Why do people buy high octane petrol?

@agw_01 - do you reckon all the premium fuels offer similar cleaning benefits, or is this likely to be a V-Power benefit?

Like others I would happily run V-Power or Momentum 99, but if V-Power gives much better engine life......I think I'd prefer to drive the extra to Shell to fill up!
 
They all use slightly different combinations and volumes of additives... but they're quite similar... vpower, momentum 99 & bp ultimate are all good...
 
I think if a fuel advertises itself as having detergents, the manufacturer has no reason to lie. I'll liken this to fuels like V-Power, Ultimate or Momentum.

Other fuels that are marketed as premium, say Esso or Texaco Super Unleaded, I don't think I've ever seen them advertise this. Possible that the amount of detergents in these fuels is of a lesser amount.

My own personal choice is to use V-Power as it's priced midway between Momentum and Ultimate (and I've seen the results first hand) but I'd use them all if I had to.
 
I've not pulled my engine apart but I do tend to find it runs much better on VPower and Momentum (not used BP Ultimate) than it does on other supers and on regular fuel, plus the handbook and sticker on the fuel flap from the 80s both state to use 98+ so that's what it gets.
 
I've always warned against Esso & Texaco fuels... usually poor quality... even their diesel tends to get a noticeable reduction in miles per tank.
 
Dogbreath said:
Most cars are designed to cope with 95 Octane fuel, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't run better on 97/98. Whether any improvements are worth the extra outlay is the question.
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Not the case. Some cars will even throw un-burnt higher octane fuel out of the back.
 
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Nasher said:
Not the case. Some cars will even throw un-burnt higher octane fuel out of the back.
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You really need to stop posting so much misinformed drivel.

A 2-4 point difference in octane rating is not going to cause a car to chuck un-burnt fuel of the exhaust (I.E run rich)
 
Frozennova said:
You really need to stop posting so much misinformed drivel.

A 2-4 point difference in octane rating is not going to cause a car to chuck un-burnt fuel of the exhaust (I.E run rich)
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It will if the engine's compression isn't high enough to burn off a higher RON. The ECU will adjust to it, by not using it. You won't see it coming out in rivers, but you'd see if you analysed what is coming out of the exhaust.
 
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Nasher said:
It will if the engine's compression isn't high enough to burn off a higher RON. The ECU will adjust to it, by not using it.
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If the compression ratio isn't high enough (amongst the other tens if not hundreds of factors involved) then you simply won't make additional power the air fuel ratio will stay the same.

In fact if the increase in octance has been achieved by increasing the ethanol content then the opposite happens and the engine will run leaner
 
Nasher said:
It will if the engine's compression isn't high enough to burn off a higher RON. The ECU will adjust to it, by not using it. You won't see it coming out in rivers, but you'd see if you analysed what is coming out of the exhaust.
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Wut.

I use premium because my truck is tuned for it.
 
killsta said:
@agw_01 - do you reckon all the premium fuels offer similar cleaning benefits, or is this likely to be a V-Power benefit?

Like others I would happily run V-Power or Momentum 99, but if V-Power gives much better engine life......I think I'd prefer to drive the extra to Shell to fill up!
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I know Costco also mention cleaning additives so I would guess they all do. I use the Costco diesel as their premium is cheaper than standard most places.
 
crinkleshoes said:
They all use slightly different combinations and volumes of additives... but they're quite similar... vpower, momentum 99 & bp ultimate are all good...
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BP ulitimate is only 97RON though so doesn't really compare to Vpower or Momentum does it?
 
crinkleshoes said:
Not all are tuned for 95... my Porsche detunes itself if I stick 95 in. Reduces the power and torque a bit and I can feel it... also details it in the owner's manual... I imagine it has a knock sensor or something and adjusts the timing relative to the fuel.

Also... VPower and similar fuels have cleaning additives that have a genuine benefit to engine longevity... it's not just marketing BS like some used to think.
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I posted this question nearly 6 years ago. Since then, I have replaced my ancient Vauxhall Rustra with a new Audi S3, which takes 98 RON, but can take 95 RON in a pinch. I am now fully aware of the benefits of premium fuel. :cool:

kitkat9933 said:
What's fuel?
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A kind of exploding dinosaur in liquid form.
 
I use Momentum or V-Power as it says 98+ on the fuel flap :)
To be honest. I've used normal Super unleaded (97 ron) a few times when I had no choice and I noticed no difference. I don't make a habit of it though.
 
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