Optimax, my opinion changed.
29 December 2003, 05:53 PM
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I have always slated Optimax after trying it a few times. When the Gems went in I had Esso Super in. Steve was mapping and commented that the car kept getting det. We stopped at an Optimax and filled up. (Only little amout of Esso left in tank) As I drove down the slip road Steve mentioned that the fuel was already better and the det had gone. As a result I got more advance and torque. I am happy. Optimax works. Can't argue with Steve, the laptop and Det Cans.
Knock Link will be going in soon just to be safe.
Knock Link will be going in soon just to be safe.
29 December 2003, 11:06 PM
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Viper - What Model Year is your car? I have a MY96 and ran it in standard ECU on Esso Super. It never missed a beat and hated Optimax.
Now with the Gems it clearly showed that Optimax was running it much better.
Perhaps early MY cars have more problems with Optimax and the ECU.
Now with the Gems it clearly showed that Optimax was running it much better.
Perhaps early MY cars have more problems with Optimax and the ECU.
29 December 2003, 11:28 PM
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mmmm
I am not sure I think its as simple as Optimax is best... Petrol comes from the gulf and from the North Sea. Petrol is an organic compound therefore both sources are likely to be different. When I drove diesels I understood gulf fuel was "better". Chance dictates where a given tanker load comes from.
The stuff you buy at the pumps is labelled by octane rating... certainly my right foot prefers super varieties. Optimax is a super unleaded formulation. The RON figure should indicate a fuels suitability.
All manufacturers use fuel additives - Optimax claims in some way to be special.
How can you be sure that the label on the pump matches the fuel delivered through the nozel? what is there to stop a garage selling ordinary as super?
I think I am trying to say - I reckon it may be all pot luck - I certainly get some tanks that feel quicker than others and there doesnt seem to be much consistency by brand, but I always try to buy super.
finally - does anyone remember the formula shell fuel and the failing vauxhall engine allegations back in the 80's?
I am not sure I think its as simple as Optimax is best... Petrol comes from the gulf and from the North Sea. Petrol is an organic compound therefore both sources are likely to be different. When I drove diesels I understood gulf fuel was "better". Chance dictates where a given tanker load comes from.
The stuff you buy at the pumps is labelled by octane rating... certainly my right foot prefers super varieties. Optimax is a super unleaded formulation. The RON figure should indicate a fuels suitability.
All manufacturers use fuel additives - Optimax claims in some way to be special.
How can you be sure that the label on the pump matches the fuel delivered through the nozel? what is there to stop a garage selling ordinary as super?
I think I am trying to say - I reckon it may be all pot luck - I certainly get some tanks that feel quicker than others and there doesnt seem to be much consistency by brand, but I always try to buy super.
finally - does anyone remember the formula shell fuel and the failing vauxhall engine allegations back in the 80's?
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30 December 2003, 09:44 AM
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Sith - MY00. Recently had a service so filled up with Optimax b4 and asked them to reset the ECU, same problem! As the advert says, Optimax - feel the difference!
On the subject of fuel being what it says on the pump I did notice 2 people in white overalls taking fuel samples from my local Shell the other day, maybe a visit from the 'secret police'
On the subject of fuel being what it says on the pump I did notice 2 people in white overalls taking fuel samples from my local Shell the other day, maybe a visit from the 'secret police'
30 December 2003, 10:43 AM
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Bobby G no they wouldn't as they only ever registered optimax as a 'normal unleaded' & not super unleaded.
Optimax wont go near even my lawn mower!
RON rating is useless, compare the MON rating if you want a meaningfull figure, & look how much lower it is with Optimax.
Ok this is the nerdy bit from another forum:
There's enough reasons for me not to use Optimax
Optimax wont go near even my lawn mower!
Optimax is 98.8 RON, normal super unleaded is 97 RON. RON is a measurement of resistance to knock, so it's no great surprise
RON rating is useless, compare the MON rating if you want a meaningfull figure, & look how much lower it is with Optimax.Ok this is the nerdy bit from another forum:
I don't want to start anything on here but LEGALLY, Optimax only has to be 95RON because Shell have classified it as a regular unleaded petrol and not a super unleaded so it only has to meet BS EN 228 for normal unleaded and not BS7800 for super unleaded. I have a copy of the standards and when you ask Shell, they will always quote that Optimax meets BS EN 228 and not BS7800.
