Using Super Unleaded/V-Power

[CraigW]

Im tempted to change to using super unleaded in my ibiza.

Ive heard that it burns better and gives a better fuel economy etc.

Im just wondering,once you have changed to super unleaded, do you have to stick to it or can you change back and forward between 'normal' unleaded and super unleaded.

The only reason im asking is its about 11miles from where i live until i can get BP Super Unleaded and 18 Before i can get Shell V-Power.

Does that octane booster stuff work?? If i dont change to super unleaded and just use 'normal' unleaded i was thinking of putting some of it in with the 'normal' unleaded.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[jcs356]

I've run my Ibiza on super unleaded since I had it remapped 9.5 years ago. Thats because the remap is designed to use at least 97 octane fuel. I have also run it on normal unleaded on the rare occasions that I can't get super. There is no problem swapping back and forward between the fuel gradings - in my instance, I just get slightly reduced power. The standard engine chip is designed to cope with normal unleaded so anything with a higher octane rating is a bonus.

In terms of which to use, I've been running my Ibiza on Tesco Super Unleaded 99ron with bio-fuel. This seems to be only generally availabel in big Tescos and maybe only in the South? Other Tescos just sell 97ron super.

The attached is an independent review of V-Power, Ultimate, Ultimate 102ron and Tescos 99. Interesting reading in that Tesco's come up top. http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Test_Results_Update.shtml

My personal preference is to use Tesco 99 as it is about 5p a litre cheaper than V-Power near me, plus when you add in the Tesco clubcard points (worth up to 4p), that makes it 9p a litre cheaper than Shell. I live closest to a BP station but try to avoid it as I see Ultimate as the weakest of the 'premium' choices - no better, really, than standard super from the likes of Esso, Total etc.

The additive stuff - I watched a test on Fifth Gear a few weeks ago when they ran a test Rover K Series engine in a lab that none of them actually gave any extra power - and if I remember correctly, they all actually reduced peak power. The general conclusion is that they don't seem to do anything except lighten your pocket.
http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=401&featureid=931&pageid=-1&show=s12e5&section=Consumer

 

[crezz]

there is not a shell garage near me, i think the closest is about 60miles, tesco only do the cheap crap around hear. so i use bp ultimate £108.9 litre.

i used it in my 1.4 sport for over a year and i believe it made a noticable difference.

Im going to do a system clean on the valver and use ultimate from then on only.

ive used a few octane boosters and dont think they make any difference, i would rather spend 10pence mor a litre then to use cheap crap with more expensive crap additive

 

[CraigW]

So i would be alright switching between Super Unleaded and 'normal' unleaded?? Im just running the standard map on the ecu.

Its just im 45 miles from the nearest tesco that sells super unleaded but im just round the corner from it at college so id just fill it up once a week.

im close to a bp which sells super unleaded that i could use if i needed to. But like you, ive heard the bp ultimate isnt the greatest.

Only reason im thinking about using super unleaded is that i have a 5p of a litre of petrol or diesel at tesco so im thinking of using it.

 

[AlpineWhite]

So i would be alright switching between Super Unleaded and 'normal' unleaded??

Yes you should be fine.

For what it's worth, I notice a definite improvement (35mpg [95Ron] --> 38mpg [V-Power) average, approximately) in fuel economy using V-Power.

 

[cozzie121]

i swear by Shell fuel now. i was using generic supermarket fuel purely based on the price difference. I decided to try optimax and wow, what a difference. my car was instantly changed, more responsive, a lot smoother, noticeably different. i tried using tesco super but it still didnt agree with the car, stuttering and sluggish.

i have changed from 97 to 99 regularly, cash flow dependant, and the car seems fine. i can still feel the change when switching but nothing as drastic as using supermarket fuel.

 

[Fenix]

Cruiser87, were you in Colchester at all today?

On topic - changing to super unleaded coincided with my car problems..

 

[Boi Ninja]

i switch between the tesco 99ron and shell V-power, work it out mate it works out to about £2-3 more for the full tank ...but u get some extra miles out of it, its cleaner for the engine, and the car runs better with it.

