What Fuel??

Is the extra MPG and performance worth the extra cost of using High Octain Lead Free (98 ron).  As it seems in short supply localy I will have to travel to find some.  Any one have any views??

PhilT

I always use Optimax and noticed that my car always seemed to run better on it and seem more responsive, on the very odd occaision when I have had to use standard unleaded then the performance does seem to drop of slightly, this could just be mind games but although Optimax is a little more expensive I think that the car is worth it and if you are already paying stupid UK prices for standard petrol then another couple of pence per litre is hardly going to break the bank.

In the end go with your own feelings, if you can run a tank of unleaded then when empty'ish go for a tank of Optimax and then see how you get on and which one you prefer.

If i remember correctly Evo magazine did a comparison between Optimax and 'supermarket' petrol to see if there was actually a difference (I'll try to find the mag and post more info if anyone is interested).From what I recall though it took a couple of fill ups of Optimax before they noticed a difference in the way the vehicles drove.What was hugely different though was when they had the engines taken apart,the Optimax ran cars were so much cleaner with there being virtually no carbon deposits whatsoever on the valves etc.

Unfortunately I cant take advantage of this fuel as the only Shell garage close to me closed down after 'supermarket' petrol arrived.

Interestig topic, i hear that it is only when run for some 1000 miles or so on a usedengine that that the benefit of optimax will be felt. However i have just traded in a seat for my BMW, i ran it on nothing else but optimax and on the odd occasion i was forced to fill up with other fule the car did feel less responsive lower down the rev range.

I too read the Evo test which showed gains in engine performance, huge on the civic type r and significant on the z3m and the jaguar and also showed engines had benefitted internally from the additives which had cleaned the valves up, the BMW if i remember was spotless before optimax anyway, it was the honda which showed signs of "supermarket" petrol. I cannot believ for one minute that Tesco petrol is on a par with optimax etc, there was a story run a few years back when asda had to stop doing petrol because their brand was actualy damaging peoples engines!

I have just changed from an 01/51 car to a 1990 H 320 i SE and will be running optimax all the time. Not only will it help to maintain the engine i personally think its worth the extra cost.

Interestingly when i was part of the seat forum some people had a conversion on the Leon/ibiza turbo where you could have an engine management upgrade which at the flick of a switch could swop between 95 and optimax, the difference if correctly set up was about 20 bhp...so it must be doing something right!!

No not the marketing department! I read the review in a magaizine which i trust and enjoy reading who showed physical evidence of the improvement in performance and engine cleanliness internally which can only be a good thing!

why be sceptical, some things do just what they say on the tin.!

OK, maybe I'm a bit cynical, but I get that way when it's suggested I should pay even more for fuel! I haven't read this report in Evo that people are citing - I shall have to see if I can get hold of a copy of that issue. Anyone know which issue it was?

I guess the cleaning effects of Optimax are possibly worth the extra cash, especially if you're thinking of keeping your car for a long time. I wouldn't want to pay for the higher octane rating though.

Paul - your engine is quite modified IIRC - new filter, exhaust and chip? In this case, the increased octane rating may be beneficial.