Again, that's because legally it only has to be the std unleaded test for MON which is a minimum rating of 85 MON. If you ask Shell on shelloptimax.co.uk on the Ask the Expert forum (like I already have done......) then they will say that the MON is TYPICALLY 87.5 but that doesn't say what the minimum value is.....
They still won't post up any of the rolling road graphs that they say proves that Optimax is a better performing fuel. And they still won't answer the question as to why they only do comparison testing against normal unleaded and not against super unleaded.
30 December 2003, 10:55 AM
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My car hates Optimax as well. I get the mid-range flat spot. Car is a P1. I'd love to rave about it because the idea is good, it just doesn't suit me 
Maybe an ECU reset would help?
Maybe an ECU reset would help?
30 December 2003, 10:59 AM
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Viper - Gems is a Motorsport ECU. Fully 3D mappable. Very impresive piece of kit. Gems ECU's are used by Prodrive for the WRC cars. If it's good enough for them....
You've blown my theory out of the water aswell of being early cars. Oh well.
[Edited by Sith - 12/30/2003 11:03:14 AM]
You've blown my theory out of the water aswell of being early cars. Oh well.
[Edited by Sith - 12/30/2003 11:03:14 AM]
30 December 2003, 11:21 AM
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I get the mid-range flat spot too. I switched to BP super (not branded as ultimate) and the flat-spot disappeared and the acceleration felt better. I noticed with BP that the exhaust was getting blacker than usual, so I switched back to optimax, and the flat spot gradually returned. Maybe mixing BP and Optimax would help? (WRX03 PPP)
30 December 2003, 12:38 PM
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I have run my STi5 on both Optimax and Esso S/UL and, frankly, the only difference is the price (Optimax is cheaper so I tend to use that) - the power boost from this cold weather costs **** all, now there's a bargain !! 
30 December 2003, 04:20 PM
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I notice that when i run on BP ultimate my eninge is smoother and quieter ?
Dont really feel any difference in performance over optimax
My03
Dont really feel any difference in performance over optimax
My03
31 December 2003, 10:35 AM
#19
MattM
Yes! Used it in the then rally car and it worked a treat ... but it was a Hillman/Chrysler/Talbot Avenger not a Vauxhall.
It was better fuel as it had flame front enhancers ( potassium salts IIRC ) in the additives, which created a faster more even and thorough burn so releasing more power. Made most normal cars crisper and responsive. Basically the additive did the opposite of the lead in the fuel which was there to prevent knock/det/pinking.... so I guess you could say it was nearer unleaded petrol, in effect.
Unfortunately the then new engine design came out of Vaulhall, typically in the Astra, and that ran near what we would call Det. So increasing the fuel burn speed ( and reducing the effect of the tetra ethyl lead )led to det / pinking and engine damage.
Allegedly.
finally - does anyone remember the formula shell fuel and the failing vauxhall engine allegations back in the 80's?
It was better fuel as it had flame front enhancers ( potassium salts IIRC ) in the additives, which created a faster more even and thorough burn so releasing more power. Made most normal cars crisper and responsive. Basically the additive did the opposite of the lead in the fuel which was there to prevent knock/det/pinking.... so I guess you could say it was nearer unleaded petrol, in effect.
Unfortunately the then new engine design came out of Vaulhall, typically in the Astra, and that ran near what we would call Det. So increasing the fuel burn speed ( and reducing the effect of the tetra ethyl lead )led to det / pinking and engine damage.
Allegedly.
31 December 2003, 01:20 PM
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if you try ultimate you have to put in two tank full of the stuff.
and it works.as above it is smoother quiter without flat spots.its been said so many times.it got to be good for your engine folks.
and it works.as above it is smoother quiter without flat spots.its been said so many times.it got to be good for your engine folks.
31 December 2003, 01:20 PM
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The Vauxhall engine failures were on what was generally known as 'Australian engines ' to us.
If so say no more, wouldn't matter what fuel you put in em........
David API Engines
If so say no more, wouldn't matter what fuel you put in em........
David API Engines
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