 

[CraigW]

i swear by Shell fuel now. i was using generic supermarket fuel purely based on the price difference. I decided to try optimax and wow, what a difference. my car was instantly changed, more responsive, a lot smoother, noticeably different. i tried using tesco super but it still didnt agree with the car, stuttering and sluggish.

i have changed from 97 to 99 regularly, cash flow dependant, and the car seems fine. i can still feel the change when switching but nothing as drastic as using supermarket fuel.

I think i wont get the stuttering and sluggish-ness in my car. I only have a 1.4 so changing to Tesco Super Unleaded will be better than running 95 or 97 ? RON Morrisons 'normal' Unleaded. But its good to know that i can change back and forth incase i need to use 'normal' unleaded if i cant get to Tesco to get Super.

Cruiser87, were you in Colchester at all today?

On topic - changing to super unleaded coincided with my car problems..

No, it definetly wouldnt be me. Im just north of the border in Scotland so....

Y do u ask??

 

[monkee]

V-Power all the way! My car drinks nothing else!

 

[CraigW]

Filled the car up with Super Unleaded today. So we will see how everything goes!!

My car engine seems alittle quieter than it was this morning. Filled up before i went to college and it didnt move all day. On the 40 mile journey back it seemed alot quieter. Dont know if it was just me or whatever!

 

[Mckellar]

remember your ibiza was probably built when Vpower wasnt around.

says on the fuel cap 95/97 ron.

95 ron for me

 

[jadwot]

Shell stations just started to flog V power and V power "racing" over here. Did they sell "Optimax" in europe? Cos it seems Shell have just renamed Optimax as V power. And V power racing has 10% ethanol in it and supposed to be 100 to 105 octane rated

 

[AlpineWhite]

Yes they did sell Optimax here, until a couple of years ago when it was replaced by V-Power.

I can't remember whether it was just renamed or whether it gained a RON or two.

Haven't heard of V-Power Racing, sounds like rocket fuel to me?! I don't know whether the Mk2 engines would be able to make use of such high RON ratings?

 

[jadwot]

Filled up 1st tankful a couple of days ago with racing, not noticed any great difference yet. But a mate who drives a R32 swears by it.

 

[jcs356]

I think the actual octane ration of V-Power varies from country to country. As mentioned above, when Optimax was relaunched as V-Power in the UK I can remember some talk of it going up 1 RON, but I noticed the other day that it no longer states the RON value on the pumps.

From memory, which could be wrong, bog standard unleaded at 95ron equates to the old 2star leaded, and 97ron equates to 4 star leaded. I'm 33, and I can remember seeing both 5 star and 3 star petrol being sold in the 1970's, so I'm guessing 5 star would have been at least 98 ron, in which case, premium high octane fuel has been around for a while.

 

[jadwot]

Standards of fuel in Australia may have changed today, but less than ten years ago pump fuel here was low quality compared to Europe. Our large capacity engines in Holden commodores an Ford falcons could cope with crappy fuel. Even now if you run any european car on normal unleaded here youd be asking for trouble.

 

[jcs356]

Sounds similar to the US - I think their standard unleaded is 89 RON.

 

[CraigW]

remember your ibiza was probably built when Vpower wasnt around.

says on the fuel cap 95/97 ron.

95 ron for me

On my fuel cap it says 95/98 Ron. I know this because I noticed when i was filling it up with 99 Ron Tesco Super Unleaded. I still wasnt sure about putting it in at the pump but on the Super Unleaded pump it had 'Suitable for all Petrol Vehicles.' So i put it in. Car engine seems alot quieter now than it was.

Should I not have any issues running this fuel long-term in my car?

 

[jcs356]

On my fuel cap it says 95/98 Ron. I know this because I noticed when i was filling it up with 99 Ron Tesco Super Unleaded. I still wasnt sure about putting it in at the pump but on the Super Unleaded pump it had 'Suitable for all Petrol Vehicles.' So i put it in. Car engine seems alot quieter now than it was.

Should I not have any issues running this fuel long-term in my car?

You won't have any issues running Tesco's 99 RON In your car. You can always exceed the RON number; going below the minimum RON number is what causes problems (pinking?)