Choice of petrol

[smithsi]

Checked the Cerbera FAQ and it says that normal (95) unleaded can be used, but may cause pinking in early models.

I have a 98 Cerbera 4.2 from Offords, should I stick with 98 or do other people use 95 without problems.

RMaurer - You used to own the car, what did you do?

PS Apologies if the question is naive or a repost, but the search facility is down on the forums and I couldn't find an answer in the forums via Google.

[FUBAR]

Shell Optimax/V-Power or BP Ultimate (and the odd Tesco 99) seem to be the most popular choices. Those three are my pecking order of choice

[morebeanz]

Most people ignore the 95 and go for one of the premium fuels as Nick said.

If nothing else, you get better pops and bangs!

[cossiemetro]

i was talking to a racing friend of mine and he said the tesco 99 is crap fuel
can anybody elaborate on this ??? or is it TOSH !!!

[Budaholic]

What is supposed to be crap about it? I'm sure i've read somewhere that it all comes from the same refineries!

I have almost solely used Tescos 99 in my Cerb for the last 2 years. Mainly cos it pops, bangs and spits flames more than any other fuel i've used. Which makes it easier to set off BMW alarms as you pass. I rest my case!!

I've not once put in regular 95. I wouldn't dare to be seen being so cheap.

Bud

[rmaurer]

smithsi said:

I have a 98 Cerbera 4.2 from Offords, should I stick with 98 or do other people use 95 without problems.

RMaurer - You used to own the car, what did you do?

Hi - I always ran it on Super, preferably Optimax whenever possible. I did fill up a couple of times on long journeys with regular 95 and it felt slightly down on power but ran ok... (Could have been my imagination though, it wasn't a massive difference)

Interestingly I seemed to get slightly louder pops and bangs and smooth running on BP Ultimate, but my local Tesco 99 never seemed to go down very well (more low down hesitancy) which I presumed was because it didn't sell as well in London so sat in the petrol station's tanks and went off over time... Never had a problem with Optimax (now V-Power). Be interested to hear if you find the same.

[jensena]

Taking this seriosly for the benefit of a newbie. The fuel caps usually have a sticker stating the petrol grade, mine says 97, the JP V* is basically a race engine so go for 97 RON.
I use Tesco 99 because its cheaper, and it gives some nice pops and bangs.
Shell Opiomax/V Power contains lots of additices, it costs more, and if you strip your engine down after 100,000 miles you may find its a bit cleaner than if you hadnt used it.
Petrol has to meet a specification, and all petrols are produced to that spec.
Cerb engines are all slightly different, so just find a min 97 grade that you feel your engine runs better on, and you are happiest with.

[stevo96]

I drive my 97 4.2 cerb every day and have covered 3000 miles in the last three months using "normal" unleaded. Never had any issues and if its down on power i dont think i could handle the extra horses (if any) from super unleaded.... If i had it just for weekends though id probably "splash out" on 98!

[ijc]

I use Tesco 99 or Shell optimax/v power. When I have used standard 95 octane fuel I haven't really noticed any power difference but the car certainly seems to do more mpg when on the higher octane fuel.

[smithsi]

Thanks everyone, I think on balance I may be using Optimax or something similar

[aerospoke]

Hi there

Wasn´t there a topic in the news section a few weeks ago about a scientific test of different fuel types in which Tesco 99 produced the most hp? If i remember correctly the difference in power on 1 engine was almost 40 hp!
Tried to find the article but couldn´t.

[sonnylad]

Hi, Si,

Almost allways optimax for me if not any other super, did use 95 a few times when petrol shortage was on, and never really noticed any difference but then i was driving slower as i never knew where the next tank was coming from.

[Ireland]

I don't really have a choice.

It's 95 over here virtually everywhere.

Even our version of the V-power is 95.

Hopefully I won't find the whole thing blow up in a hail of rivets in a few months.

[jensena]

The Handbook actually states that the cars should use 95. so you should be OK

[Tripps]

I've found something lacking when using Tesco 99, while Optimax made it really sweet. Haven't had the chance to try VPower as yet though, I bought some last week for the 172 and that lapped it up, bloke in the forecourt said on average it is actually higher than 99 octane, but whether that is true...

The 97s are much of a muchness, as (I believe) they all come from tye same refineries and just have additives specific for the fuel company.

[Cyclone1]

Ratings:

Tesco - 99RON
Shell V Power - 99RON (replaces Optimax)
Shell Optimax - 98RON (to be discontinued)

BP Ultimate - 97RON
Esso Supreme - 97RON
Total Excellium - 97RON
Texaco Super - 97RON

All the above 97RON fuels are the same. There is an agreement between the petrol companies that allows all to refuel their tankers at the same depots, the only difference being the individual additive package each company adds to the fuel at point of tanker refill. The additives primarily consist of cleaning agents.

I've nearly always used Shell Optimax and never really had any complaints, over the past few weeks my local(ish) Shell station has changed to V-Power and I haven't really noticed any difference. I have also been putting in the odd tank of Tesco 99 (nearest one is 20 miles away!) and have to admit that the car certainly pops and bangs more and "feels" crisper on pick up, might be psychological, but if there was a Tesco station nearer home then I would use it.

Jules.

[raw cerb]

aerospoke said:

Hi there

Wasn´t there a topic in the news section a few weeks ago about a scientific test of different fuel types in which Tesco 99 produced the most hp? If i remember correctly the difference in power on 1 engine was almost 40 hp!
Tried to find the article but couldn´t.

Yes there was. Here's the article. www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14919

I still rate shell vpower as numero uno for pops and bangs.

[FUBAR]

raw cerb said:

aerospoke said:

Hi there

Wasn´t there a topic in the news section a few weeks ago about a scientific test of different fuel types in which Tesco 99 produced the most hp? If i remember correctly the difference in power on 1 engine was almost 40 hp!
Tried to find the article but couldn´t.

Yes there was. Here's the article. www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14919

I still rate shell vpower as numero uno for pops and bangs.

'Our' Charlie aka Vixpy did a rolling road test for one of the mags (no, no, not Reader's Wives, I think it was Auto Express or some such) for the different petrol. He'll be along when he gets out of bed (dont bother looking before midday )

[FUBAR]

Ireland said:

I don't really have a choice.


Even our version of the V-power is 95.

.

Blimey, is that what you folk call 'Paddy Power'?

[thegreengoblet]

Gone from Optimax to Tesco in my 4.5. Haven't noticed any difference except in my wallet!
Also get plenty of Tesco Club Card points which earn me enough each year to pay for my RAC membership.