Super Unleaded + M54 engine - Give it a chance!

[ptse]

Just discovered this

"Some engines actually do need higher octane fuel, such as race engines with very high compression and some turbocharged engines, such as the import version of the Nissan Skyline. Also, a few vehicles, such as the new BMW K1200R motorbike, can sense knock and adjust their engine tuning to take advantage of higher grade fuels. Another user commented that the 2004 BMW 330 also does this, according to the driver's handbook it makes 231 BHP on 98 octane and 221 BHP on 95. This ability is apparently widespread amongst German performance cars using Bosch / Siemens electronic engine controls."

Taken from..

http://www.petrolprices.com/about-fuel.html

 

[ali_b]

Last time I used Tesco 99 my lambda sensor went, maybe co-incidence, maybe because 90% of the tank was done at warp 9. Either way, Its always had V power since birth (aside from tjhat tesco tank) . Defo wont be going back to poverty '95.

 

[Rudd]

ok so the good stuff is in. obviously im expecting nothing this time but im going to run it for a few tanks and see whats what.

 

[Davespeed3]

Yes Yes, all very nicey nicey re Tesco, but here their petrol is more expensive than either Esso or Shell which is bizarre as they get it from the local distribution centre...which is Esso. Guess they need to make some profit after being so nice eh?

 

[Rudd]

i always go to tesco because its close by and cheaper than any other garage around me.

shell always 2-3p more expensive
bp the same

 

[Adam D]

I've used Vpower, Sainsburies SUL 97 RON and Tesco 99. Sainsburies and Tesco gave markedly worse MPG than Vpower.

Tesco 99 felt grunty but different to running on Vpower, perhaps marginally better low down than Vpower whilst on Vpower the top end is very keen to rev smoothly to red line. Sainburies felt a bit flat in comparison but its near enough on my doorstep and usually the cheapest.

 

[Beancounter1980]

Filled up with Vpower last night. Never tried it before.

Tank was 1/4 full before i filled it to the brim. On the morning commute (25mile M6 Commute - Stop/start traffic) and i got 34MPG out of the car. Normally it hovers around 28MPG

Seriously considering this now...

 

[Sticks]

I only use V Power now, Tesco is cheap for a reason, according to local garage owner (not the one selling me V Power). Got a Shell club card and use my Tesco credit card tho

This may be a little out of date as I think it compares Optimax, which I believe was 98 ron, V Power being 99, but still interesting.

http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Test_Results.shtml

(yes, I did recently post it on PH)

 

[cj10jeeper]

Sticks
Great piece of research you point to. I only scan read the lengthy report which does look very interesting.
You comment that 'Tesco is cheap for a reason', but the research below indicates on the M3 that it was better than BP and Shell?? I doubt the 1 RON difference would be that sigbnificant.

BTW - I'm not sure Tesco fuel is cheap per se (as in low priced) they just have lots of peripheral loyalty rewards that means it's less per litre the sticker price.

Quote
The difference between running 95 Octane fuel and a higher octane fuel from BP or Shell was very noticeable on the open road and the dyno confirmed this, the car did indeed very sluggish on the lower octane fuel. Interestingly the BP Ultimate and Shell Optimax performed almost identically, a fact quite evident on the chart; the lines are difficult to separate.

But what was nice was the extra gains that Tesco 99 Octane fuel gave over and above the BP and Shell fuels. There was a clear improvement in both torque and power that was both evident on the road and the dyno.

This apparent gain in power is due to the ECU of the car’s ability to advance the ignition timing to take advantage of the extra power the higher octane offers. Looking at the air/fuel ratio on the charts does show that the higher octane fuel allows a more efficient burn creating more power.

 

[Rudd]

TESCO TESCO TESCO!!! WOOP!


tesco is always cheaper than anywhere else around mine and if i get better fuel performance + my clubcard rewards i guess they are the winner for me!

