V-Power

[npope]

I am suprised I am the first for this thread but whats your thought on the news that super fules dont make any differance. As TVR drivers we have all been told we must use them.

Thoughts?

[David Godfrey]

npope said:

I am suprised I am the first for this thread but whats your thought on the news that super fules dont make any differance. As TVR drivers we have all been told we must use them.

Thoughts?

Incorrect that we were "told to run", in both the handbook and on the sticker by the petrol filler say run 95 octain, on track run 98

Right thats what it says, in my experience running 98 super does stop it pinking in certain circumstances, ie when on track.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Both the Griffs run a lot better on V Power than standard unleaded, so we'll continue to use it. Feels better and more noise from the exhaust.
FFG

[bigdods]

David Godfrey said:

Incorrect that we were "told to run", in both the handbook and on the sticker by the petrol filler say run 95 octain, on track run 98

I guess it depends on the model. My chim has a 98 octane unleaded only sticker around the fuel filler. I've never tried it on 95, but runs well enough on BP Ultimate 97. Just put my first dose of Tesco 99 , so far no real difference, a little bit more popping and banging maybe. As I only put 1/2 a tank it its mixed with the 97 so I may need to run it throuigh and fill up again to see if there really is a difference

Edited by bigdods on Friday 28th September 13:56

[TT Tim]

It really depends on whether the ECU is mapped to 98RON or if it's an adaptive system, as to whether you'd see any performance benefit or not.

It comes as no suprise that 'super' fuels returned little benefit in terms of MPG, that was what they were setting as a benchmark. I believe Sansburys Super only offered 1/2 MPG improvement over standard fuel.

I think we're all falling foul of poor reporting and sensationalism by the media.

Tim

[Fume Troll]

What news is this in reference to?

I don't know if I get any more power from higher octane fuel or not, but the £/litre vs mpg balance means that it costs me less to use it.

So I do!

Cheers,

FT.

[Germs]

There was an article in the Telegraph today saying there was no discernible benefit from using the more expensive fuels. Me? I don't trust newspapers!

[V8 GRF]

Mine pinks like buggery if I don't use V-Power or similar (although I do hunt for Shell) It also gives marginally better economy.

[Jappo]

Germs said:

There was an article in the Telegraph today saying there was no discernible benefit from using the more expensive fuels. Me? I don't trust newspapers!

Their statement is probably true for regular vehicles. I've seen youngsters putting it in their blinged up Novas and I suspect there are many who are using it with absolutely no benefit whatsoever. EVO did an interesting feature on this topic a while back and their conclusion was that it made more of a difference the higher up the performance chain they went - partcicularly cars with dynamic knock sensors etc. I've never run my Sag on anything else but I can tell you it makes a very noticeable difference to my 996TT.

[Fume Troll]

Germs said:

There was an article in the Telegraph today saying there was no discernible benefit from using the more expensive fuels. Me? I don't trust newspapers!

Well I have done enough miles in my Forester and my Tuscan (and the sums!) to know it is cheaper in both. I get at least 15% more mpg from both.

Cheers,

FT.

Edited by Fume Troll on Friday 28th September 16:11

[Derek Smith]

Fume Troll said:

Germs said:

There was an article in the Telegraph today saying there was no discernible benefit from using the more expensive fuels. Me? I don't trust newspapers!

Well I have done enough miles in my Forester and my Tuscan (and the sums!) to know it is cheaper in both. I get at least 15% more mpg from both.
Cheers,
FT.

I did some research, including speaking to one of the BP development engineers, for an article and it seems that BP/Shell V-Power/alternative will benefit any car, especially those which are 2 or more years old. The octane rating is of little benefit if your car doesn't need anything more than 95ron but the additives increase mileage and make the engine much, much smoother. I'm not the most mechanically sympathetic driver but even I can tell.

My Chim cut out completely in France recently after I topped up - 15 litres - of French 2-star and didn't start running properly until I got BP's finest back in.

I use V-Power, or the alternative, for every other top up in my Mondeo and the difference is obvious. Much better running, and better fuel consumption. I find no difference with only V-Power to alternating. On 95RON I can detect a little hesitation when keeping a steady speed on level roads which is completely absent since I've started alternating fuels.

I am really sold on these magic fuels.

[Barreti]

I have a noticeable difference in the Griff when I use Shell whatever they call it. I run the car on the higher octane stuff all the time but prefer Shell because the car generally sounds better with Shell, particularly with the way it pops and bangs on overrun.

[tubbystu]

Derek Smith said:

....... The octane rating is of little benefit if your car doesn't need anything more than 95ron but the additives increase mileage and make the engine much, much smoother.

And the detergents and lubricants especially in the Shell & BP varients. IIRC The Tesco stuff is straight 95 ron with added ethanol to up its Ron rating, hence why it is cheaper than "branded" product.

[Vixpy1]

higher octane fuel has no more bang in it than regular fuel, it simply has better knock resistance, and some extra detergents etc. I would never run any of the TVR's newer than the Chim/Griff on anything other than 98, depending how the timing has been set they will knock on 95.

There is no benefit in a normal car unless it has an adaptive ecu which advances the timing when a higher octane fuel is present.