Optimax & BP Ultimate

[borris-bear]

Is there a difference between BP ultimate petrol and Shell Optimax?

[bridgdav]

Is this another puzzle donkey question...?

[ridds]

Yes.

Optimax, additives take it to 98 RON.

Ultimate, actually blened to 97 RON.

My car seems to prefer the Ulimate, tried a few tanks of both now.

Dunno the effect on a TVR lump, unsure of how active knock control and or it's learning capabilities.

[david010167]

are you sure. I was under the impression that Ultimate was also 98, in response to Shells market share.

David

[jam1et]

No they are not the same. We were discussing the RON rating on here a while back when the new fuel was first announced. I rang the BP help line to ask and it was def 97 RON. He didnt really want to tell me though! It doesnt tell you what the RON is on their website or at their fuel stations either. I think they're trying to do all they can to stop people realising its not quite the same as Optimax.

[jam1et]

PS, having said all that, with my 4ltr Griff there is not really any discernable difference between using Unleaded, Super, Ultimate or Optimax! I tend to use Optimax though purely because I like to think I'm doing the best for my car.

[Quicksilver]

BP Website clearly states Ultimate as 98 ron - therefore it looks like we might be able to use it as an alternative to Optimax?
-it seems like a direct response to the upper hand Shell was gaining with the 'image advantage knock-on effect' of Optimax -
being a conservative type though, think I will stick to Optimax with Ultimate as a back-up choice unless anybody technical out there knows better?
- believe I am correct in asserting, however, that the exact formulation is a trade secret(for both Optimax and Ultimate) so will be very difficult to make comparisons other than disecting engines after long term testing.

[blackbullet]

I was going to restart this thread, but it looks like someones beaten me to it.

Only a couple of days ago I read in 'Fast Ford' that BP Ultimate is 102 RON. Before you shot me down sister owns a Ka :-)

I think the mag has got it quite wrong....

Andy

[jam1et]

:goestocheckBPwebsite:

[Plotloss]

Opti seems far better.

Have run a couple of tanks of both through two different cars and both liked the Opti better.

[Quicksilver]

search Google under 'BP Ultimate' and check the first entry which actually is the Australian website for BP - here it clearly states 98 Ron
- but worryingly the UK site does not quote a Ron number !!
- however difficult to believe it would be made to different specifications even if produced at different refineries!!
a curious mystery as to why they are shy of advertising the Ron in the UK !!

[jam1et]

Ah, just called them again. The part of the BP website you were looking at was from Australia. According to their helpline the RON for Ultimate in the UK is definitely 97. In Portugal and Greece its 100 and in Oz its 98. So I'll be sticking with Optimax.....

[Dunc B]

Checked the BP UK website a couple of days ago,not easy to find the RON rating but if you look hard it definitely does specify 97RON

[ridds]

Yep Aus Ultimate is the 98 and the default site for BP. You need to go to the Ultimate page for the 97 spec, though this can be found on thier Data sheets.

I always use either Opti or Ultimate now due to the cleaning agents and higher RON.

Back to back bench running on Cooper S engines showed me the huge difference that 97 makes over 95. Up to 5 hp with higher than normal inlet temps.

I don't the ignition on my Rally can advance adequately for 98 of Optimax and hence why it 'feels' better on the Ultimate.

[lber]

I can't think of anyone who has mistaken optimax as being diesel, like they have with BP Ultimate.

[simpo two]

100 RON in Greece and Portugal! I bet it's only 2p a litre as well...

[ro_butler]

Depends where you are.

In Scotland all Optimax comes from BP Grangemouth.
Not sure wether Shell then add stuff to it and sell it on, forgot to ask.

For our cars (performance ones) the MON number is far more meaningful than RON, but sadly nobody quotes it.

[agent006]

Ultimate is also around 4p more expensive.

[jim'schim]

ro_butler said:

Depends where you are. In Scotland all Optimax comes from BP Grangemouth. Not sure wether Shell then add stuff to it and sell it on, forgot to ask. For our cars (performance ones) the MON number is far more meaningful than RON, but sadly nobody quotes it.

It would surprise you how many different "brands" are made in BP Grangemouth. It used to be about 90% of the petrol sold in Scotland and North of England came from Grangemouth, no matter what it said on the pumps.

[snorky]

that's right - I work at a refinery in North Lincs and we make petrol for Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. We own the Jet brand but we don't send tankers all the way down to London to fill up our stations down there, we have reciprocal arrangments with Esso, Shell ,BP etc and their tankers fill up at our place for their stations near us....it's all made to BStandard anyway with some additives for the weird brands like Optimax which is metered in at the pump