Optimax in Evo
Discussion
Has anyone seen the article on Optimax in this months Evo?
It seems to settle any arguments about its effectivness quite conclusively.
They used it for at least 1500 miles in a BMW M3 Roadster, a Jaguar XJR and a Honda Civic Type-R. All three were performance tested before and after, and all three showed useful gains. Also as an added bonus the conditions of the intake valves was greatly imporved with a lot of the build up being dissolved.
Definitely worth using then....
It seems to settle any arguments about its effectivness quite conclusively.
They used it for at least 1500 miles in a BMW M3 Roadster, a Jaguar XJR and a Honda Civic Type-R. All three were performance tested before and after, and all three showed useful gains. Also as an added bonus the conditions of the intake valves was greatly imporved with a lot of the build up being dissolved.
Definitely worth using then....
Unfortunatly it's not quite that conclusive. I've rolling road'ed my car in the morning and then again in the afternoon. The power dropped by 10% what! Blown valve? different petrol? No just different atmospheric conditions it can make that much difference. As can, wind direction, slope, etc..None of which are listed in the EVO item.
As for shiny valves well I'm sure it's not a bad thing but is it worth the extra $. I would personally save the money and bolt on some performance I can feel in the seat of my pants. Nitros anyone?
Shell OPTIMAX sponsers EVO, perhaps not, but I'll have a large pinch of salt with mine.
Cheers, Steve
Grey 4.2 Cerbie
As for shiny valves well I'm sure it's not a bad thing but is it worth the extra $. I would personally save the money and bolt on some performance I can feel in the seat of my pants. Nitros anyone?
Shell OPTIMAX sponsers EVO, perhaps not, but I'll have a large pinch of salt with mine.
Cheers, Steve
Grey 4.2 Cerbie
I'm going to run my 13 year old 5-series BMW on Optimax, for a while, to give the valves etc. a bit of a clean. I reckon that's where you'll get best value from the product. Today's engines are pretty claen anyway, as long as you don't use crappy supermarket fuel, anyway. I can easily feel the difference to the Beemer - the auto 'box refuses to change down as readily - I can't work out why, unless the engine is producing more torque, and so doesn't need to drop a cog for accelerating.
Introduced my 4.0 Chim to Optimax 6 months ago. I now use nothing else due to the better power delivery and performance.
I'm no expert but I suspect such gains will be dependant on how your car is tuned. A car setup for 95 octane has probably had the ignition timing retarded to suit. If so then an ECU clear/reset would also be required.
It would be interesting to hear Blackpools opinions of the use of Optmax.
I'm no expert but I suspect such gains will be dependant on how your car is tuned. A car setup for 95 octane has probably had the ignition timing retarded to suit. If so then an ECU clear/reset would also be required.
It would be interesting to hear Blackpools opinions of the use of Optmax.
quote:This isn't true - the higher octane just means that the fuel has a greater resistance to "knock" in the research engine. The only reason this can mean more power is if it allows you to advance the ignition further, not something any TVR does automatically.
higher octane rating = bigger bang which in my book certainly means better running at least. R...
All I can say is that when I picked up my Chimaera a few weeks ago, the low rpm performance was lousy. Any time I had to go through a village at 30 mph, the car would have to be in 3rd gear.
There has been a dramatic difference in the performance in that aspect. More power? couldn't say, but the engine IS running better. It is definately worth the extra few pence per fill up.
Cleaner valves and injectors? Do they put some type of cleaner in the fuel? Don't know, but I will not be putting anything else in the car from now on.
There has been a dramatic difference in the performance in that aspect. More power? couldn't say, but the engine IS running better. It is definately worth the extra few pence per fill up.
Cleaner valves and injectors? Do they put some type of cleaner in the fuel? Don't know, but I will not be putting anything else in the car from now on.
Formula Shell released in the mid 80s to much acclaim, claimed to clean valves etc, after many months of sales on the public it was found to cause premature wear to valves on many different types of car and eventually was withdrawn from the market with Shell paying compensation to some really unlucky owners. So I think that judgement should be delayed on Optimax until its been in the market for at least a year.
