Tarmac_Terrorist Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I read in Auto Express that BP have just launched a new fuel rated at 102 octane - the same grade as used in formula 1 & WRC. It is available at selected forecourts priced at £2.45 a litre I believe most of you guys use Shell Optimax. Anyone tried this in a GTI yet (can anyone afford to try it in a GTI yet ) On a seperate note I understand that BP now have similar cleaning detergents to those used in Shell Optimax in their BP Ultimate fuel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowley Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I was talking to some guy today about LPG conversion, apparently LPG is 103 octane? Is it actually possible to convert a car like a GTI to LPG? he has a 2.5 litre 200BHP volvo converted and says he has no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted April 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I understand that you do lose significant bhp when running on LPG. Sort of goes against the purpose of buying a GTI I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 27, 2006 Report Share Posted April 27, 2006 I would be very cautious about using fuel higher than 98 RON in the GTI's FSI engine without first getting very clear info from VW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtiveedubber Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I doubt very much that there would be any issues with a higher octain fuel. BP wouldn't supply it if it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliblue Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I think that you can't even use LPG on a Turbo engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I can't see the point of running on 103 RON fuel if it requires an engine conversion, loses bhp and costs £2.45 per litre (when you can find a pump!)....It seems very far from "perfect" to me. Just exactly what would be the gain ? Does anyone know what fuel the full-race spec track Mk5 GTIs run on ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabb Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 We have BP 102 here and the comment from the VW Service Manager is that the warranty will be voided if there is engine trouble and you have 102 in your tank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] We have BP 102 here and the comment from the VW Service Manager is that the warranty will be voided if there is engine trouble and you have 102 in your tank! [/ QUOTE ] ....Exactly confirming what I thought and why I suggested getting comment from VW in my earlier post. Fuel management in the turbocharged FSI engine is sophisticated and critical and has been designed and developed around using 98 RON. Do we really think we know better than those professional design engineers at VAG ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I can't see how they can state that the GTI can if need be run on 95 but not 102. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 It's to do with timing but too technical for me to explain. The GTI doesn't run as well on 95 as it does on 98 and it's designed for 98 ideally. 102 probably isn't 'dialled in'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stabb Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Thing to remember is that 102 is racing fuel and used in cars that are modified. We only get 95 in JHB at 1,600m asl, and in a way 98 is a waste, but 102 can be bought at a price from 2 or 3 stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 it's a bit irresponsible of BP to sell it IMO . It's kind of provoking fast driving/racing. I know that you could argue that 98RON does to, and its's down to the driver and they would drive like that anyway blah blah blah, but by upping the ante and introducing a racing fuel, they're just prompting the unsociable amongst us to road test at every opportunity. It has no other use other than for provoking outright illegal high speed driving in my opinion. Keep it on the track and don't give the boy racers another excuse BP! (just my opinion ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Le Man, 102 RON fuel wouldn't make your GTI any faster at all and I'm not sure there is any tangible psychological effect??? As Robin says, its so beyond normal operating parameters that you'd need a map with sufficiently advanced timing to get any of the benefit. The benefit is only there if the car can advance the timing enough to take advantage - otherwise its wasted. £2.42 a litre is ridiculous. If Millers Octane Booster's claims of +2 RON a tankful are to be believed, then I've been running 100ish RON for the last 5 years I think this is a product aimed at trackday drivers/sunday racers with sufficiently tweaked race machinery to make use of the more potent fuel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 And really, we should be talking about it here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Le Man, 102 RON fuel wouldn't make your GTI any faster at all [/ QUOTE ] I know, but it won't stop the Saxo boys from street testing it at everyone elses expensense! that was my point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Personally, I buy 98 (exclusively Optimax) because of its beneficial additives to engine maintenance and longevity. It's only a few pence a litre more expensive anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Hehe but by your own logic, they'll already be road-testing Optimax and Ultimate and since 102 RON won't make them go ANY faster, there's nothing to worry about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Personally, I buy 98 (exclusively Optimax) because of its beneficial additives to engine maintenance and longevity. It's only a few pence a litre more expensive anyway. [/ QUOTE ] I can see that quote in a Shell Marketing document already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] And really, we should be talking about it here [/ QUOTE ] ....Thanks for the link but our discussion started off here as being specific to the GTI and its turbocharged FSI engine. I know you would like more GTI forum peeps to get out more but sometimes it's less time consuming to go with the flow here. Very helpful/useful of you to post us the link here so we learn from that discussion as well . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Le Man, 102 RON fuel wouldn't make your GTI any faster at all [/ QUOTE ] I know, but it won't stop the Saxo boys from street testing it at everyone elses expensense! that was my point [/ QUOTE ] I think the £2.42 a litre will though. It would probably cost them more to fill the tank up than what the car is worth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] And really, we should be talking about it here [/ QUOTE ] ....Thanks for the link but our discussion started off here as being specific to the GTI and its turbocharged FSI engine. I know you would like more GTI forum peeps to get out more but sometimes it's less time consuming to go with the flow here. Very helpful/useful of you to post us the link here so we learn from that discussion as well . [/ QUOTE ] Not this again Robin, I owe you a reply to your pm - I've not been around much this week and been rather busy but I will do that. The essence of my point is, its less time consuming for GTi people to read it here, but what about the rest of TSN and the thousands of people who will join the site or the tens of thousands that just google in and don't join. Why would they look in the GTi forum for a post on fuel? There isn't actually any bit of detail specific to the GTi here, the comments relate to high-output engines in general, particularly those that are remapped The joy's in the bigger picture - we dont' harp on about this issue for nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 The information from VW is incorrect. The car would run perfectly on 102 RON, there is only a lower limit, because of the way FSI technology works. Plus I sincerely doubt that any VW regular technician would ever trace any problem back to fuel type, although they would like you to think they could! Also, I think F1 engines run to different octains, depending upon the characteristics and altitude of the circuit, and the specific performance type they are looking for. But they have run at over 108 if my information is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 [ QUOTE ] it's a bit irresponsible of BP to sell it IMO . It's kind of provoking fast driving/racing. I know that you could argue that 98RON does to, and its's down to the driver and they would drive like that anyway blah blah blah, but by upping the ante and introducing a racing fuel, they're just prompting the unsociable amongst us to road test at every opportunity. It has no other use other than for provoking outright illegal high speed driving in my opinion. Keep it on the track and don't give the boy racers another excuse BP! (just my opinion ) [/ QUOTE ] You own a performance car, but you are anti performance fuel??? That's a contradiction in terms, if ever there was one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 I'm not disagreeing with you but as discussions invariably meander there's always going to be info buried in individual forums which might be viewed as more appropriate under General Cars for example. It works both ways....Not everyone in a specific car model forum wants to spend time in the other forums or even has interests in other car models. A Moderator posting a link, as you did, is extremely helpful and the best way to go imo - Although it's extra work for you Mods. It's not realistic to expect members to necessarily always start a topic in the most appropriate forum and I expect that the originator of this topic here sincerely thought it was an appropriate place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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