Octane Booster
Discussion
Yep, Castrol as above.
Use it in our Midget and Fiat 500 with normal unleaded as a matter of course and carry a bottle in the xflow powered Caterham in case Shell V-Power (or whatever it's called these days) is not available.
Have had to resort to that on track before when their local station didn't carry high octane stuff - was absolutely fine
Use it in our Midget and Fiat 500 with normal unleaded as a matter of course and carry a bottle in the xflow powered Caterham in case Shell V-Power (or whatever it's called these days) is not available.
Have had to resort to that on track before when their local station didn't carry high octane stuff - was absolutely fine
Exaxctly as above. My '81 Porsche (that I rally) says specifically in the handbook it is tuned to run on a MINIMUM of 98RON, that writes off many of the 'premium' fuels if one's going to be picky.
In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
SV8Predator said:
Poison Tom 96 said:
Another shout for Castrol here, used in our Morris Minors...
Why would you need an octane booster in a Morris Minor?Lead replacement I can understand, but an octane booster?
Also the Valve master & octane booster is actually one thing, it does both so hard to only use part of it
Hooli said:
Stops pinking with the engine set to the original timing as 4star was higher octane than normal unleaded. That's why I used it in my Midget & the engines aren't that different.
Also the Valve master & octane booster is actually one thing, it does both so hard to only use part of it
I don't see Castrol Valvemaster being marketed as an octane booster, and alternatives such as Redex RDX18 are certainly not octane boosters. Also the Valve master & octane booster is actually one thing, it does both so hard to only use part of it
And the standard engine in a Morris Minor was never designed to run on 4-star, so it doesn't need an octane booster.
SV8Predator said:
I don't see Castrol Valvemaster being marketed as an octane booster, and alternatives such as Redex RDX18 are certainly not octane boosters.
And the standard engine in a Morris Minor was never designed to run on 4-star, so it doesn't need an octane booster.
Castrol Valvemaster Plus is an octane booster, I've just bought a bottle today.And the standard engine in a Morris Minor was never designed to run on 4-star, so it doesn't need an octane booster.
http://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/Fi...
in tests a few years back it was found that few off the shelf octane boosters helped the car tested (IIRC Castrol wasn't tested) and some even were to the detriment
check the octane rating required for the car and if a lower octane can be used, if only restrictedly, or if your car can be adjusted to run on the lower octane
another vote for Tesco 99 (and Shell V-Power Nitro+ if on special offer) or third choice BP Ultimate or any other 97 octane petrol - it's not just the octane increase but also the cleaning qualities of the first three that help (if you don't believe me or them that's fine and your choice, I believe it), very noticeable if you run a diesel too
my Midget is set up for 95 octane but runs better (perhaps a placebo?) on Tesco or Shell (I've a 123 fully electronic dissy)
check the octane rating required for the car and if a lower octane can be used, if only restrictedly, or if your car can be adjusted to run on the lower octane
another vote for Tesco 99 (and Shell V-Power Nitro+ if on special offer) or third choice BP Ultimate or any other 97 octane petrol - it's not just the octane increase but also the cleaning qualities of the first three that help (if you don't believe me or them that's fine and your choice, I believe it), very noticeable if you run a diesel too
my Midget is set up for 95 octane but runs better (perhaps a placebo?) on Tesco or Shell (I've a 123 fully electronic dissy)
benjj said:
Exaxctly as above. My '81 Porsche (that I rally) says specifically in the handbook it is tuned to run on a MINIMUM of 98RON, that writes off many of the 'premium' fuels if one's going to be picky.
In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
I have thought about the Tesco fuel but seem to recall that there may be issues around the ethanol content when used in older Porsches; there is a list of cars affected, compiled by the factory, but can't presently find it. I think BP Ultimate has next to no ethanol in it, so I tend to seek that out.In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
BobTurner said:
benjj said:
Exaxctly as above. My '81 Porsche (that I rally) says specifically in the handbook it is tuned to run on a MINIMUM of 98RON, that writes off many of the 'premium' fuels if one's going to be picky.
In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
I have thought about the Tesco fuel but seem to recall that there may be issues around the ethanol content when used in older Porsches; there is a list of cars affected, compiled by the factory, but can't presently find it. I think BP Ultimate has next to no ethanol in it, so I tend to seek that out.In practice I use Tesco Momentum 99 when available and make up 2 pre-mixed 5l cans when rallying usin whatever I can get in the wilds of Scotland/France/wherever mixed with Castrol booster.
Works just fine but I prefer to use the Castrol as an emergency measure rather than day to day. Don't know why, probably all in my head.
That's the problem, the oil companies are seem very reluctant to put the actual formula for their fuels on their web pages so no one is able to make an evidence based decision on what to use. The BP Ultimate web page is full of PR waffle about cleaning and protecting but doesn't tell you what's in it.
So far I've found only Tesco gives this sort of information (for Momentum):
Methanol %(v/v)- 3.0
Ethanol %(v/v)- 5.0
Iso-propyl alcohol %(v/v) - 10.0
Iso-butyl alcohol %(v/v) - 10.0
Tert-butyl alcohol %(v/v) - 7.0
Ethers (5 or more C atoms) %(v/v) - 15.0
Other oxygenates %(v/v) - 10.0
As a result people 'seem to recall' or 'read somewhere' or 'saw on a forum' - Chinese whispers most of it.
Oil companies should be obliged to state what goes into their fuel.
So far I've found only Tesco gives this sort of information (for Momentum):
Methanol %(v/v)- 3.0
Ethanol %(v/v)- 5.0
Iso-propyl alcohol %(v/v) - 10.0
Iso-butyl alcohol %(v/v) - 10.0
Tert-butyl alcohol %(v/v) - 7.0
Ethers (5 or more C atoms) %(v/v) - 15.0
Other oxygenates %(v/v) - 10.0
As a result people 'seem to recall' or 'read somewhere' or 'saw on a forum' - Chinese whispers most of it.
Oil companies should be obliged to state what goes into their fuel.
benjj said:
I'd like to see that please!
My summary wasn't quite accurate, but still happy with steering clear of the Tescos fuel for my old Porsches.Useful article, fuel spec. and Porsche advice.
http://www.nfahc.co.uk/pdf_files/ethanol/ethanol%2...
http://www.tescopfs.com/momentum99/specifications
http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/cl...
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