Shell Optimax
07 June 2002, 08:32 AM
#7
Was running my MY94 Prodrive on it and thought it was OK.
But am currently running Standard Esso UL with 50ml of NF Octane Boost per tank, and this seems better (and cheaper).
NF One Shot pots will be available soon, but I fill 10x60ml platic bottles (available from Farnell) with the stuff and keep them in the boot.
But am currently running Standard Esso UL with 50ml of NF Octane Boost per tank, and this seems better (and cheaper).
NF One Shot pots will be available soon, but I fill 10x60ml platic bottles (available from Farnell) with the stuff and keep them in the boot.
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07 June 2002, 08:40 AM
#9
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MY96 UK and it runs smoother and I get better MPG on Super unleaded over normal unleaded and then the same improvement again on Optimax over super unleaded.
Probably about to buy some octane booster so I can use normal unleaded when I cannot get optimax or super..
If it works out cheaper and runs better though I might just run on normal unleaded and booster all the time.
JGM
Probably about to buy some octane booster so I can use normal unleaded when I cannot get optimax or super..
If it works out cheaper and runs better though I might just run on normal unleaded and booster all the time.
JGM
07 June 2002, 09:49 AM
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A subject close to my heart as I asked this a couple of months ago - and after comments that you needed to do a thousand or so miles to fully appreciate the difference between normal u/l and optimax - I did just that.....and the result was that I couldn't find any performance difference, nothing zip, nowt f all (running a MY02).
And the EVO article (sponsored by Shell?) - if you look at the tables the in-gear acceleration times are tenths of a second quicker with Optimax - would you really notice that. I think not?
Emperors new clothes I think for those of us running non-Jap cars....
And the EVO article (sponsored by Shell?) - if you look at the tables the in-gear acceleration times are tenths of a second quicker with Optimax - would you really notice that. I think not?
Emperors new clothes I think for those of us running non-Jap cars....
07 June 2002, 10:13 AM
#11
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I've run mine on it from new (MY02 STi Type UK) so I can't compare it to previous. All I know (from the hype and Shells own web site) is that it is better for the internals of your engine.
For the sake of a few pence a litre (Currently 77.9PPL) above the price of supermarket rubbish, I'm prepared to believe the hype and ignore the people telling me I'm stark B@llock naked
Steve
For the sake of a few pence a litre (Currently 77.9PPL) above the price of supermarket rubbish, I'm prepared to believe the hype and ignore the people telling me I'm stark B@llock naked
Steve
07 June 2002, 11:09 AM
#12
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I use Optimax and it seems smoother (99MY)
The bit everyone seems to miss when talking about 'Supermarket fuel' being no good is that it is delivered from BP etc ! I'd personally rather go to a Supermaket than a little known economy forecourt brand.
The bit everyone seems to miss when talking about 'Supermarket fuel' being no good is that it is delivered from BP etc ! I'd personally rather go to a Supermaket than a little known economy forecourt brand.
07 June 2002, 12:05 PM
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I noticed a marginal improvement in economy when I switched my MY00 from 95 to Optimax - enough to (just about) pay for the difference.... so if it's cleaner and runs the engine closer to the original design spec, then it's a harmless change to make, (other than it ties you to finding shell stations). So I stuck with it. Subjectively, the car seemed smoother, not quicker.
I've now run the STiUK on it from new, so it's more difficult to say whether the same applies.
Phil
I've now run the STiUK on it from new, so it's more difficult to say whether the same applies.
Phil
07 June 2002, 12:05 PM
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MY 99 been running on Supermarket Super for a while which was better than the branded normal. Only just got through my 4th tank of Optimax and have to say its a lot smoother and feels a little bit perkier on it. Have to see what happens in the long term
07 June 2002, 05:20 PM
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I must admit i drive a German car, and yeah it really has brought the engine to life, it would be hard to smooth out the delivery of german v6 anyrate but it has really changed the throttle response, which was always good and is now sharper than ever.
But i think an earlier post has summed it up perfectly Evo has proved that it makes it a little quicker but more importantly perhaps improves effieciantcy and cleans the internals, if it works or not and lets face it there is only so much your allowed to get away with saying without being able to back it up then that much is worth a few pence a litre.
