s1 111s is it worth using super unleaded ?
s1 111s is it worth using super unleaded ?
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Discussion

retrorider

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

232 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
any benefits performance wise ?

zebra

4,555 posts

245 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
retrorider said:
any benefits performance wise ?
Varied reports on mpg - at the very least a fill of this every fourt stop will clean the engine.

I've tried - no sensor to make a difference - no improvment. That was in a 111s and now in a 111r

Zebra

Sam_68

9,939 posts

276 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
No, not really.

The K-series engine doesn't have a knock sensor and is mapped for 95 RON fuel, so in theory there are no perfomance benefits from using super unleaded.

However... some people claim that their engines feel more responsive or smoother (placebo effect?) and some of the better quality fuels have additives which may keep your valves and injectors cleaner over large mileages.

retrorider

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

232 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
cheers guys wink

NathanE

539 posts

233 months

Tuesday 4th September 2007
quotequote all
You're only going to see the difference on track, and even then you'll need a 'yota powered car as those have the knock sensor thingmejig.

cej

961 posts

253 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Unless you have a programmable EMS and get it tuned,don't bother.
Even if the engine had a knock sensor you would not get knock running with the regular fuel recommended by Lotus unless they've messed up the programming of the EMS.

boobles

15,251 posts

246 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Ive been using Shell V Power for the last month & i have noticed a huge difference in the way the engine performs! Yes it does feel more responsive & for the extra £2 it costs to fill it up, im getting approx 30 miles out of a full tank. Also the reason why i started using V Power is because my engine was "pinking" in any gear & at any speed at the moment full throttle was applied & since using this stuff i hav'nt had any "pinking" what so ever.

zebra

4,555 posts

245 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
boobles said:
im getting approx 30 miles out of a full tank.
How the hell are you driving it? I get at least 240 miles from a tank.wink

boobles

15,251 posts

246 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
zebra said:
boobles said:
im getting approx 30 miles out of a full tank.
How the hell are you driving it? I get at least 240 miles from a tank.wink
rofl i meant extra compared to what i use to get... biggrin

Sam_68

9,939 posts

276 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
boobles said:
...the reason why i started using V Power is because my engine was "pinking" in any gear & at any speed at the moment full throttle was applied & since using this stuff i hav'nt had any "pinking" what so ever.
If you were suffering from pinking on 95 RON, then you have an underlying problem.

Has the engine been modified in any way?

boobles

15,251 posts

246 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
The engine apart from exhaust is totally standard. Do you have any ideas what the problem is then?

Sam_68

9,939 posts

276 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Dunno. On a 'traditional' engine with clockwork ignition, first supsect would be a badly coked up cylinder head causing 'hot spots', or ignition timing that is too far advanced. The latter should only be possible on a K-series if it has been assembled incorrectly or, possibly, if there is a fault with one of the sensors.

Your best bet is to get it hooked up to a suitable digital engine analyser; they'll be able to tell you if there's anything wrong very quickly.

boobles

15,251 posts

246 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Sam_68 said:
Dunno. On a 'traditional' engine with clockwork ignition, first supsect would be a badly coked up cylinder head causing 'hot spots', or ignition timing that is too far advanced. The latter should only be possible on a K-series if it has been assembled incorrectly or, possibly, if there is a fault with one of the sensors.

Your best bet is to get it hooked up to a suitable digital engine analyser; they'll be able to tell you if there's anything wrong very quickly.
I have had the car tested for timing etc & they could not find any faults.

Sam_68

9,939 posts

276 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
boobles said:
I have had the car tested for timing etc & they could not find any faults.
Have they checked that physical TDC is actually where the sensor is telling the ECU it is?

Camshaft timing? Correct grade of spark plugs?

Are you sure it is actually pinking and not, for example, the rattle of a loose exhaust baffle (or the resonant period at around 2,500 rpm that some S1's suffer from, which Lotus 'fixed' by offering an exhaust steady bracket)?

All I know is that a K-series definitely shouldn't be showing any signs of pinking on 95 RON fuel.


chris7676

2,685 posts

251 months

Monday 7th July 2008
quotequote all
The problem is with them being so loud I don't think you could hear pinking...

DamienCBR

2,037 posts

254 months

Monday 7th July 2008
quotequote all
There was a little bit on this thread the other week.
D
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...