Why do people buy high octane petrol?

Liquidfox · 23 Dec 2011 at 09:57

DB_SamX said:
First time I've seen this report and as I use Momentum, it's reassuring, but is the report truly independent and trustworthy, or could be something commissioned by Tesco (the bottom left footer does have the momentum logo).

It's by Thorney, who are sponsored by Momentum 99, so make of that what you will.

rossk26 said:
On your BMW 535i or 335i, can't remember which one you have. Then yes I would agree go ahead use high octane fuel. I'm sure my manual probably suggests using a minimum of 98RON, but there's no evidence out there for me to warrant paying the extra premium of those fuels.

Yes there is. To obtain the stated power and economy that the manufacturer has stated, you must run it on the petrol that they have recommended. Just to get a rough idea, what's your typical MPG over a full tank?

rossk26 said:
In a 1.4 Ibiza.........why???? Other than driver preference.

Because it's A HIGH PERFORMANCE HOT HATCH. What don't you understand about that?!

Liquidfox · 23 Dec 2011 at 09:58

Double Post

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 09:59

PiKe said:
It's not just power, it will give you better economy too.

For your purpose, in layman's terms - being higher octane means less fuel gets squirted in for the same power.

Evidence????

Show me evidence that a 1.4 Seat Ibiza benefits from using V Power over normal Shell fuel.

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:00

Liquidfox said:
It's by Thorney, who are sponsored by Momentum 99, so make of that what you will.

Because it's A HIGH PERFORMANCE HOT HATCH. What don't you understand about that?!

WHAT ARE YOU SHOUTING ABOUT

There's nothing I don't understand at all

Thank You

Liquidfox · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:03

The evidence is in the manufacturers guidelines. They state it gets xMPG and yBHP, and recommend using 97+RON. To get this, you will have to run it on 97+RON petrol. If you do not, you will get <xMPG and <yBHP. There are no definite numbers, but by retarding the timing, it HAS to be running at a reduced power and economy.

NathWraith · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:03

rossk26 said:
On your BMW 535i or 335i, can't remember which one you have. Then yes I would agree go ahead use high octane fuel. I'm sure my manual probably suggests using a minimum of 98RON, but there's no evidence out there for me to warrant paying the extra premium of those fuels.

In a 1.4 Ibiza.........why???? Other than driver preference.

Because it is a very highly tuned 1.4 engine. There is no correlation between engine size and RON of petrol like you are suggesting. Considering a focus ST 2.5 engine is 2.5L and 225BHP that is only 90HP per litre compared to the Ibiza 1.4TSI and 180BHP at 128HP per litre. The 1.4 TSI is a more higher tuned engine whether you like it or not.

So assuming both engine had the same displacement which would require the higher RON fuel?

Either way, here is picture of the user manual. I am certain SEAT know how to properly run and maintain an Ibiza Cupra considering they did make the car.

Here is another picture describing how myself and others are feeling about your sorrowful justification of value 95RON fuel in your performance hot hatch.

[TW]Fox · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:05

His Focus ST should be run on Super as well, he is losing marginal amounts of power and slightly increasing fuel consumption by not doing so.

Liquidfox · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:05

NathWraith said:

Haha, that's brilliant

I ran a couple of tank fulls of regular in the ST and found I got between 20-22, with V-Power I get around 21-24. Not a major difference, but something that could certainly be down to the fuel used.

OllyM · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:09

rossk26 said:
Evidence????

Show me evidence that a 1.4 Seat Ibiza benefits from using V Power over normal Shell fuel.

It's all a big conspiracy - Seat get paid by BP, Shell, Total and Esso for telling people that they need to use super unleaded

Vince · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:09

Well this made good reading this morning.

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:09

NathWraith said:
So assuming both engine had the same displacement which would require the higher RON fuel?

Neither!

Neither my 2.5T engine nor your 1.4TSI engine require higher octane fuel.

Also LOL at the Seat manual "slight power loss". Canny scientific than bruv.

Until someone plants hard evidence of testing done in a controlled environment with all contributing factors taken out of the equation, I stand by my opinion that there is no need to use high octane fuel in a hot hatch.

PiKe · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:11

rossk26 said:
Neither!

Neither my 2.5T engine nor your 1.4TSI engine require higher octane fuel.

Also LOL at the Seat manual "slight power loss". Canny scientific than bruv.

Until someone plants hard evidence of testing done in a controlled environment with all contributing factors taken out of the equation, I stand by my opinion that there is no need to use high octane fuel in a hot hatch.

Well your opinion is wrong. Where is your scientific proof?

Have a nice day.

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:11

Liquidfox said:
Haha, that's brilliant

I ran a couple of tank fulls of regular in the ST and found I got between 20-22, with V-Power I get around 21-24. Not a major difference, but something that could certainly be down to the fuel used.

Could be, could also be a handful of other reasons. Traffic, weather, driving style, passengers, road surface.... etc..

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:11

PiKe said:
Well your opinion is wrong. Where is your scientific proof?

Have a nice day.

Explain?

Your opinion is also wrong. Wow this game is fun

NathWraith · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:12

rossk26 said:
Neither!

Neither my 2.5T engine nor your 1.4TSI engine require higher octane fuel.

Also LOL at the Seat manual "slight power loss". Canny scientific than bruv.

Until someone plants hard evidence of testing done in a controlled environment with all contributing factors taken out of the equation, I stand by my opinion that there is no need to use high octane fuel in a hot hatch.

It would seem all is lost of you. I suppose you are the kinda guy to fit ling long ditch finders to your hot hatch as "it doesn't require" high performance tyres.

Duke · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:13

95ron is for poor people. True story.

PiKe · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:13

Duke said:
95ron is for poor people. True story.

And trolls it seems.

Frozennova · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:13

I notice a couple of extra MPG over a tank with BP ultimate or Vpower and also above stock power with an unmodified 21 year old engine that's done 110k.

while I see a benefit ill continue to use it.

rossk26 · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:14

NathWraith said:
It would seem all is lost of you. I suppose you are the kinda guy to fit ling long ditch finders to your hot hatch as "it doesn't require" high performance tyres.

Nope certainly not, I research buying tyres heavily, as I would never put **** tyres on my car, mainly for the safety of myself and all others who are in my car, and also other civilians and road users.. I have made some errors in the past on tyre choice (due to poor recommendations on another forum), but I always put good tyres on my car.

Why the personal insults now?

Dr Who · 23 Dec 2011 at 10:14

Annoyingly we will be getting E10 fuel sometime soon, and many cars won't like that, older in particular, as it can cause corrosion in the engine and damage seals. Hopefully they will leave 08/99/100 RON fuel alone so I can continue to run my Scooby.