New fuel... 102

From Pistonheads;

BP Ultimate has launched what it calls a
revolutionary high-octane fuel. Launching at selected
sites in the south east, BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is
described as "the most advanced, high-performance
petrol sold on any forecourt in the UK".



Offering performance improvements of up to 16 per
cent in BP's tests, it's also the most expensive at an
eye-watering 2.42p per litre – see below for sites
where you can get it – although it's said to be better
for the environment.

What's so special?

Designed specifically for motor sport enthusiasts,
BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded meets the same high
specifications of fuels used in Formula One racing
and the World Rally Championships. It has an
octane number of 102 and has, said BP's spiel,
been formulated to allow highly tuned engines to
perform at their best.

BP said that, in its tests, where the ignition was
remapped, Ultimate 102 gave typical power benefits
of between 4.0 and 7.5 per cent above normal
Ultimate Unleaded 97. On a very high performance,
turbo-charged vehicle, with boost pressure
increased, the power benefits seen included an
increase in maximum power of 37bhp (8.6 per cent),
and as much as 60bhp (16 per cent) at some points
in the engine speed range.

It also complies with BS:EN228 -- the UK
specification for unleaded petrol -- so it can be
legally used on the road.

BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is ‘hand made’ in small
batches at BP’s Speciality Fuels Technology Centre
in the UK, using the same expertise employed for
Formula 1 fuels manufacturing.

Product manager Paul Beckwith said: "BP is widely
acknowledged for its fuels technology expertise
across a range of transport fuels and has an
excellent reputation in Formula 1 circles, having
been involved in the development, manufacture and
supply of fuels to the F1 community over the last
twenty years. Fuels of this type have not been readily
available to the public previously, but now we have
introduced BP Ultimate 102 unleaded specifically for
private motorsport enthusiasts based on our product
technology in this field.

"This fuel has a range of features to allow increased
performance from the most highly tuned engines,
alongside all of the benefits that drivers expect from
BP Ultimate fuels. We are delighted to make this
remarkable fuel easily accessible from our
forecourts."

What's in it?

Ultimate 102 is a precise recipe using a completely
different manufacturing process compared to
conventional refining, said BP. This processing
results in a fuel with exceptional quality without the
main impurities found in ordinary fuel. This is
demonstrated by the crystal clear appearance,
compared to the yellowish colour of typical petrol –
the only forecourt fuel in the UK to boast this
characteristic.

It's also said to be less harmful to the environment
than ordinary fuels:

*     Its unique purity and superior evaporation
properties improve the combustion process in the
engine, which means that less of the fuel is emitted
as partially burnt pollutants, such as carbon
monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons.
*     Its sulphur free formula will improve the operation
of the catalytic converter, reducing exhaust
emissions.
*     With less than 0.1% benzene, BP Ultimate 102
unleaded is safer to handle and less harmful to the
environment and is the only automotive petrol not
classed as carcinogenic.
*     The fuel contains a high performance oxygen
containing bio-component, which means that overall
greenhouse gas emissions – associated with
global warming – are reduced, helping to protect the
environment.  


Where to get it

*     Tudor Filling Station, A20 London Road, Allington,
Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0HE
*     Chicheley Park Connect, Tickford Street, Newport
Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 9BD
*     Wavendon Gate Connect, Newport Road,
Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK
7AG
*     All Saints Self Serve, Commercial Road,
Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 4BU
*     Newbury Centre Filling Station, 758 Eastern
Avenue, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex, IG2 7HU
*     Newham Way Service Station, Newham Way,
Canning Town, London, E16 1QX


Link

*     www.bpultimate.com

It's gotta do what it says on the tin with that price and actually getting sites to sell it. They must be reasonably confident that its going to be a success?

We now have genuine leaded 4 star at £1.52 per litre. People come far and wide to get it, although I find my MGC used to run better on unleaded than the 4 star, although it did have an unleaded head anyway.

I like BP Ultimate, but recently tried the Tesco 97 Super unleaded. I was impressed.

