Premium fuel.

[gavroche]

Does anyone pay the extra few pence for premium fuel and is it worth it? Does the engine run smoother and do you get extra mpg? I have a diesel engine and wonder if I should buy primium diesel?

 

[fossyant]

I occasionally whack in some premium unleaded - can't tell the difference, but it is supposed to have snake oil in it - you know, this magic stuff.

With petrol though, it is a higher octane 98/99 vs 95 so is a bit more potent, but in real life, you won't notice.

 

[Sea of vapours]

You will notice if the engine mapping can use 98/99; at least I do, though only if you fairly carefully measure mpg over a few tanks of each type. The additional cost, for me, is covered by the mpg improvement. It depends on style of driving for each, but certainly detectable.

Edit: I'm talking about a petrol engine there, not diesel.

 

[400bhp]

The higher octane stuff for the petrolheads adds a bit if yiy're interested in racing your car.

On a day to day basis it makes sod all difference. I had a car that was supposed to run only on 98 and above. I can vouch for the bolloxness in that supposition.

 

[Markymark]

Depends on the engine. Most engines it won't make any difference. Higher performance engines and it's noticeable.

 

[400bhp]

Depends on the engine. Most engines it won't make any difference. Higher performance engines and it's noticeable.

I don't believe it does and honestly think it's Emperor's new clothes.

 

[fossyant]

The higher octane stuff for the petrolheads adds a bit if yiy're interested in racing your car.

On a day to day basis it makes sod all difference. I had a car that was supposed to run only on 98 and above. I can vouch for the bolloxness in that supposition.

Love it !!

 

[Markymark]

I don't believe it does and honestly think it's Emperor's new clothes.

Ah yes I buy all my clothes from there.

 

[fossyant]

Even with my car being from 2002, the fuel was around then, but the engine mapping was supposed to adjust for your driving style with it being VVT, but the emissions software probably stopped all that as it was the engine Nissan used to get the range under the emissions regulations for the whole range.

Not a VW trick though, as it still kicks out 175g of co2 for a 1.8, it's all the other nasties it's very green on.

 

[Drago]

Virtually no engines are able to advance their ignition to exploit the higher octane, the exception being some Subarus, later gen Golf GTis etc. Unless you have one of these highly strung small bore weapons I'd forget it.

Technically, it's actually less potent n 95RON as it has a lower calorific value per unit of fuel, but it can be compressed more without unwanted detonation so can survive higher compressions and extreme ignition advance.

Pump fuel and its machinations is greatly misunderstood by most members of the public, and the oil companies exploit this with their advertising.

 

[NorthernDave]

They did a feature on it on a TV show a couple of years ago. In a normal family car it makes no noticeable difference.
In a high performance car, it can show a slight improvement. But you'd struggle to get any benefit from it in everyday driving.
So, depends what you drive and how you drive it.
I've tried running my 1.6 HDi Citroen on Shell V-Power Nitro+ (now there is a marketing name) and can honestly say I saw no difference whatsoever, other than the fact it cost me an extra few quid a tank full.

 

[Markymark]

They did a feature on it on a TV show a couple of years ago. In a normal family car it makes no noticeable difference.
In a high performance car, it can show a slight improvement. But you'd struggle to get any benefit from it in everyday driving.
So, depends what you drive and how you drive it.
I've tried running my 1.6 HDi Citroen on Shell V-Power Nitro+ (now there is a marketing name) and can honestly say I saw no difference whatsoever, other than the fact it cost me an extra few quid a tank full.

I lube my bike chain with it. I drop below 25mph average without it.

 

[fossyant]

I get that Team Sky bike lube next.

 

[fossyant]

PS Good bike lubes will fix a noisy boiler fan and all sorts of other bearing issues !!!

 

[Drago]

As for diesel, the fuel itself won't make you go any quicker or more economical - ignition advance can't be altered in a diesel, you get what you get. Where you might notice a tiny improvement is on a higher mileage motor, as the additive package with have some yummy detergents to clean up injectors and stuff. Think of it as buying diesel with the Redex already added.