BP Ultimate - what's the score ?
Discussion
I am intrigued with this whole BP Ultimate vs. Optimax and other Super unleaded brands malarkey (also mentioned in General Gassing).
I know Colin has tried to get a straight answer from the BP garage on the top road in Carrick without success.
So, what exactly is it ? Here's what it says on BP website:
BP Ultimate Unleaded is a unique formulation that improves vehicle performance, cleans your engine and delivers less pollution than regular fuels.
BP Ultimate Unleaded has a research octane level of 97, which is higher than standard unleaded petrol, which has a research octane level of 95. This, on average, gives increased power in certain vehicles.
BP Ultimate is more than just increased power. The benefits of new BP petrol also include enhanced cleaning power and reduced engine friction.
The performance benefits depend on the individual vehicle, but our aim has been to give material performance benefits to all vehicles that upgrade from any ordinary unleaded to BP Ultimate, in the areas of improved acceleration and responsiveness, increased power and reduced fuel consumption.
Unlike previous generations of "premium" fuels, these benefits are related to much more than just increased octane number.
All benefits are compared to regular fuel of typical UK quality. Whilst some benefits are noticeable on many car types quite quickly, for full benefits to be delivered we recommend continuous use of BP Ultimate for at least five tankfuls.
It has been apparently marketed as a replacement for BP Superplus.
Strangely enough, nearly all the 'normal' unleaded pumps at the afore mentioned filling station have been re-badged as Ultimate and the price seems to be the same as normal unleaded too ????? Hmmmmm......so are they really delivering the new fuel or are we still getting the same old rubbish..???
Well.......I needed to fill up last week before a run and unfortunately had to use BP Ultimate......lets just say the Chim ran as rough as a Badger's arse....idle all over the place and the motor did not sound or feel as sweet..... A few days later and a dose of Maxol Super(90 odd pence a litre !!ouch) and wow...a different car........
So, to sum up.....I won't be using that stuff again !!
Has anyone else experienced this 'new' fuel ?
Also, during a shopping trip to Sainsbury's I noticed they were selling super unleaded at around 79.4p a litre, anyone tried it ?
Stu
I know Colin has tried to get a straight answer from the BP garage on the top road in Carrick without success.
So, what exactly is it ? Here's what it says on BP website:
BP Ultimate Unleaded is a unique formulation that improves vehicle performance, cleans your engine and delivers less pollution than regular fuels.
BP Ultimate Unleaded has a research octane level of 97, which is higher than standard unleaded petrol, which has a research octane level of 95. This, on average, gives increased power in certain vehicles.
BP Ultimate is more than just increased power. The benefits of new BP petrol also include enhanced cleaning power and reduced engine friction.
The performance benefits depend on the individual vehicle, but our aim has been to give material performance benefits to all vehicles that upgrade from any ordinary unleaded to BP Ultimate, in the areas of improved acceleration and responsiveness, increased power and reduced fuel consumption.
Unlike previous generations of "premium" fuels, these benefits are related to much more than just increased octane number.
All benefits are compared to regular fuel of typical UK quality. Whilst some benefits are noticeable on many car types quite quickly, for full benefits to be delivered we recommend continuous use of BP Ultimate for at least five tankfuls.
It has been apparently marketed as a replacement for BP Superplus.
Strangely enough, nearly all the 'normal' unleaded pumps at the afore mentioned filling station have been re-badged as Ultimate and the price seems to be the same as normal unleaded too ????? Hmmmmm......so are they really delivering the new fuel or are we still getting the same old rubbish..???
Well.......I needed to fill up last week before a run and unfortunately had to use BP Ultimate......lets just say the Chim ran as rough as a Badger's arse....idle all over the place and the motor did not sound or feel as sweet..... A few days later and a dose of Maxol Super(90 odd pence a litre !!ouch) and wow...a different car........
So, to sum up.....I won't be using that stuff again !!
Has anyone else experienced this 'new' fuel ?
Also, during a shopping trip to Sainsbury's I noticed they were selling super unleaded at around 79.4p a litre, anyone tried it ?
Stu
There are claims that its better, on a similar note to Optimax, with which it is more or less competeing. Well, on the mainland anyway. I think before long, Shell wont even be available in Northern Ireland. Their stations get fewer and fewer by the week.
Either way, both are simply replacements for SUL. Any possible performance advantage would be too small to notice.
As for you saying that your car ran like a bag of shite with it. I find that hard to beleive. Are you sure you lifted the right pump?? The blue one ??
yes, odd colour to choose, but thats the Ultimate pump. The only one, the rest are the normal range of fuels.
The best thing about Ultimate, is that at least there is now a 97RON fuel widely available in Northern Ireland. SUL was getting very thin on the ground.
As for Maxol, on price alone I would NEVER buy it. it is a complete ripp off.
Either way, both are simply replacements for SUL. Any possible performance advantage would be too small to notice.
As for you saying that your car ran like a bag of shite with it. I find that hard to beleive. Are you sure you lifted the right pump?? The blue one ??
yes, odd colour to choose, but thats the Ultimate pump. The only one, the rest are the normal range of fuels.
The best thing about Ultimate, is that at least there is now a 97RON fuel widely available in Northern Ireland. SUL was getting very thin on the ground.
As for Maxol, on price alone I would NEVER buy it. it is a complete ripp off.
stevieturbo said:
As for you saying that your car ran like a bag of shite with it. I find that hard to beleive. Are you sure you lifted the right pump?? The blue one ??
yes, odd colour to choose, but thats the Ultimate pump. The only one, the rest are the normal range of fuels.
Hmmmmm...not so much bag o'sh1te more badgers arse...
