Premium fuels = waste of money

juno_first · 28 Sep 2007 at 18:36

Is there any point in putting super-unleaded in a saxo vts ?
Does the vts have a 'knocking sensor' or whatever, that can alter the timing to take advantage of super-unleaded?
Is it worth getting the timing remapped to run on super-unleaded?

bigfoot4616 · 28 Sep 2007 at 18:42

richyfingers said:
I swear my car runs better on V-power, when I picked it up first it had half a tank of normal unleaded in it, I used up most of that and then started filling up, always using v-power. Seems a bit more responsive and I get a few extra miles out the tank, does it not also have some sort of cleanser for your engine too?

ITR's are mapped for 98 fuel so it will run better on it. mine has a sticker inside the filler cap

loltim · 28 Sep 2007 at 19:20

bigfoot4616 said:
ITR's are mapped for 98 fuel so it will run better on it. mine has a sticker inside the filler cap

Yep, mine requires 100RON I think - nearest we have is V-Power (99RON?).

I notice no difference between Tesco 99 and V-Power though.

loltim · 28 Sep 2007 at 19:44

Simon said:
They could have at least used something that is designed to run on higher octane.

I think the point was it makes no difference to standard UK cars, which is believable. The result would be very unsuprising and pointless testing the difference between 95 and 99RON fuel on a higher octane mapped car

agw_01 · 28 Sep 2007 at 20:13

So, if you do 12,000 miles a year, you'll spend £1226 on regular fuel at the current national average of 96p a litre.

If you use a premium fuel, which costs an average 103p a litre, your annual fuel bill will be £1309 - a difference of £83

Is that it? £83 difference over 12,000 miles?

I'd pay that just for the benefit of the cleaning properties in the premium fuel.

I only really stick V-Power in if I'm going on a long journey. I brimmed the tank with V-Power before the RR but haven't touched the stuff since... bar maybe £10 here and there. Haven't really noticed any difference between it and regular Shell which I use all the time, don't really expect to either, seeing as how my car isn't mapped for it.

There was definitely an economy increase when I used Optimax in the 214 though. An extra 20 or so miles.

ScoobyDoo69 · 28 Sep 2007 at 20:24

I've read these reviews time and time again - they all differ as they all use different classes of cars. Personally I'll stick with the tuners opinion "BP ultimate is rubbish compared to V-Power - have to reduce the timing a lot with BP compared to Shell" soooo Shell it is for me and probably every other Scooby owner with access to it!

thewanted · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:02

I bought a Golf 5 GTi recently and VW recommended I use super unleaded or at least a fuel with ultra-low sulphur because of the FSI technology.

One of the coil packs recently died and ever since then I'm convinced my MPG has gone down the toilet. I think I'll take it in next week for them to have a look at it.

Busy using Sainsbury's super unleaded but I can't really tell if its any better than 95RON because of the above-mentioned problem.

Matt82 · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:06

Clarkey said:
No they did not, V-power did not exist in 2005, and certainly didn't in 1992.

are you joking? not seen the scores of cars from the 80s that needed high octane fuel? mk2 golf gti 16vs for a start

agw_01 · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:12

ScoobyDoo69 said:
I've read these reviews time and time again - they all differ as they all use different classes of cars. Personally I'll stick with the tuners opinion "BP ultimate is rubbish compared to V-Power - have to reduce the time a lot with BP compared to Shell" soooo Shell it is for me and probably every other Scooby owner with access to it!

Don't let Simon hear you say that. Last time I said I'd had a bad experience with BP Ultimate, the blame was placed on everything expect the fuel :rolleyes:

I'll just add a

so we don't start an argument.

Enfield · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:34

My car runs like **** on 97ron not to mention 95! Shell V Power makes it run smooth...

Simon · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:45

ScoobyDoo69 said:
I've read these reviews time and time again - they all differ as they all use different classes of cars. Personally I'll stick with the tuners opinion "BP ultimate is rubbish compared to V-Power - have to reduce the time a lot with BP compared to Shell" soooo Shell it is for me and probably every other Scooby owner with access to it!

97 Ron vs 99 Ron.

Quite obvious 99ron can take more timing

Simon · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:46

agw_01 said:
Don't let Simon hear you say that. Last time I said I'd had a bad experience with BP Ultimate, the blame was placed on everything expect the fuel

I'll just add a so we don't start an argument.

Its not that, its the fact people say a fuel is rubbish because X makes more power. Its obvious why X can make more power, it just how people think they can comment on a fuel and say it is rubbish is beyond me.

bigchez · 28 Sep 2007 at 21:59

I use v-power only in my escort, and shell diesel in my mondeo. Mondeo is definately smoother using the shell fuel compared to Toss-co.

My old dear works for the environment agency and had to do a site visit to a large fuel depot near us. The guys there (actual scientific bearded type chaps, not plebs using an arse dyno) said they would not buy supermarket fuel.

And my tuner advises v power as well, and he certainly knows what he's on about.

djjuk · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:24

I use V-Power in my GTI. Have had to use 95 a couple of times & it did seem to make a difference in general 'pep', not enough used though to check mpg.

However, how much of that is due to the 'placebo' effect is very hard to say tbh. The enthusiast sites swear by it & as it is all on a company fuel card then that is good enough for me

If I was paying myself though maybe I would change my mind.

Matt82 · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:45

what does it recommend inside the fuel filler on a mk5 gti?

Dolph · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:46

I still stand by the view that Tesco 99 is the best I've used, in both the Civic and the S3. Shame I can't get it in the west country

djjuk · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:51

Matt82 said:
what does it recommend inside the fuel filler on a mk5 gti?

Pretty sure it says 97 ron.

Stonedofmoo · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:51

My Pulsar hated Tesco 99. Used to misfire and stutter

No such problems on Optimax.

Meridian · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:51

ScoobyDoo69 said:
I've read these reviews time and time again - they all differ as they all use different classes of cars. Personally I'll stick with the tuners opinion "BP ultimate is rubbish compared to V-Power - have to reduce the time a lot with BP compared to Shell" soooo Shell it is for me and probably every other Scooby owner with access to it!

Paul Blamire's priceless comment was: "I wouldn't fill my lawnmower up with BP Ultimate." My scoob has been mapped on V-Power so I'm stuck with it. But I would use it at default power anyway, because the ECU does adjust the timing enough.

M

bigchez · 28 Sep 2007 at 22:56

Meridian said:
Paul Blamire's priceless comment was: "I wouldn't fill my lawnmower up with BP Ultimate." MY scoob has been mapped on V-Power so I'm stuck with it. But I would use it at default power anyway, because the ECU does adjust the timing enough.

M

My old man always nicks my v power out of my can for the lawn mower!