Super Unleaded NC500
Discussion
My 1973 P5B coupe seems like an ideal (if expensive) car to undertake the NC500 in May next year.
I'm wondering if E5 97+ RON is widely available. My useful range is about 200 miles per tank.
Any hints or tips, obviously I'll carry a few litres extra in the boot, but I'd rather rely on frequent fill ups.
SD.
I'm wondering if E5 97+ RON is widely available. My useful range is about 200 miles per tank.
Any hints or tips, obviously I'll carry a few litres extra in the boot, but I'd rather rely on frequent fill ups.
SD.
My son and I did a fair chunk of the NC500 in early October. From our trip last year, we knew that super-unleaded wouldn't be available everywhere, so we took three cans of Wynn's octane booster.
We used eight tanks of fuel in six days. Three fill-ups (about 150 litres) were for 95 RON plus the octane booster.
My car will run on 95 RON, but it doesn't like high load. I imagine a P6 wouldn't take too kindly to having lots of E10 through its fuel lines, unless you've had everything converted. I rather doubt you'll be able to carry enough fuel in jerry cans to cover for the gaps in 99 RON availability
PS - I was getting about 20mpg, but I doubt a P6 (presumably the V8?) would get far into double figures on some of the NC500 roads
We used eight tanks of fuel in six days. Three fill-ups (about 150 litres) were for 95 RON plus the octane booster.
My car will run on 95 RON, but it doesn't like high load. I imagine a P6 wouldn't take too kindly to having lots of E10 through its fuel lines, unless you've had everything converted. I rather doubt you'll be able to carry enough fuel in jerry cans to cover for the gaps in 99 RON availability
PS - I was getting about 20mpg, but I doubt a P6 (presumably the V8?) would get far into double figures on some of the NC500 roads
When I last did the NC500 we were needing petrol at Applecross.
When you check online for the nearest petrol station it was about 12 miles away from our location.
On Skye.
It was distance as the crow flies.
We ended up getting petrol in Kyle of Lochalsh. A 40 mile drive away which took about an hour.
It was about 13 miles away as the crow flies.
A large metal jerry can of E5 and you will be fine.
When you check online for the nearest petrol station it was about 12 miles away from our location.
On Skye.
It was distance as the crow flies.
We ended up getting petrol in Kyle of Lochalsh. A 40 mile drive away which took about an hour.
It was about 13 miles away as the crow flies.
A large metal jerry can of E5 and you will be fine.
I did the NC500 in 2023 and didn't have a problem finding E5 anywhere, although most places it was only 97 RON which sounds like it will be fine for you.
Wasn't so great for me as my car ideally likes at least 98 RON, but I put 99 in at every opportunity so a half tank of 97 would hopefully keep it at 98!
Wasn't so great for me as my car ideally likes at least 98 RON, but I put 99 in at every opportunity so a half tank of 97 would hopefully keep it at 98!
Nigel_O said:
My son and I did a fair chunk of the NC500 in early October. From our trip last year, we knew that super-unleaded wouldn't be available everywhere, so we took three cans of Wynn's octane booster.
We used eight tanks of fuel in six days. Three fill-ups (about 150 litres) were for 95 RON plus the octane booster.
My car will run on 95 RON, but it doesn't like high load. I imagine a P6 wouldn't take too kindly to having lots of E10 through its fuel lines, unless you've had everything converted. I rather doubt you'll be able to carry enough fuel in jerry cans to cover for the gaps in 99 RON availability
PS - I was getting about 20mpg, but I doubt a P6 (presumably the V8?) would get far into double figures on some of the NC500 roads
He said it's a P5B so it's not a P6 but it is a V8We used eight tanks of fuel in six days. Three fill-ups (about 150 litres) were for 95 RON plus the octane booster.
My car will run on 95 RON, but it doesn't like high load. I imagine a P6 wouldn't take too kindly to having lots of E10 through its fuel lines, unless you've had everything converted. I rather doubt you'll be able to carry enough fuel in jerry cans to cover for the gaps in 99 RON availability
PS - I was getting about 20mpg, but I doubt a P6 (presumably the V8?) would get far into double figures on some of the NC500 roads
Just finished the NC500 yesterday Wednesday 15th April 2026 ! My Subaru is mapped for 99 so I filled my car and 10 litre jerrycan with Momentum 99 in Inverness. Next fill up at the Gleaner in Thurso where we stayed it s 98 (I asked) plus some octane booster to be safe! There is no momentum 99 in Wick or Thurso. I added the 10 litres in the jerrycan before we left our stay in Talmine. Next stop was Lochinver inc Drumbeg loop on the way. Then filled up in Ullapool at the Jet with 97 plus booster. Stayed in Strathcarron visited Portree on Skye (filled up at the Gleaner with 97 iirc) did the Applecross loop and got down to Fort William for some well deserved Shell V power ! That s the current situation, no problem getting fuel, prices ranged from 163.9 to 189.9 (Shell)
Hope this helps you all.
Hope this helps you all.
Edited by dannyboy640 on Saturday 18th April 00:04
I'm going again this October, and octane booster sounds like it might be a good idea so thanks. 
Thinking back to my 1973 Rover 3500S there was a sticker in the rear window near the fuel filter that recommended 5 Star. IIRC the early V8s had a compression ratio of 10.5:1, but later ones ran lower compression.
So it might be worth the OP taking some octane booster.
Thinking back to my 1973 Rover 3500S there was a sticker in the rear window near the fuel filter that recommended 5 Star. IIRC the early V8s had a compression ratio of 10.5:1, but later ones ran lower compression.
So it might be worth the OP taking some octane booster.
Red Devil said:
Anyone looking for 99RON on the NC500 route is going to struggle big time.
As GetCarter said, Super is available in Ullapool (Jet @ Lochbroom filling station) but it's not 99.
Tesco Momentum in Thurso is the only location I can think of.
Tesco in Thurso doesn’t sell fuel. As GetCarter said, Super is available in Ullapool (Jet @ Lochbroom filling station) but it's not 99.
Tesco Momentum in Thurso is the only location I can think of.
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