I agree with that 100%, I was trying to say that there are people who will travel to buy fuels like this for racing....the 4 star we sell for instance. My Evo2 is absolutely rubbish on Optimax, but is much better on the lower Octane BP Ultimate.

Its pretty pointless me buying the stuff, as I would use the majority of it getting too and from those stations, but for my own reserch interests I would, remap and post some results.

I had an intersting conversation with the Dyno Dynamics guy Mike Gurney who said that putting higher octane rated fuel into your car actually acts as though you retard the ignition, as it the higher octane fuel takes longer to burn. Its food for thought, and maybe why my car feels rubbish with the higher octane Optimax??

Shep,

The Evo2 was designed to run on 98 ron petrol, as compression ratio was increased and the timing altered. Subjectively I have found that my Evo2 runs better on Optimax than Ultimate 97, and felt OK on Tesco 99. I have sometimes found that the car doesn't seem to have as much power on Optimax after a fill up, where Optimax was already in there. I put this doen to an old batch of petrol, so where possible I try to buy from a busy petrol station.

In the Evo petrol comparison article there was no definite winner, except the racing fuel, which gave better results all round. I think it really depends on the individual car and how old the petrol is!

Optimax generally got the thumbs up but did not produce as much power as Ultimate 97, probably because I doubt the Golf was mapped for 98, having said that why did the racing fuel give better results than anything? By Mike Gurneys logic it sholud not have done this.

I will probably run Tesco 99 on the rolling road day in Northampton just to see how it compares with my last run, and if a bit better, especially in the torque department, I will have it mapped to that when I get a Uni Q chip.

Any idea when they will be launched?

£2.50 per litres seems very reasonable on the basis that this is about 2.5x dearer than normal super.  So if you spend say, £2k per year on petrol, this cost will become £5k, £3k more !

A nutter or very committed driver will spend around £50k on a new M3 and lose at least £5k a year for quite a few years, so whats the problem with spending an extra £2-£3k on fuel !

I wouldn't buy it, and only justify Optimax now and again on the assumption that it really does do some good to the car engine, etc, but remain slightly suspicious about some the claims re: cleaning detergents, etc. It just depends on how much money you have to waste, or how totally passionate you are about having the highest RON fuel available. 

Shep,

I'll give the Teco 97 a try aswell then.

I did once try another Evo2 ECU which had been rechipped, with what or by who i don't know, but it pinked like mad and I took it out.

Kevin

Uwe,

My wife would never accuse me of being sensitive!

I too have found that my consumption goes up on BP Ultimate . And it's bloo*y expensive IMO.

In the Evo fuel test, the testers said they subjectively preferred Optimax as the cars seemed to feel better, however the dyno tests showed the cars to be producing less power than Tesco 99 and Ultimate.

I wonder is there a simple dip test you can do at a petrol station to check the octane rating, like a hydrometer for acidity?

Blimey we don't stand a chance against these petrol companies marketing departments.

So what is the MON for Ultimate and Tesco 99/97?

I have found out that

"RON measures resistance of a fuel to knock at lower engine speeds and under acceleration and MON its resistance to knock at high speeds and high engine temperatures."

Source; BP Australia 14/2/2000


The overall octane of a fuel is a combination of RON plus MON/2

For Tesco 99 this is 99 + 87 = 93
Optimax is         &nbs p; 98 + 86 = 92

Can't find MON for Ultimate.

I have also read that Tesco 99 is what Optimax will soon be replaced by, as it is V Power on the continent. Could be wrong though.

So on the above Tesco has it, always assuming your engine is mapped on it.      

215DMX wrote: And you can always put some paint thinners in with the petrol, ones that contain Toulene or Xelene (spelling?) both have a Octane of 100... very cheap octane booster At your own risk of course...

 Dave, but you would have to put alot of that in to increase the octane to 99!  Convert your car to run on LPG and have both petrol and LPG running your car at the same time. LPG's octane rating is very high I understand....I think it may have been done before? But big performance gains could be had