to concede it is not snake oil.
Mpg has noticeably improved as has irregular power she was sometimes getting.
I haven’t put enough miles on my LT yet but would consider it.
r o n n i e said:
I’m same as you Jas.
Interesting the mpg on the wife’s Merc started dropping after 2 years so I started using Millers oils petrol power fuel treatment.
I bought it with some scepticism but have to concede it is not snake oil.
Mpg has noticeably improved as has irregular power she was sometimes getting.
I haven’t put enough miles on my LT yet but would consider it.
You could void any warranty on the LT if it was apparent you had been using an additive. Not sure how they would know. Interesting the mpg on the wife’s Merc started dropping after 2 years so I started using Millers oils petrol power fuel treatment.
I bought it with some scepticism but have to concede it is not snake oil.
Mpg has noticeably improved as has irregular power she was sometimes getting.
I haven’t put enough miles on my LT yet but would consider it.
Why wouldn't you use the correct Octane rating fuel as specified in the owner's handbook? The book recommends for maximum performance 98RON minimum. Standard pump fuel is 95 RON. V Power is 99 RON.
This tells you the engine was developed with 98RON minimum.
Also VPower premium is set by shell as 8p.
However most Shell stations are franchises and charge what they like.
This tells you the engine was developed with 98RON minimum.
Also VPower premium is set by shell as 8p.
However most Shell stations are franchises and charge what they like.
You should put in 98 Ron minimum and certainly at least 97, the issue for this is only Shell V Power and Tesco Momentum are appropriate at 99.
In my experience there is a difference in using a higher octane fuel but it may indiscernible to notice in a car but it is there and as stated best stick to the correct octane rating of 98 or above
In my experience there is a difference in using a higher octane fuel but it may indiscernible to notice in a car but it is there and as stated best stick to the correct octane rating of 98 or above
I'm in the fuel systems business so see a lot of the results of poor quality fuel.
If you dont think V Power is worth it then try putting some aluminium parts (carburettor castings or jets for instance) in a litre of it.
Do the same thing at the same time with some cheap "brand X" fuel and leave them both for 6 months until the fuel dries up.
If you cant be fagged I'll jest tell you that the cheap stuff often turns to a foul brown goo and the V Power does not. 3 months ago I would also have gone on about how V Power has no Ethanol in it .... But its just be re formulated to E5 (5% ethanol) spec.
If youre in any doubt about this then get a test tube and 1/2 fill with fuel & water. Mark the intersection line on the glass and leave overnight - The intersection will move because the ethanol in the fuel has absorbed the water. Bad news if the fuel is in contact with anything that can corrode ....... especially in a car that stands a lot in the winter maybe ?.
If you dont think V Power is worth it then try putting some aluminium parts (carburettor castings or jets for instance) in a litre of it.
Do the same thing at the same time with some cheap "brand X" fuel and leave them both for 6 months until the fuel dries up.
If you cant be fagged I'll jest tell you that the cheap stuff often turns to a foul brown goo and the V Power does not. 3 months ago I would also have gone on about how V Power has no Ethanol in it .... But its just be re formulated to E5 (5% ethanol) spec.
If youre in any doubt about this then get a test tube and 1/2 fill with fuel & water. Mark the intersection line on the glass and leave overnight - The intersection will move because the ethanol in the fuel has absorbed the water. Bad news if the fuel is in contact with anything that can corrode ....... especially in a car that stands a lot in the winter maybe ?.
speedick said:
I'm in the fuel systems business so see a lot of the results of poor quality fuel.
If you dont think V Power is worth it then try putting some aluminium parts (carburettor castings or jets for instance) in a litre of it.
Do the same thing at the same time with some cheap "brand X" fuel and leave them both for 6 months until the fuel dries up.
If you cant be fagged I'll jest tell you that the cheap stuff often turns to a foul brown goo and the V Power does not. 3 months ago I would also have gone on about how V Power has no Ethanol in it .... But its just be re formulated to E5 (5% ethanol) spec.
If youre in any doubt about this then get a test tube and 1/2 fill with fuel & water. Mark the intersection line on the glass and leave overnight - The intersection will move because the ethanol in the fuel has absorbed the water. Bad news if the fuel is in contact with anything that can corrode ....... especially in a car that stands a lot in the winter maybe ?.
Interesting. Is the Tesco Momentum 99 stuff also 5% ethanol now?If you dont think V Power is worth it then try putting some aluminium parts (carburettor castings or jets for instance) in a litre of it.
Do the same thing at the same time with some cheap "brand X" fuel and leave them both for 6 months until the fuel dries up.
If you cant be fagged I'll jest tell you that the cheap stuff often turns to a foul brown goo and the V Power does not. 3 months ago I would also have gone on about how V Power has no Ethanol in it .... But its just be re formulated to E5 (5% ethanol) spec.
If youre in any doubt about this then get a test tube and 1/2 fill with fuel & water. Mark the intersection line on the glass and leave overnight - The intersection will move because the ethanol in the fuel has absorbed the water. Bad news if the fuel is in contact with anything that can corrode ....... especially in a car that stands a lot in the winter maybe ?.
My car is just a simple 3 series with the B58 engine. I use V-power and found that with V Power I get better mpg for me it means the burn is probably more efficient and the engine feels smoother. Performance I drive it on the roads, can’t say it’s better or worse.
BP Ultimate is much worse for mpg... it’s probably all in my head!
BP Ultimate is much worse for mpg... it’s probably all in my head!
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