It may be the best thing since sliced bread, but then again until several engine's have done 10's of thousands of miles on the stuff, then its not proven in my book. Good sales pitch though, but you don't get any free tumblers like you did with Formula Shell, but you do get to drive like Michael Schumacher without the danger of breaking glass!!!
It may be the best thing since sliced bread, but then again until several engine's have done 10's of thousands of miles on the stuff, then its not proven in my book. Good sales pitch though, but you don't get any free tumblers like you did with Formula Shell, but you do get to drive like Michael Schumacher without the danger of breaking glass!!!
In our car (very late 97 4.2 Cerbie) Optimax made no noticable difference... The biggest difference is that Optimax makes the car pop & bang less... 
We ran on Optimax for about 2 months constantly (2000-3000 miles), and still didn't notice any difference ! From our point of view, the biggest plus point for Optimax is that it's about 4p a litre less than Super !
But we usually run on "normal" super so we get more pops & bangs...
We ran on Optimax for about 2 months constantly (2000-3000 miles), and still didn't notice any difference ! From our point of view, the biggest plus point for Optimax is that it's about 4p a litre less than Super !
But we usually run on "normal" super so we get more pops & bangs...
quote:
In our car (very late 97 4.2 Cerbie) Optimax made no noticable difference... The biggest difference is that Optimax makes the car pop & bang less...
We ran on Optimax for about 2 months constantly (2000-3000 miles), and still didn't notice any difference ! From our point of view, the biggest plus point for Optimax is that it's about 4p a litre less than Super !
But we usually run on "normal" super so we get more pops & bangs...
I found the same as Olly, however I had always used normal unleaded - 4.0 '96 Chimaera.
Perhaps I should have got the timing adjusted?
quote:
If you want to fall for this rubbish, why not fit some splitfires as well.
I bought some splitfires for my Corrado, and when I spoke to a mechanic friend, he said "Christ, get 'em out!" Apparently they make the head very hot, and can easily burn through the pistons, damage valves etc. Basically, they're sh1t.
I run an Ultima/Chevy with 8 port fuel injection, Ali heads, Big valves, 11:1 comp, very hot cam, electronic ignition etc..I can definately say that the engine is smoother at all revs, pops and bangs less on the overun, feels sharper (hard to put a finger on I know). I am not sure if it developes any more power but I prefer Optimax for the above reasons 
higher octane rating = bigger bang which in my book certainly means better running at least. R...
'This isn't true - the higher octane just means that the fuel has a greater resistance to "knock" in the research engine. The only reason this can mean more power is if it allows you to advance the ignition further, not something any TVR does automatically.'
I go along with the bigger bang theory - ie more chemical energy per ml. Back in WW2 when we got our hands on 100 octane fuel, Spitfires suddenly developed more bhp, flew higher and flew faster.
'This isn't true - the higher octane just means that the fuel has a greater resistance to "knock" in the research engine. The only reason this can mean more power is if it allows you to advance the ignition further, not something any TVR does automatically.'
I go along with the bigger bang theory - ie more chemical energy per ml. Back in WW2 when we got our hands on 100 octane fuel, Spitfires suddenly developed more bhp, flew higher and flew faster.
Bristol - Blackburn run last weekend:
95 way up
98 way back
Did 'seem' smoother, though steady motorway driving for the most part(OK, as steady as you can get accelerating safely away from those doing '50' in the middle
- and vectra's/volvos on the outside
!).
Not as many pops and bangs after squirting it around b roads...
I'll see how my wallet shapes up!
Not wanting to appear all ecowarrior
(previous thread - ducks for cover); but does any one else supply 98RON besides Shell?
..Waitrose??
95 way up
98 way back
Did 'seem' smoother, though steady motorway driving for the most part(OK, as steady as you can get accelerating safely away from those doing '50' in the middle
- and vectra's/volvos on the outside!). Not as many pops and bangs after squirting it around b roads...
I'll see how my wallet shapes up!
Not wanting to appear all ecowarrior
(previous thread - ducks for cover); but does any one else supply 98RON besides Shell? ..Waitrose??
Ive been using optimax but the local shell station is a bit of a trek. I did however fill up my other motor at my local BP station and noticed that their Super U/leaded pumps now display 98RON stickers. This was definitely 97ron last year! Anyone else noticed any other big companies following suit??
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