 

[Sticks]

Come to think of it, Tesco near(ish) here was slightly dearer last time I passed. I think the local garage owner was alluding to the absence of (as many) additives in supermarket fuel.

Btw last time I used Tesco 99 Ihad fuel pump noise

 

[Scrub01]

Have been running mine on Esso Super for a little while, purely more convenient and didn't think there would be much difference. Previously it was running on Vpower and occasionally Tesco Super. I've noticed a drop in the MPG on the Esso so now making the switch back to the Vpower - it just feels better....!
Yet to be seen if the detour to Shell will cancel out the money savings!! :?

 

[mcbeee]

Sorry, I can't compare to UK fuels but I ran all my vehicles (Volvo XC70, Ford F250, Chev Silverado, BMW Z3, M3, 325Ci ) on Husky/Mohawk fuel. The premium grade is an ethanol blend of around 8 or 9 %. Much cleaner, decent mileage & never had to add gas line antifreeze. I ran the Z3 and the M3 on Super premium with an octane rating of 94, the ordinary premium is 92. The 94 octane gives better performance with the same mileage as the premium (due to the ethanol blend). The supplier has now dropped the ordinary premium and charges the premium price for the Super premium. It seemed that a lot of people were po'd about the low mileage. I'm happy because I now get better performance for the lower price. (The 94 octane is noticeably better than any of the other premium fuels such as Shell, Esso, Petro-Canada)
I can't say how the Z4 runs yet because I only have a couple of 100 km on it and had to park it for the winter. ( the snowbanks are 3 feet high around here, the little Z won't get off the driveway, even if it wanted to...)

 

[Rudd]

As an update to my 99ron conversion trial..... Yesterday I started to feel the first effects of what better fuel can do and it took me a little by surprise.

So far I haven’t found any difference in fuel consumption but the effect in performance is becoming more evident.

On the motorway home yesterday I noticed that the throttle response seemed to be much better, I had a little play with the acceleration on the road and it seemed slightly improved as well, so much so that I checked to see if the sport button was on.

You could say that the car seemed to feel like sport was on, a sign of good things? I hope after a few tanks it gets better and better.

 

[sammyz]

I always use the Tesco 99 if I can get it. I've read alot about supermarket fuels v branded stuff. Some have said there's a lack of additives in the supermarket fuel and advocate the branded stuff- you get what you pay for' while another article suggested that fuel goes 'off' after it's been in the storage tanks for a while so supermarket tends to be fresher and better due to higher turnover.

Personally I like the 99ron as I think the 'M' can adjust to and use the higher octane to improve performance

 

[Rudd]

anyone know if this is true??

i was googling some stuff about the subject when i come accross a clarkson comment that states if you go to the petrol station in colder temperatures the fuel molecules are more densely packed and you get more fuel for your hard earned pounds???

 

[EdButler]

Yes its true, but the difference is tiny...

The colder the fuel, the higher the density, due to the molecules vibrating less. The relationship is called the coefficient of thermal expansion (with a greek BETA symbol).

From memory as i brushed up al little on this whilst doing my PPL, the weight difference of 1 litre of fuel differs around 10ml per litre between 0C and 10C

 

[Rudd]

good answer lol

i was just curious, im not going to go out in the dead of night freezing cold for my petrol.

so in reality it could differ by around 1p per litre of fuel (fuel at £1) :roll:

 

[Monkey3.0]

I had been using tesco 99 since owning the car and always felt good. Tried 'V' power for 2 tanks and I really noticed a difference felt alot smoother. Trouble is Shell is 20 miles out of way so only use when I'm passing.

Have now started using BP for a couple of tanks and that feels ok, on par with Tesco

 

[Monkey3.0]

I had been using tesco 99 since owning the car and always felt good. Tried 'V' power for 2 tanks and I really noticed a difference felt alot smoother. Trouble is Shell is 20 miles out of way so only use when I'm passing.

Have now started using BP for a couple of tanks and that feels ok, on par with Tesco