Shell Optimax

Put some of this fuel in last week (won a ?10 on the lottery) and there feels as if there is a noticable difference in performance. Car seems to pull a lot better and its more responsive or is it just wishful thinkin?
Watched 5th gear a few months back where they tested petrol in performance cars and there was a big increase in bhp when optimax was used instead of the standard unleaded and the supermarket came out at the bottom (a previous post explains the poor quality of supermarket fuels). Does anyone use this on here or is it a waste of money?

I usually use it but my local shell garage hasn't had any since before xmas  :evil:

not sure if it's in me heeed but it doesn't feel as smooth or responsive when using normal unleaded

Very interesting article in EVO magazine last month where they compare different fuel types rolling road tested on a Mk5 GTI, as you can see all fuels produce more power and torque than quoted by the manufacturer
197bhp and 207ftlbs torque.

Shell 95
======
Power: 205 @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 234 @ 2650 rpm


BP 95
======
Power: 204 @ 5600
Torque: 242 @ 2300-3100 rpm

Shell Optimax (98 octane)
==========
Power: 209 @ 5500
Torque: 242 @ 2500-2900 rpm


Tesco 99
======
Power: 212 @ 5500
Torque: 242 @ 2400-3500 rpm


BP Ultimate (97 octane)
========
Power: 212 bhp @ 5300
Torque: 252 @ 2400-2500 rpm


Sunoco Race Fuel (105 octane but ?3.52 Sterling!)
=============
Power: 218 bhp @ 5300
Torque: 248 @ 2500-2800 rpm

you guys are lucky over there, over here in Ireland we are stuck with a choice of 95 octane or 95 octane :x :wink:

evad said

Very interesting article in EVO magazine last month where they compare different fuel types rolling road tested on a Mk5 GTI, as you can see all fuels produce more power and torque than quoted by the manufacturer
197bhp and 207ftlbs torque.

Shell 95
======
Power: 205 @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 234 @ 2650 rpm


BP 95
======
Power: 204 @ 5600
Torque: 242 @ 2300-3100 rpm

Shell Optimax (98 octane)
==========
Power: 209 @ 5500
Torque: 242 @ 2500-2900 rpm


Tesco 99
======
Power: 212 @ 5500
Torque: 242 @ 2400-3500 rpm


BP Ultimate (97 octane)
========
Power: 212 bhp @ 5300
Torque: 252 @ 2400-2500 rpm


Sunoco Race Fuel (105 octane but ?3.52 Sterling!)
=============
Power: 218 bhp @ 5300
Torque: 248 @ 2500-2800 rpm

you guys are lucky over there, over here in Ireland we are stuck with a choice of 95 octane or 95 octane :x :wink:

Yeah, it was a reasonably good article but I felt it only brushed the surface. I must admit to being a little surprised that Optimax doesn't improve performance by a great deal but that appears to be down to the modern ECU's ability to adapt, however the cleaning agents in it give a tremendous benefit over the others.

There is an interesting article on Tesco's 99 Ron here

RE: Tesco launches high octane fuel - Page 1 - Motoring News - PistonHeads UK

We used to use it all the time in the Mk2 and really felt it made a difference. When my husband started a new job with higher mileage we changed back but really felt the change. Put some in the other day and all was better again!

Just going to check if my local tesco as this stuff

Here a list of Tesco pumps that sell 99 Ron

http://www.greenergy.com/products/99_octane_locations.html

I used tescos all the time      til my boss (newM5) told me it was cheaper at Shell. ok its 7miles from tescos but at 88.7p/L mustnt grumble. Boy did i notice a difference, pukka stuff Shell. the only downside now is my shopping bill goes up as my clubcard is no longer used! And i wont ever fill MY car up there again.

IMO that I would get the car rolling road tuned after the switch to feel the full benefit of the fuel. The mechanical injection of a MK1 golf is slightly crude when compared to the complex ECU's of the modern cars used in recent tests.

Sweet Jesus DjEv…. A fuel that can make your car run on three cylinders instead of two! Must be good!  

kins said

Here a list of Tesco pumps that sell 99 Ron

http://www.greenergy.com/products/99_octane_locations.html

Typical eastboure gets 99 oct (why would oaps want 99oct)  but not Wales  , thats favoritism that is . Always used to run mine on optimax until i read a link on here which stated that optimax actually degrades and if left in the tank would eventually be little better that standard unleaded . of course thats not a problem if you use more than a tankfull a week .  It does keep everything clean , my head looked new when i did the engine swap .

?3.24 a litre or gallon , i,d love to buy a tenners worth of race fuel then find a nice quiet road ………..

ithought the gti engines were best suited for persfomance using 4 star! which is no longer available but cant u get 4 star additive, or even use octane booster?

I run normal 95 ron petrol in my car, but super unleaded 98 ron does make a difference. I used to have Alfa 155 and when I ran it on super unleaded it was quiter, did more miles to the gallon and it went loads better.

The crunch is that though on a performance engine on higher octane fuels give better economy and performance, the goverment taxed it higher for the hell of it 8O

4 start petrol is higher octane than unleaded and gives better performance but is only available at specialist places (its not banned completely!).

Lead replacemnt petrol is also getting scarce, but why it costs more than unleaded, I have no idea, no lead so why more tax!!!!

When unleaded came out eairly 80's cars that could run on it had to be retarted to stop pinking, thus reducing power :roll:

The best solution is to buy pnormal petrol and add octane booster.

One last point standard unleaded can have a octane levels of between 91 nd 95 ron and usllay supermarkets tend to sell the lower garde causing rougher running.

Clomplicated stuff eh, the lead in petrol is for lubricating the valve seats and to stop valve set wear, Golf have harden valve seats to make them compatible with unleaded. so 4 star is only good because it hav
s a higher octane rating.

What I say is bring back 5 Star petrol…….

Rob

walt said

Sweet Jesus DjEv…. A fuel that can make your car run on three cylinders instead of two! Must be good!  

What fuel does yours use walt :eh:  
One day you will put some in and drive it somewhere :posh:

Mine has a flux capacitor and runs on banana skins!  

Robb said

Lead replacemnt petrol is also getting scarce, but why it costs more than unleaded, I have no idea, no lead so why more tax!!!!
Rob

Because it's all made unleaded now, and the lead replacement is an additive, so it would be a tad more to make, but also probably tax rules keep it higher, probably to do with emmissions etc, and trying to encourage people with cars that can run on either to use unleaded. Well that's my logical thinking on it anyway.

Robb said

When unleaded came out eairly 80's cars that could run on it had to be retarted to stop pinking, thus reducing power :roll:

Rob

Would that be apple, or cherry?? I think you mean retarded as oppose to retarted.      

(Apologies for 'strange' sense of humour)

Mike.

walt said

Mine has a flux capacitor and runs on banana skins!  

REALLY

Mine runs on the road! :tlc:

Mine has a flux capacitor and runs on banana skins!    

i expect thats so the tyres dont get dirty!  

If you were to put the high octane fuel in, 98 or whatever it is, then got it rolling roaded (which i am next wed) and got it tuned to make the most of the high octane, but put normal fuel back in after if you couldnt afford it all the time, what problems could this cause if any?
Hope you understood that, i know what im trying to ask.