Tunner Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 A true story: Today, I was struggling to find a petrol station without a queue, so I ended up at a Shell garage about 5 miles from home. There were closer sources of fuel, but I fancied a bit of a blast on a sunny day with the climate on cool! Anyway, having filled up, I drove out and within a few hundred meters, I wondered what on earth had happened to my performance, it was like having an additional wedge of torque. I drove home with a big smile on my face, thinking that the summer sun had made my senses go haywire! The penny finally dropped when I got home and looked at my receipt, 40 litres of Optimax. I had inadvertently filled up with the stuff. I had used it in my Audi TTC 225 with no noticeable increase in power. Well BLIMEY, the GTI flies on this juice! The low end pick up is amazing! I have used the Total 97RON recently, without any appreciable difference, but Optimax is outstanding. You have to remember that I had no idea what was in my tank when I re-fuelled apart from 20 miles of 95RON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted June 3, 2006 Report Share Posted June 3, 2006 I had the same experience in my A3 3.2 on Optimax. But not so noticeable in my GTI surprisingly. Maybe it's because i'm used to it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanR Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Noticed the difference in my Golf GTi mkV with optimax, supposed to be 98 ron over the other premium petrols. Although my previous car (Audi S3 210 ps) responded better to BP's ultimate unleaded 97 ron... strange how different cars perform! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtiveedubber Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 I think the GTI is specifically tuned to run on 98RON fuel so it makes sence that you would get a big improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Has anyone actually tried the BP Ultimate 102 RON in their GTI yet? Is it better than Optimax? I've found the Tesco 99RON Biofuel little different to Optimax and 5p per litre cheaper locally - but Optimax prices seem to vary widely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriswastle Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 i have never really noticed any difference with any fuel performance wise, but the DSG is smoother with the higher octane stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Hi Tunner > So in fact you have just conducted a 'blindfold' test! Very interesting but I'm not surprised. I've never used anything other than Optimax in my GTI so I can't compare, but I know I'm very happy with performance. 98.5p/litre Friday in this neck of the woods. Personally I just can't see the point of using anything other than what VW recommend for the 2.0T FSI. I use Shell's station finder web site and have no problem SatNavving to one when I need refuelling. I start planning where to refuel as soon as I'm down to a quarter full. Shell station finder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] i have never really noticed any difference with any fuel performance wise, [/ QUOTE ] me neither Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] i have never really noticed any difference with any fuel performance wise [/ QUOTE ] Any change in performance will only really be evident in providing more power at peak performance or at peak torque. Thus you get a little more power and torque at maximum foot down..... The Fifth Gear test of fuels with the Golf GTI concluded [ QUOTE ] Certainly an improvement in power (with Optimax over standard unleaded) but whether you'd be able to feel an extra five horsepower around town is a different matter [/ QUOTE ] Optimax is 98 RON which is the recommended RON for the GTI. EU regulations require that new cars can run at 95 RON. For the GTI there being a minor (approx 2.5% power) trade off for this - it is a small difference that most people won't miss. Peak performance can be obtained with the higher octane fuel - Optimax. Other options include the Tesco 99RON biofuel or the BP Ultimate 102 RON fuels, both of which are higher RON rated than Optimax Certainly Tunner noticed the difference BP RON 102 station finder Linky to Tesco 99 petrol station locations Fifth gear written result (note power at wheels, not at engine) Wave file clip of the Fifth Gear program segment on fuels This links straight to a .wmv file btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tunner Posted June 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Unfortunately, to visit a Shell station means quite a detour, but I shell certainly look to fill up when I can on the stuff. A blind test it was and there was no need to floor the throttle, the power delivery increase was noticeable under moderate acceleration. Not a massive increase, but worth the few extra pence per litre. I will report back on my MPG which has remained constant at 24mpg for the least 4000 'in town' miles using Total's Netto blend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Cool What is probably happening is that at the same throttle setting (i.e. the same depression of foot on accelerator) you are getting more torque even with the same physical amount of fuel demonstrating more power with the higher RON fuel Shows you know your car well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanceuppercut Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 i own a mazda rx8(the worlds thurstiest car) i also own a mk4 1.8 t gti(not the worlds best handling car)wish id bought a mk5 gti! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 go on and make the change because you know it's right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppetboy Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] 98.5p/litre Friday in this neck of the woods. [/ QUOTE ] 100.9p/litre around here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainy Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 I'm paying £1.04 for Optimax up here I've been running the GTI on it since day 1 apart from the odd tankful of BP ultimate 97 RON which felt better than Optimax IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSheds Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 [ QUOTE ] i own a mazda rx8(the worlds thurstiest car) i also own a mk4 1.8 t gti(not the worlds best handling car)wish id bought a mk5 gti! [/ QUOTE ] As a matter of interest what is the real world MPG you're getting on the RX8 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 I think it's GPM on an RX8! Those sewing machines drinks like nothing else! Sell both and get a GTI MkV mate! We've all been there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edo Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 I used to have an RX, and the fuel consumption was absoloute pants - never managed to get higher than 20mpg - worse than both a 5.0 V8 M5, and a 4.2 V8 S4... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbaron Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 I had an RX8 for a couple of years - the average mpg was 22! Thing was, you always got the same mpg whether thrashing the car on the twisties or cruising along the motorway. Every 200 miles you were hunting for the next petrol station. Re. the GTi fuel, mine seems to run better on BP Ultimate than Optimax, but Shell stations are easier to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 102 RON Ultimate £2.43 per litre locally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Can't say I notice the difference between higher octane and regular fuel. Possibly the car is a touch smoother on the good stuff but no way can I feel its quicker. I reckon its all in the mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I reckon its all in the mind! [/ QUOTE ] ....That's what they say about good sex too! Joking apart, I think you are dead right - The GTI feels quicker than it might be, though I have heard stories of it beating Astons and Ferraris etc . Even I didn't lose any ground keeping up with a Ferrari accelerating uphill the other day (I was very surprised) but I'm sure he wasn't trying. Afterall we would both have gone into licence losing potential. Doubtless the cars we both overtook thought we were hooligans in our noisy red toys . Talking of which [as I have now gone off topic anyway]: Now it's good weather, I'm driving with my sun roof tilted open at the back and all my windows down about one inch, principally for natural ventilation (works at very high speeds too without too much wind noise). I can always hear my Millteks with all windows closed but now with windows as described it's truly awesome in sound. A couple of my passengers in this fine weather have both commented unprompted on just how good she sounds when the engine is working hard. Now, where's that nearest confounded tunnel ?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] 102 RON Ultimate £2.43 per litre locally [/ QUOTE ] ....Jeeeeeeze!! You're not running on that are you, nhs ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemod Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Anyone looking for Optimax in Northern Ireland, this is the response I got from Shell [ QUOTE ] Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the availability of Shell Optimax in Northern Ireland. Regrettably, due to storage constraints in the Belfast supply terminal, we are not able to supply this grade to our filling stations in Northern Ireland. However, we do supply Super Unleaded which is a 97 octane unleaded but you would need to check with your garage as to whether this grade is suitable for your car as the engine may need re-tuned. [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I reckon its all in the mind! [/ QUOTE ] normally i'd agree as i'm the worlds biggest cynic. But i was gobsmacked at the difference in my A3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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