One thing though Shell's pamflet stated that it would improve the average cars performance by two or three car length's whilst accelerating from 55-70Mph so it has to do something, they can't write that without being able to prove it surely !!
Phill
But i think an earlier post has summed it up perfectly Evo has proved that it makes it a little quicker but more importantly perhaps improves effieciantcy and cleans the internals, if it works or not and lets face it there is only so much your allowed to get away with saying without being able to back it up then that much is worth a few pence a litre.
One thing though Shell's pamflet stated that it would improve the average cars performance by two or three car length's whilst accelerating from 55-70Mph so it has to do something, they can't write that without being able to prove it surely !!
Phill
07 June 2002, 08:29 PM
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with a 96WRX i didnt notice much of a difference to be honest?
however, put a tank full of optimax in my 89 GTI 8v -- i dont like it!! Its keeps stalling now? however the performance seems better
however, put a tank full of optimax in my 89 GTI 8v -- i dont like it!! Its keeps stalling now? however the performance seems better
07 June 2002, 08:38 PM
#24
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Feels lumpy and sluggish and dets. This is with the usual octane booster I use.
I know a couple of others have had issues like that, IIRC CraigH did. A transfer back to normal SUL and octane booster helped.
I know a couple of others have had issues like that, IIRC CraigH did. A transfer back to normal SUL and octane booster helped.
08 June 2002, 02:17 PM
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Weirdness,
In my old MY99, I thought that Super Unleaded actually gave me poorer performance than 95RON. I alwasys use Optimax now if I can, but TOTAL have a 98RON Super Unleaded that I have used once. Don;t notice any difference, though. The Evo article did not just have tenths of a second, sometimes it was half a second to a full second faster. I'd CERTAINLY notice that!
Maz.
In my old MY99, I thought that Super Unleaded actually gave me poorer performance than 95RON. I alwasys use Optimax now if I can, but TOTAL have a 98RON Super Unleaded that I have used once. Don;t notice any difference, though. The Evo article did not just have tenths of a second, sometimes it was half a second to a full second faster. I'd CERTAINLY notice that!
Maz.
08 June 2002, 10:00 PM
#26
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Shell Optimax - would not fill up with any other fuel..... unless Avgas or a similar derivative was available at a sensible price!!
I also use 1-2 bottles of Millers Octane Booster on each fill up on an sti5 (lightly modded), running at 1.4 bar and lots of ignition advance!
I can tell th difference but only on my Knock (Det) Gauge and also in the sense that my car is mapped for the 98.6 ron fuel and not the poorer SUL sludge
Ordinary unleaded - would light up like a christmas Tree
Superunleaded - still lights up most of the time!
Optimax - the occassional lights - but more so in the North and especially motorway service stations
The only comment I would make is that I found the Optimax quality variable.. being generally poorer up north and ok in the South).. this is based on my Knocklink gauge. On the last Well Lane Rolling Road day, after filling up at the M1 Northbound services near Sheffield I had to do an extra 100 miles to get rid of some of the fuel and refill at another station as the det was quite bad.......
Wonder if anyone else has experienced this - and no the air temps and heat in the engine bay were very similar - the car is not tuned on the 'edge' of the envelope....
I also use 1-2 bottles of Millers Octane Booster on each fill up on an sti5 (lightly modded), running at 1.4 bar and lots of ignition advance!
I can tell th difference but only on my Knock (Det) Gauge and also in the sense that my car is mapped for the 98.6 ron fuel and not the poorer SUL sludge
Ordinary unleaded - would light up like a christmas Tree
Superunleaded - still lights up most of the time!
Optimax - the occassional lights - but more so in the North and especially motorway service stations
The only comment I would make is that I found the Optimax quality variable.. being generally poorer up north and ok in the South).. this is based on my Knocklink gauge. On the last Well Lane Rolling Road day, after filling up at the M1 Northbound services near Sheffield I had to do an extra 100 miles to get rid of some of the fuel and refill at another station as the det was quite bad.......
Wonder if anyone else has experienced this - and no the air temps and heat in the engine bay were very similar - the car is not tuned on the 'edge' of the envelope....
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