Fuel all important ingredient

[dannywooly]

Hi all,

So 550 miles in and bladdy loving the GTS, feels so much more eventful than the BMW!

Just a quick question, a friend of mine with an AM Vantage said he only used premium fuel in his car, i've only filled her once and though nothing of putting straight unleaded in. Should i be using a premium version and if so which would you guys recommend? I have a number of garages around me so happy to visit to fill her. Still overly impressed with how much range you get for such a nice sounding car!!

 

[Needamaser]

This has been a regular topic over the years.
My take on it is some use super unleaded all the time. Some use normal unleaded and some put in the odd tank of super. ( just in case)
Some say the car runs better with super and others say it is a placebo effect.
All the answers are here. Just pick the one you like the best! Lol

 

[JonW]

Danny

I've owned my GTS for about 10 months, and when I bought it I asked about Super Unleaded and was told the engine doesn't recognise it, so there is no point using it. As a result I didn't use it for the first 6-7 months.

I then thought I'd experiment, and tried using Super Unleaded for a month to see if I could notice any difference.

I'm still using Super, and whether it's a placebo, or not, I think my car is ever so slightly more responsive under acceleration (in both sound and speed), and I think it's a bit louder when I lift off and change down...

May be utter BS, and all in my imagination, but for the extra cost per gallon, I figure I'm better off putting in the best fuel I can...

 

[2b1ask1]

99RON every time - Tesco does me 95 is for all the other cars....

 

[CatmanV2]

Annnnnd the opposite of Newton. The car is specced to run on 95 I've never noticed any improvement in any vehicle using super unleaded except my old Ducati Monster where super stopped the carbs from icing

C

 

[outrun]

We could debate this one endlessly.

I use super every time in every machine I own, except my lawnmower. It's a bit like tyres. Why would you put crappy tyres on a nice car. Why would you choose to use lesser quality fuel in it? My Mini runs better on it, definitely not placebo effect, it simply likes better fuel and good quality oil. It's probably as much to do with the personality type of the owner and the psychology that goes with it as anything else. I'm a little bit OCD and like to really look after things, I think the fuel thing therefore appeals to that part of my personality.

 

[CatmanV2]

We could debate this one endlessly.

I use super every time in every machine I own, except my lawnmower. It's a bit like tyres. Why would you put crappy tyres on a nice car. Why would you choose to use lesser quality fuel in it? .

Because octane + marketing <> higher quality

But yes, we certainly could debate for ever, and I certainly don't mind anyone buying super. I shall raise a glass of something nice in their direction (which has been paid for by the difference in cost)

C

 

[dannywooly]

Didn't realise it was a highly debated subject, maybe i should just trial and error and see i'll pop a tank of super in and see if i notice the difference. Maybe i'll send my mate to fill her up and tell him to pick one and not tell me to omit the placebo effect

 

[Needamaser]

Maybe i'll send my mate to fill her up and tell him to pick one and not tell me to omit the placebo effect

That is the definitive answer. Not only will you be able to give us all valuable advice you also don't have to pay for the fuel! If I was you I would tell him it is a 5 tankful test to make sure results are consistent. ;-)

 

[Needamaser]

Annnnnd the opposite of Newton. The car is specced to run on 95 I've never noticed any improvement in any vehicle using super unleaded except my old Ducati Monster where super stopped the carbs from icing

C

I always use super on the old bikes. They were not designed to run on unleaded and low octane. I also put in lead replacement. Produces a bit of a strange smell but that is only an issue for whoever is behind me! Icing has always been an issue with the carbed Ducatis.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I put a tank of Super in mine when we were on the way to Le Mans. It definitely made an improvement.
However, the car was thrashed within an inch of it's life so maybe it is only of benefit when driving as such.

The question is, does the improvement warrant the extra cost?

 

[StuartW]

The car is specced to run on 95

C

This for me, if the car was supposed to run on Super, surely they would tell us to do so?

 

[Moz1000]

I asked Emblem when I got my GTS and they said 95 RON. However I occasionally pop in the occasional tank of 97 when I'm feeling flush.
However, for the 4200 and 3200 I was told to alternate.
Moz

 

[Jkulin]

I've run both and absolutely no difference, however in my 911 there is a major performance difference, the engine just sings on premium.

 

[Ryandoc]

Put anything you want in it's all fine nothing's going to break and you barely notice a difference if anything. I use super fuel as much as I can and vpower for the claimed long term cleaning, but let's not get confused it's not cleaning it's just less dirty

If you's are interested, all fuel regardless of grade comes from the same base fuel stock, premium fuel is not refined differently. When a tanker connects the nozzle the additive package is added at the loading nozzle only, I can't quite remember the volume but let's say up to 5% something like that

Now vpower gets its kicks from GTL (gas to liquid) component and this is essentially C1H4 methane converted to a synthetic liquid fuel in its basic form. Google shell Pearl GTL. Shell is the only company that use this type of booster. I believe that vpower is licensed for light aircraft use in some countries as the Fuel is dry where as the companies adding ethanol can be classed as wet, and by wet im talking PPMV.

I put mostly vpower in but have no issues whatsoever pulling up at Tesco and using their normal stuff if needed

 

[CatmanV2]

Out of curiosity, what's your background, Ryan?

Certainly you echo my understanding of what other people in the oil / gas industry have said, but I have no first hand expertise

C

 

[Ryandoc]

I'm a measurement engineer (instrument background) deal with all things flow / analytical etc. Worked for shell on 2 occasions in my life including Stanlow refinery directly dealing with the additives, not in a chemistry fashion but loading / measurement etc and got to know about the shell side of things during that period.

The classics is people's thinking they are refined differently, 110% the base fuel is the exact same, comes down the same lines and only the additive objected at the loading nozzle is different

 

[zagatoes30]

The only car I have ever noticed an improvement with Super is my 155 Q4, that runs a modified turbo Integrale engine, it runs smoother, delivers more power and runs cooler on super than normal unleaded.

Tired it in the SZ and Spyder and it really made no difference IMO

 

[highlander]

I asked Emblem when I got my GTS and they said 95 RON. However I occasionally pop in the occasional tank of 97 when I'm feeling flush.
However, for the 4200 and 3200 I was told to alternate.
Moz

Interesting moz. I was told super for the old girls and have always put super in her.

 

[CatmanV2]

I'm a measurement engineer (instrument background) deal with all things flow / analytical etc. Worked for shell on 2 occasions in my life including Stanlow refinery directly dealing with the additives, not in a chemistry fashion but loading / measurement etc and got to know about the shell side of things during that period.

The classics is people's thinking they are refined differently, 110% the base fuel is the exact same, comes down the same lines and only the additive objected at the loading nozzle is different

And of course people don't understand what octane actually means. Cheers!

C