R56 Cooper S owners, which fuel?
Discussion
Evening!
Just had to fill my new Cooper S up for the first time, stopped at the nearest Tesco and it was suggested that I fill it with Super (Momentum 99), so I did.
Just curious really as to what everyone else does; Does it make a difference, or will the car prefer Super? What do you use?
Just had to fill my new Cooper S up for the first time, stopped at the nearest Tesco and it was suggested that I fill it with Super (Momentum 99), so I did.
Just curious really as to what everyone else does; Does it make a difference, or will the car prefer Super? What do you use?
BP Ultimate Diesel, which makes my tyres chirp on the change up into second during maximum attack... 
Seriously though, there was a useful comparison test including Tesco 99 written up on PH some years ago, which demonstrated some good gains in power against both 95 and 97 unleaded.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=302...
HTH
Seriously though, there was a useful comparison test including Tesco 99 written up on PH some years ago, which demonstrated some good gains in power against both 95 and 97 unleaded.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=302...
HTH
Ran my R56 S on 99 Momentum until a few weeks before I sent it back to MINI.
Of all the super unleaded fuels I tried, the Momentum gave by far the best exhaust note. Fuel economy is debatable, it got driven very hard once warm pretty much every time, so the difference is negligible.
Going back to 95 the exhaust almost became silent in my experience.
I was told that running on higher octane would lessen the carbon build up that all R56 S engines suffer from, but I have no evidence or experience to back this up.
Of all the super unleaded fuels I tried, the Momentum gave by far the best exhaust note. Fuel economy is debatable, it got driven very hard once warm pretty much every time, so the difference is negligible.
Going back to 95 the exhaust almost became silent in my experience.
I was told that running on higher octane would lessen the carbon build up that all R56 S engines suffer from, but I have no evidence or experience to back this up.
Expect me to chirp in everytime carbon build up appears on the board as I've been through every thread on the internet about it before getting mine sorted.
Type of fuel versus carbon build up in the direct injection engine by nature will achieve nothing, because the fuel is injected AFTER the valves. The fuel doesn't touch the valves ever. But MINI tried to spin me the same story as well - "Always run it on the expensive petrol", the dolly bird at the service desk told me.
I have never heard anyone make the argument that the combustion of higher octane fuel leads to less carbon build up, i.e. the blow by gases contain less oil particles when using it, but that may be the case. Who knows? But the added detergents and chems in SU fuel will sadly do nothing for your intake and valves as they barely even get a whiff at it.
ETA - Realised I didn't even answer. I use Shell VPower because I only go through one tank a month. Runs great although I'm sure its fine with regular too.
Type of fuel versus carbon build up in the direct injection engine by nature will achieve nothing, because the fuel is injected AFTER the valves. The fuel doesn't touch the valves ever. But MINI tried to spin me the same story as well - "Always run it on the expensive petrol", the dolly bird at the service desk told me.
I have never heard anyone make the argument that the combustion of higher octane fuel leads to less carbon build up, i.e. the blow by gases contain less oil particles when using it, but that may be the case. Who knows? But the added detergents and chems in SU fuel will sadly do nothing for your intake and valves as they barely even get a whiff at it.
ETA - Realised I didn't even answer. I use Shell VPower because I only go through one tank a month. Runs great although I'm sure its fine with regular too.
Edited by Wrathalanche on Friday 5th July 11:48
Does the mini have an adaptive ecu that can adjust ignition timing depending on the fuel used? Quite possible, many cars do now as it's a good way to control emissions. Many older cars don't though so on those there will be no benefit to running higher octane fuel other than the additional detergents they usually have. I have no idea if R53/56 etc. have adaptive ecus or not.
ash73 said:
Did your research come up with any reliable ways to prevent it?
Nope. Other than fitting an oil catch can, which I am just about to do. The N18 engines (2010 onward I think) have a differently designed-internally valve cover and an extra relief valve at the back of it. I think this has been hailed as an improvement but I believe these cars can still suffer eventually.Gassing Station | New MINIs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff