How much lead do I need in my pencil?

How much lead do I need in my pencil?

Author
Discussion

cropsprayer

Original Poster:

152 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Another newbie question im afraid......just bought a 350C and the guy said he only runs it on super unleaded so I should keep to that, however after reading the manual it says to use super on track days and normal for everyday use. My question is therefore can I just switch to plain unleaded without any timing changes or casuing any damage to the engine and if so can I just mix it as and when I please?

Apologies if this is a stupid question :-(

chris watton

22,478 posts

266 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Yes, you can, I have to be very honest and say I can feel no noticable difference whatsoever between Optimax and 95Ron, the car accelerates like a bat out of hell on either

cropsprayer

Original Poster:

152 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st September 2004
quotequote all
Thanks Chris. I have got used to flooring it and hanging on for dear life, so did not want to spoil things for the sake of a few pence per litre!

sacha

504 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Only difference i have found is on MPG, a bit better when on long drives, otherwise not much.

Enjoy!

sacha

www.t350.net

happypoof

22 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Interesting..... my Tamora definately seems to loose that 'edge' on ordinary unleaded, just doesn't seem as bright and it tends to pink/detonate briefly if you're lazy and make it work at low speeds, like those junctions where you're still rolling, not quite stationary and still in 2nd.... Don't get me wrong, it's still b..... quick! I've been alternating tank fulls and seems to keep it happy, but then perhaps it's all in my imagination?!

julianc

1,984 posts

265 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
My Tamora definitely runs better on Optimax, otherwise she has a tendency to pink

Julian

SHIFTY

920 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
After picking up a courtesey Tamora while mine is in for service/warranty work there was only 3 litres in it at no Shell or BP garage nearby, therefore ordinary unleaded went in.

Now on my fourth tank full and no pinking in any gear.

Makes me wonder if you do need the super unleaded?.

GCerbera

5,161 posts

257 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
I could be talking out of my hat here, but I'd always run my two Cerbs (AJP V8's though)
on Optimax and the first time I had to use BP Ultimate, the engine went rough.

Other's just use 95 although 98 is recomended, so do the engine's adapt to what
they are used to?

Would the Speed Six do the same?

cropsprayer

Original Poster:

152 posts

242 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
I seem to have opened a can of worms here! Im no expert but 'pinking' is down to engine timing I think which is what I was concerned about changing fuel mixtures. I filled up with BP's Ultimate at the weekend and it seemed fine, so guess i'll try a normal tank next and see how it goes. Just did not want to cause any problems with the engine for the sake of a meager saving in cost!

patsy

153 posts

246 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Not wishing to muddy the issue further, but I think Optimax seems to make my Tamora a much happier thing than running on normal unleaded. MPG is improved too. I was also told that the engine may run at a lower temparature...not sure about that bit.

Of all normal fuels, Texaco stuff appeared to be the worst offender so far. One tank of that appeared to make it really rough.

spenny

81 posts

265 months

Thursday 2nd September 2004
quotequote all
Definitely does seem to make a difference on Tams, dont know if they fixed the sensitivity for T350s.

But my Tam actually pinks quite badly both at low and high revs on normal unleaded, to the extent that it has been back to the dealer several times to get resolved, to no avail. However, it runs with no pinking at all on either optimax or BP ultimate.

Not an engineer, dont understand, but for me it makes one helluva difference.

stevend

153 posts

255 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
I agree with Chris Watton. I have Shell and BP garages near me and I notice no difference btw BP 95RON and Shell Optimax, and when I can I do not 'hang around' so to speak.

Steven

happypoof

22 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
Perhaps mine was a little unfair comparrison because I've been using Shell Optimax or Tesco regualar unleaded, which I guess won't be as good a quality fuel as other 'branded' unleaded. Anyway, my Tam hasn't been happy on the Tesco stuff so this morning I filled up with 'Q8' super unleaded, I'll let you know how she goes! Talking about economy, and going a little o/t, anyone got any figures for their Tam? My last tank worked out at just over 18mpg overall on the Tesco stuff.

andyvdg

1,537 posts

289 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
The speed 6 doesn't have knock sensors so you won't get more horsepower, but on partial throttle when you've got feedback from the lambda sensors you might get an improvement in running e.g. mpg. I use optimax just because it keeps my engine innards clean as according to EVO study.

<Written like I know what I'm talking about but could be wrong>

Cheers,

Andy.

>> Edited by andyvdg on Friday 3rd September 08:56

happypoof

22 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
andyvdg said:
The speed 6 doesn't have knock sensors so you won't get more horsepower, but on partial throttle when you've got feedback from the lambda sensors .......


What??!!

patsy

153 posts

246 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
In response to someone's MPG question, 18 sounds a bit low although it obviously depends how you drive it.

I've found (in 5 months ownersship) that with a combination of daily (mainly city commuting and weekend blasts it normally turns in an average of around 25mpg. During one long motorway run I think I was getting nearly 30 and I wasn't hanging about.

daftlad

3,324 posts

247 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
The only way you will see real improved performance from differnt fuels is to go the route of switchable ECU maps -like the RR AJPs. The engine management system cannot detect the available extra octane and so does not let the engine run more advance.

cropsprayer

Original Poster:

152 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
Right well from what I can see from everyone's posts, it seems as though it is dependant on the car.....some run better with certain fuel brands/types, so I guess I find the best one via a process of eliminiation and then stick to it :-)

Hope to see you all on my garage tour of the South East then :-)

SHIFTY

920 posts

242 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
As in my earlier reply, only using standard unleaded and no problem until I filled up with Asda petrol this morning and travelled down the M4. Pinking whilst pulling away, never had no problems using standard 95 BP, Shell, Esso or even National while in the IOW last w?nd.


Would suggest that steer away from "supermarket" petrol.

maddog-uk

2,392 posts

252 months

Friday 3rd September 2004
quotequote all
SHIFTY said:
As in my earlier reply, only using standard unleaded and no problem until I filled up with Asda petrol this morning and travelled down the M4. Pinking whilst pulling away, never had no problems using standard 95 BP, Shell, Esso or even National while in the IOW last w?nd.


Would suggest that steer away from "supermarket" petrol.


Would definately steer clear of supermarket petrol. A friend of a friend who designs dashboards at ford used to say they tested fuel tank designs usings supermarket petrol as they contain a lot of water! Not sure if its true but stands to reason. We run ours (tamora) on Super unleaded mainly shell, or BP ultimate. Runs lovely. In France we ran it on Total 98, ran even nicer. Not too keen to run it on 95 but its a personal choice. We also have a Clio 1.2 which interestingly pretty much does not work until you put Shell optimax in it!