Regular or Super Unleaded? What do you use and what car?
Regular or Super Unleaded? What do you use and what car?
Author
Discussion

AstonExige

Original Poster:

661 posts

123 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
Just want to get an idea of what the masses use?

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the V12V doesnt have a knock sensor so the engine is fixed tuned for std 95 octane unleadded, so there is very little benefit in going for super.

One of the reasons the V12VS has an additional 55bhp was the introduction of this feature.

So dont waste you cash on super, as you wont see many of the usual benefits.

V8V Pete

2,521 posts

142 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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But the V8V does so mine gets super unleaded.

Buster73

5,378 posts

169 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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N430 , Shell V power only.

dalecan

316 posts

267 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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V8VS shell v power only.

ilikeAstons

275 posts

120 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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I use Shell V power too - in a DB9. I do it because a petrochemical engineer tells me it has more cleaning agents in it.

davek_964

10,300 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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The Cayenne and the Vantage get Tesco super. The 360 gets V-power.

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
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The V8 is an entirely different situation and does benefit from Super in the same way most engines do, but AstonExige has bought a V12V. Read the BR sticky thread - at some point about 4yrs ago Mike was kind enough to enlighten us about the lack of knock sensor on the older (<=510bhp) V12 engine.

developer

265 posts

173 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
What do AM say (via the manual perhaps)?

My manual says 98 RON only, with a paragraph about potential engine damage if not used.

E63S AMG.

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
developer said:
What do AM say (via the manual perhaps)?

My manual says 98 RON only, with a paragraph about potential engine damage if not used.

E63S AMG.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

developer

265 posts

173 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
AdamV12V said:
Thanks - though I didn't read it all - what I'm suggesting is that there should be manufacturer's advice tucked away somewhere.

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
developer said:
Thanks - though I didn't read it all - what I'm suggesting is that there should be manufacturer's advice tucked away somewhere.
more info here : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=144...

Edited by AdamV12V on Sunday 18th December 23:15

developer

265 posts

173 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
Just as an aside, my lad and I spent an hour with Dr Reichman a couple of months ago, at Gaydon - although not practical for me (hence the need for an estate) we were very impressed by what we saw - such lovely cars thumbup

developer

265 posts

173 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
This is what we're told:

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Sunday 18th December 2016
quotequote all
developer said:
This is what we're told:
but thats your AMG merc - with a totally different engine! confused

developer

265 posts

173 months

Monday 19th December 2016
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AdamV12V said:
but thats your AMG merc - with a totally different engine! confused
Yes - I was suggesting that AM may offer similar advice to you guys, on what fuel grade you should use - in my case it's via the manual.

Handyman2009

170 posts

119 months

Monday 19th December 2016
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Here is from the 2009 Aston Martin Vantage Manual

Engine
All alloy, quad overhead cam 32 valve V8.
Four knock sensors - two per cylinder head.
Variable inlet camshaft timing

Fuel Recommended
Premium Unleaded Gasoline 93 Octane (R+M)/2 for optimum performance 91 Octane (R+M)/2
Premium Unleaded Gasoline minimum

AdamV12V

5,196 posts

193 months

Monday 19th December 2016
quotequote all
Handyman2009 said:
Here is from the 2009 Aston Martin Vantage Manual

Engine
All alloy, quad overhead cam 32 valve V8.
Four knock sensors - two per cylinder head.
Variable inlet camshaft timing

Fuel Recommended
Premium Unleaded Gasoline 93 Octane (R+M)/2 for optimum performance 91 Octane (R+M)/2
Premium Unleaded Gasoline minimum
The OP has a V12V so this thread is about the fuel to ne used in the V12 engine, not the V8, whoch as I've stated above already does have a knock sensor.

Besides that, this is a quote from a North America market manual, the engines for which are tuned for the lower grade fuels available there compared to the European market engines.

paulrog1

1,113 posts

157 months

Monday 19th December 2016
quotequote all
Just want to know more about the lack of knock sensors on the DB9/DBS/V12V V12.

Does anyone know why these engines don't have knock sensors?

Inside the internal combustion engine a knock occurs when the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four stock cycle, the knock sensors pick up on the vibrations of this and the ECU adjusts the ignition timing to suit, in extreme cases knock can destruct an engine.

So the V12 hasn't got knock detection, doesn't sound very good, I assume when the engine was developed the engineers knew what they were doing, just doesn't seem a good idea to have a high power V12 without these sensors.


davek_964

10,300 posts

191 months

Monday 19th December 2016
quotequote all
paulrog1 said:
Just want to know more about the lack of knock sensors on the DB9/DBS/V12V V12.

Does anyone know why these engines don't have knock sensors?

Inside the internal combustion engine a knock occurs when the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four stock cycle, the knock sensors pick up on the vibrations of this and the ECU adjusts the ignition timing to suit, in extreme cases knock can destruct an engine.

So the V12 hasn't got knock detection, doesn't sound very good, I assume when the engine was developed the engineers knew what they were doing, just doesn't seem a good idea to have a high power V12 without these sensors.
I'm also curious why not having a knock sensor means there is no point using super. I thought the knock sensor was generally detecting 'knock' when lower octane fuel was used and it retards the ignition to compensate. Not having a knock sensor would simply mean it couldn't detect that as opposed to meaning there is no benefit to using super. Or is the argument that the engine is meant to run on 95 hence it doesn't need to compensate (and hence the timing is not advanced to benefit from super).
Or have I completely misunderstood what knock sensors do?