Changing from Shell Nitro

[Rick101]

Always used Shell Nitro in my E46 M3. Never had any issues but then, i've never known any different.

I'm conscious of numerous folk that have found other fuels much better. I've been running fuel log app so have an accurate record of my Shell mpg over the last five or six tanks.

Obviously it's not the most scientific test but if there is a noticeable difference in mpg or performance I'll report back.

I have a Tesco a few min away. I was planning on trying their Momentum. Big benefit being is that you're never too far away from a Tesco so easy to find. Negative being the queues are horrendous and if you're paying cash you spend the first two min stood there waiting for them to activate the pumps! Just me?

Any suggestions or recommendations?

[TheAngryDog]

I used to use Shell Nitro all of the time in my E39 M5, mainly because it was the only petrol station near me with 98+ RON. Now I have move away from there, I always use Tesco Momentum. It seems ok for me, MPG hasnt been affected, car still performs fine.

All anyone can suggest is to try it and see how you get on with it!

[Rick101]

So, no difference as far as you're concerned?

I imagine i'll come to the same conclusion it just intrigues me that some people report such poor performance on shell.

[TheAngryDog]

Rick101 said:

So, no difference as far as you're concerned?

I imagine i'll come to the same conclusion it just intrigues me that some people report such poor performance on shell.

None that I have noticed.

[0836whimper]

Apart from the octane rating, the only measurable difference between these fuels is the cost, which is then all spent on the marketing budget of the company charging more for it.

But there will be someone slong shortly with some dubious stats to counter this.

[0836whimper]

Apart from the octane rating, the only measurable difference between these fuels is the cost, which is then all spent on the marketing budget of the company charging more for it.

But there will be someone along shortly with some dubious stats to counter this.

[Gompo]

Just a heads-up but unfortunately not all Tesco Fuel Stations carry the Monumentum petrol, so not as commonplace as you may think.

[JMBMWM5]

Having "logged" my MPG and fuel for 6500 miles in the F10 LCI M5, I have found this.
Best MPG and performance from ESSO 97 and SHELL 95 petrol's.
Tried all the others TESCO 99 being up and down all over the place, total st.
My M5 loves basic SHELL 95 and 97 ESSO.
Thats all it gets now.
Shell Nitro the car runs bad on, as did my E90 M3.

[JRBM5]

JMBMWM5 said:

Shell Nitro the car runs bad on, as did my E90 M3.

Agreed - my E90 M3 does the same. Very hesitant and jerky when cold and at low speeds. Now use Tesco Momentum and the hesitancy is gone (as it probably would be with any 95 or 97 petrol as well).

[Schermerhorn]

These fancy fuels can only make a difference under hard driving me thinks.

i use the standard Shell unleaded at £1.299 and it runs fine on the M6.

[ndj]

JRBM5 said:

JMBMWM5 said:

Shell Nitro the car runs bad on, as did my E90 M3.

Agreed - my E90 M3 does the same. Very hesitant and jerky when cold and at low speeds. Now use Tesco Momentum and the hesitancy is gone (as it probably would be with any 95 or 97 petrol as well).

Same issues here (E90 M3). Switched to Sainsbury's super unleaded (97) which it loves!

[akeithj]

I have used nothing but Sainsburys super and have had no issues at all.

[Emeye]

A few years back when EVO did a test they came to the conclusion that a lot of the performance benefits came from how long the fuel had been sat around in the tanks. So find a busy petrol station selling lots of super unleaded and you would see benefits. Buy some from a place that hardly sold any super and the old fuel would have lost its sparkle.

[Rick101]

Well filled up with momentum. Not run enough yet to give any results. Suspect I'll need a few tanks.

I have run exclusively on Nitro befor and have suffered rough running on startup for the first min or two. Thats seems to me in common with all E46 M3 so I hadn't had any concerns. Got a few cold starts next few days as I'm commuting in it so we'll see if it makes any difference.

[grumbas]

Interesting thread, my E46 M3 can be a bit jerky when it's cold and I've always run it on Shell Nitro, might have to try a couple of tanks of something different.

In contrast my old Audi S3 loved the stuff, but then it was mapped to it.

[jon-]

The e46s are well known for being rough when cold. All part of the character of such a unique engine

[GaryThomlinson]

I run the N54 (35i) engine and use Shell Nitro all the time. I can feel the difference at high revs (such as overtaking) where 95 ron (normal) seems to impede high rev performance. Its a few quid a month extra for me, so I'm not concerned with the cost.

[///Mike]

Interesting, my E92 M3 hates Shell Nitro on a cold start. Revs hunt terribly when cold but it seems to be fine once up to speed in terms of performance and economy. I have recently been using the 95 RON Shell unleaded and its smooth and fast. Having tried a couple of tanks of Tesco 99 I find the performance is no different but the economy is not as good. As a result I have started using Shell 95 most of the time now.

[sumo69]

Interestingly, the Shell Regular is I am reliably told the fuel with the highest octane count of any non-super fuel - apparently 95.7 I think.

David

[bennyboysvuk]

Here's an interesting response to this subject from the Porsche sub-forum from a few years ago:

Sunnysidebb said:

Lets talk technical.

If you want your car to be as quick and a powerful as it can be, then yes you do require Vpower or 98/99 ron fuel.
Why.... well your DME (digital motor electronics) adapts to the different fuels used by retarding the ignition which coincidentally reduces power. The reduction in power is not significant, its just a marginal amount but it can be felt in the seat of the pants. But it does.
If you have been running 95 ron unleaded and decide to put a tank of V power in you will not feel any difference at all......Why....... because the DME can retard ignition very quickly but it cant put back what it has retarded as fast. It could take many hours of driving.
So if you want to feel the difference. Reset the DME by disconnecting the battery. That puts the DME back to Factory specification which requires 98/99 ron fuel. The ignition will be reset to the correct level.
If you then decide to put 95 ron back in the tank your DME will retard the ignition to suit that fuel. You will notice a marginal power loss.

So if chasing marginal power is not for you, use the cheaper 95 ron fuel. It will not harm your car at all.
If you are running a modded car ie it is mapped, then you must use 98/99 ron fuel to feel the benefit
Frank

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Thursday 6th January 18:29