It was the blue handled pump I lifted because I remember looking at the pump to check which grade and price came up on the display...all pointed towards normal unleaded....so unless the filling station had changed the pump handles and mistakenly not switched to the new fuel…I don't know.
Anyway there was a discernable difference in not so much performance but overall smoothness attributable to the lower octane rating.
Stu
not had a problem using it in the S...
Stu if you want a quick laugh, ask the cute girls on the till what the difference is on the Ron rating and what it means for the performance in the car.
They get totally lost when you mention the Ron word and start looking for help.
Big advise, never fill up a V8 TVR with BP in N. Ireland. They never seem to filter the fuel and the cars run like shit for the full tank.
Stu while Maxol Super is 90p a litre, you never tell the wife.
Its the closest Super to us or you can run down to Larne and fill up with Esso or the Shell.
Big question, can Simp Two, help here, why do Shell only sell us Super and Not Optimax. Or are they the same now ?
Colin L
Colin L said:
They get totally lost when you mention the Ron word and start looking for help.
Stu while Maxol Super is 90p a litre, you never tell the wife.
Colin L
Ron.......Ron who ?...
90p a litre !!!...sure my missus thinks it does 40 to the gallon and runs on heating oil at 19p a litre !!
Now let me tell you for certain that Maxol and BP also Shell load their tankers from the very same Super Unleaded arms in the Amoco/BP depot,this product is all the same,i know all the drivers personality that supply the Mainline stations.
I worked for Maxol for a number of years delivering petrol to stations all over the province.
Sorry Colin BP is not sh.t its all the same.
Maxol is a rip off though.
I understood we didn't get Optimax here because we were covered by Shell Ireland (Dublin) and there wasn't enough demand for Optimax in Ireland.
I use standard unleaded bought in Omeath (62p/litre)with a Miller's Octane Booster (8p/litre). It also has a lead substitute which is okay as my Griffith is a 4.3 precat. Performs very well on this combination averaging 26 mpg.
I use standard unleaded bought in Omeath (62p/litre)with a Miller's Octane Booster (8p/litre). It also has a lead substitute which is okay as my Griffith is a 4.3 precat. Performs very well on this combination averaging 26 mpg.
Big Simp said:
Now let me tell you for certain that Maxol and BP also Shell load their tankers from the very same Super Unleaded arms in the Amoco/BP depot,this product is all the same,i know all the drivers personality that supply the Mainline stations.
I worked for Maxol for a number of years delivering petrol to stations all over the province.
Sorry Colin BP is not sh.t its all the same.
Maxol is a rip off though.
Hmmmmm......velly interlesting....!!
If I get a tank round the back of my garage could you come round in yer tanker and 'ahem' drop us off a few hundred litres ?
Ah so the plot to get us to pay more money is working then.
Well what about the Shell Super is it super or not, do we actually get Super Unleaded in N. Ireland then, Simp can you enlighten us??????
Colin L
Oh yes I will have 3000 Gallons please the tanks are under the patio!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well what about the Shell Super is it super or not, do we actually get Super Unleaded in N. Ireland then, Simp can you enlighten us??????
Colin L
Oh yes I will have 3000 Gallons please the tanks are under the patio!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colin L said:
Ah so the plot to get us to pay more money is working then.
Well what about the Shell Super is it super or not, do we actually get Super Unleaded in N. Ireland then, Simp can you enlighten us??????
And why have Shell been pulling out of the North or at least selling off a few of their stations ?
Stu said "smoothness attributable to the lower octane rating."
Lower octane rating compared to what ??? What fuel have you been using in the past? BP Ultimate is the same octance rating as the highest fuel we have always and ever had here in NI.
Shell pulled out, as there are so many stations selling dodgy fuel, its hard to compete ( or so they claim, as all their fuel is legit ). Forecourt insurance also virtually doubled around renewal time, and they decided,
it. Pretty much all Shell owned filling stations closed overnight once insurance expired. The existing ones are as far as I know privately owned but selling Shell fuel.
We dont get Optimax here, as there is only one refinery in the UK that makes it, and its on the mainland.
I say just be glad we can get SUL whatever form it takes. For a while, I thought we were going to lose it altogether, as it was getting difficult to find.
And I would say that anywhere I have filled with Super, I would be pretty sure it is SUL. Though I have heard some rumours that not everywhere stocks it, even tho the pump may say so. But ive never come across any myself.
>> Edited by stevieturbo on Thursday 4th March 22:32
Lower octane rating compared to what ??? What fuel have you been using in the past? BP Ultimate is the same octance rating as the highest fuel we have always and ever had here in NI.
Shell pulled out, as there are so many stations selling dodgy fuel, its hard to compete ( or so they claim, as all their fuel is legit ). Forecourt insurance also virtually doubled around renewal time, and they decided,
it. Pretty much all Shell owned filling stations closed overnight once insurance expired. The existing ones are as far as I know privately owned but selling Shell fuel. We dont get Optimax here, as there is only one refinery in the UK that makes it, and its on the mainland.
I say just be glad we can get SUL whatever form it takes. For a while, I thought we were going to lose it altogether, as it was getting difficult to find.
And I would say that anywhere I have filled with Super, I would be pretty sure it is SUL. Though I have heard some rumours that not everywhere stocks it, even tho the pump may say so. But ive never come across any myself.
>> Edited by stevieturbo on Thursday 4th March 22:32
stevieturbo said:
Stu said "smoothness attributable to the lower octane rating."
Lower octane rating compared to what ??? What fuel have you been using in the past? BP Ultimate is the same octance rating as the highest fuel we have always and ever had here in NI.
Steve, thats because I reckoned from the pump grade indicator and price that it was delivering normal bog standard 95 Ron Go Go juice even though it defo was an Ultimate Pump handle.
Could not have been super unleaded..
Sure...all good fun !!
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