Petrol

[MickintheNorth]

I'm sure this question has been asked on numerous occasions before , but I just bought myself a 99 chimera 4L, so feel free to call me a newbie!

The manual recommends 98RON fuel, but I can't find any super unleaded anymore, it looks like it's out of fasion. Is normal 95RON premium unleaded ok for these cars or should I be looking elsewhere.

[19560]

Shell optimax is 98RON.

[Hut49]

You might find a tendancy to pinking on 95. Can you get Shell Optimax? This links to Shell's station search - tick the Optimax box
www4.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=uk-en&FC5=&FC4=/uk-en/html/iwgen/impulse.html&FC3=/uk-en/html/iwgen/yourcarormotorbike/Optimax/filling_up_with_optimax_3011_1113.html&FC2=/LeftHandNav?LeftNavState=8,1,1&FC1=

Hutch

[MickintheNorth]

Thanks guys, my nearest shell station does it. I'll have to drive this normal unleaded off first though, but this is a thirsty baby so should be empty again by tomorrow evening!

While I'm on the subject, does anyone find fueling their chimaera awkward? Only done this once, but had to fill up really slowly, even then there was a fair bit of spluttering - is there a secret?

[Ribol]

yes, spend your money slower

[chimburt]

the hose is generally awkard to get fully into the hole, and takes a bit of wiggling to get fully seated, particularly if they have those advertising fittings on top.

alright!, stop giggling at the back!

[Tantivy]

Hi Mick - use any fuel you like, so long as it starts with O and ends in X . It's that good. I'm in Benton with my 4.0 HC Chimaera - where are you? The TVRCCNE meets every second sunday of the month at The Millers pub in Woolsington (at midday) - come along! Let me know where you are...cheers, Chris

[shpub]

See unleaded FAQ on www.tvrbooks.co.uk.

Basically 95 RON unleaded is not generally recommended.

Steve

[MickintheNorth]

Thanks again. I read the unleaded FAQ, but it seemed to be aimed more at the older cars which were designed to run on leaded.

My Chim has now been filled up with optimax - to be honest I can't tell much difference but bear in mind I've only had the car 5 days, and only been running on optimax for the last hour!

Cheers
Mick


ps Tantivy did you get my mail telling you I'm in Durham?

[Hut49]

MickintheNorth said:
My Chim has now been filled up with optimax - to be honest I can't tell much difference but bear in mind I've only had the car 5 days, and only been running on optimax for the last hour!

Shell say that to get the best out of Optimax you need to run it for a few tankfuls and then keep using it. Well they would say that wouldn't they!

I tried O/X during the summer but just for a single tankful (bought from a station slightly off the beaten track) and I felt that there was a slight unevenness as low revs but no prob with enthusiastic use of the loud pedal. In fact I mentioned it on a thread here.

I subsequently got Motorvation in Dorking to give it the once over (and a £200 service - nice job, thanks guys) and they found no fault with the electrics or fuel.

I went back to SUL none the wiser. However in the past few weeks frustrated by a lack of SUL in local pumps I've gone back to O/X and 3 tanksful in I think my earlier concern was probably mistaken. Apparently the fuel additives used in O/X are pretty volatile so maybe it's best to buy it from stations with a high throughput. Unless you've got the bottle to ask the cashier: "is it fresh?".

Hutch

[shpub]

MickintheNorth said: Thanks again. I read the unleaded FAQ, but it seemed to be aimed more at the older cars which were designed to run on leaded.

Maybe you didn't go down the list...
Taken direct...

Cerbera 4.2, 4.5, Speed Six engined cars

These cars are fitted with catalytic converters and due to their more sophisticated ECU, can run quite happily on both unleaded and super unleaded fuels.

Griffith 500, Griffith 4.x, Chimaera, V8S, V8 Wedges

All Rover V8 engines were fitted with hardened valve seats and therefore the only problem with running unleaded is the lower octane that unleaded fuel provides. This can cause pinking and predetonation which can cause engine damage if ignored. This can be cured in most cases by simply having the ignition adjusted. The less performant engines are less susceptible to pinking and thus it is common for the 4 litre engines to often require no adjustment at all. This is certainly not the case for the 5 litre cars and the more exotic Wedges. In all cases, Super Unleaded can be used with no modification but it was extremely expensive compared to standard unleaded. With the recent duty changes, it has come done in price!

Remember, if the car has a cat, don't run LRP or use a cat unfriendly additive.

Steve

[Ford Prefect]

Mick,

If you stick the pump nozzle as far into the fuel filler as possible - should go in about three quarters of the way up the pump nozzle and twist the pump nozzle anticlockwise until the handle is facing towards the offside of the car - parallel with the boot lid you should be able to get the fuel in faster.

God I'm even sniggering having reread this.....so just behave yourselves this is a family site!!!...John.

[timshap]

I used to run on 98 Ron with advance at 40 degrees for years plenty of bite...
It has been reset at 30 deg advance and runs on optimax or 95 without pinking.
However should I be able to purchase optimax all the time I would definately reset the timing as it felt a lot sharper before.

A question for S Heath In your experience should this make much difference or is just my imagination.
1994 chim 500

Tim

[kev north]

if you can't find super unleaded use octane +
octane + is 2 ron
unleaded and octane + is 97 ron that make's super unleaded
or optimax 98 and octane + 100 ron (big difference)
big fun

[Tony Hall]

When i bought my 4.0HC from a main dealer they told me ordinary unleaded would be ok unless it was hot or i was driving it hard. Been using that since i bought it 2 years ago (is it that long already) and haven't had any fuel related problems (thats tempting fate!!)
By the way, who is Ron?

[thirsty]

I bought my Chim 450 about half a year ago. Car just didn't seem to run right. Dealer told me I was imagining things. First tank of fuel... BP super premium. Good fuel for most cars.

After reading about Optimax on this site, I went and filled up immediately. (even with half a tank) I could tell the difference right away.. and it got better over the next couple of fill ups.

I have never put anything else in it since.