Talking about Shell Optimax .I've used four tankfulls in my 1.8T and can't really say I've noticed any difference .

Also in the manual it says "Fuels with a higher octane number than specified can be used without restrictions. This does not offer any advantages in respect of engine output and fuel consumption, however! " (page119)

So does anybody think it is worth the extra 5p or 6p a litre or is it just marketing hype?

Co-incidentally, I've been trying Optimax for the last few tankfuls.

The car seems to run a bit smoother, but I'm not convinced that it's anything to do with the fuel - it's more likely to be the type of driving I've been doing over the last week. We've been on holiday just outside York, and instead of the daily short commutes to/from work or the shops, we've been going for extended runs through the Yorkshire Dales. Great fun, and lots of chances to practise advanced driving

I'll keep to the optimax for a few more tankfuls before deciding whether or not it's worth the extra cost.

Smoothness is the common factor in most people's impression of running Optimax vs. any other fuel. I'm currently trying to carry out my own survey by using 3 or 4 tankfuls of various fuels in succession. At present I am on Esso SUL. Seems to give poke but feels harsh. This could be all in the mind though. I plan to try BP SUL and Optimax for the same period. I run Optimax all the time in the 928.

On the minus side, my fuel economy is down at present, but that could be just because I've been a bit bored and giving it more welly than usual. Very hard to tell without a really extended test period.

Depends, for day to day motoring no it's not worth it Really

I have a specific map for optimax that changes the timings etc. Now for me when I use optimax and this program I get a great benefit (approx 20bhp on paper).

Used on a normal map I get some buzz but not alot. I try and run optimax where possible, but I don't do alot of miles. However when push comes to shove I'll stick anything in, even had the diesel pump in once eek...ate some chocolate afterwards

I've filled up with BP 95 RON two days ago ( my first post Optimax fill up ) and if anything my fuel consumption is better . Again this could be due to other factors than the fuel , still I can't help but be a bit cynical about Optimax and the extra cost involved .

My 10p's worth ! :-

I ran an Impreza Turbo for 25000m exclusively on Optimax and BP or Esso Super Unleaded, because the company was paying for my fuel.

My personal experience was that I found the car to run far more consistently well on Super Unleaded than Optimax.

Also, I had the bottom half of my engine meltdown while being run on Optimax, despite the best on-the-dot servicing, the best motorsport oil and cooling down when 'driven'.

Coincidence or not, when I got my new short engine fitted under warranty, I used Super Unleaded only for the next 11,000m. I am not convinced by the claims made from Optimax and there is increasingly a split on its performance on Scoobynet and other forums. At first, everyone seemed to be in favour of it.

Save your money.

I would like to try another type of SUL , but of all the petrol stations here in Berwick , the only one that stocks a SUL is the Shell one , hence its Optimax. So its either that or 95 octane for me.

According to my sticker, my Octavia is rated for 91/95 RON, but I've run a few tanks

of Optimax through it. Seemed a bit smoother, but bizarrely seemed to lack it's

top end "poke". Also, when I hold the engine in quite high revs (like when waiting

for someone in front of me to move over) a nasty suplhur smell fills the car.

Usually prompting embarrassing questions and accusations...

Fuel consumption seemed down, but my route to work has changed and I'm doing

less motorway cruises now.

So in my opinion, not worth the extra 5p!

Rob

I have also been using Optimax for the last 4 or 5 tankfulls , and I'm not convinced either , perhaps I'll try Fabpreza's advice and try super unleaded and see if I can tell the difference with that .

SUL for me, I don't use Optimax any more. Used it exclusively for a while, but I prefer SUL.

Mind you as Colin said, I bung any old crap in mine and it doesn't seem to make much difference. Actually thats a fib, chucked some 92 octane in it by mistake - it then proceeded to run like a dog with no legs (no offence Denis) until I could fill it with SUL!

TaviaRs Wrote

SUL for me, I don't use Optimax any more. Used it exclusively for a while, but I prefer SUL.

Now he tells us ! - your signature at one time was something like Shell Optimax Gold encrusted user - probably got that wrong , but it was something like that Did wonder why you hadn't posted before about the virtues of Optimax , now I know why

Have to add my name to the list of "have tried it - not convinced". I ran six full tanks, about 2000 miles, but I couldn't look anyone in the eye and swear it was better. Of course it's natural to 'want' to believe there is an improvement, especially when you

How about buying a seperate octane booster fuel additive and adding this to regular 95 octane fuel?

Would this have the desired effect? Surely this would work out cheaper than Optimax/SUL as well?

Just a thought.

I chuck in a cetane booster additive to each tankfull in mine. Seems to make things run smoother, although could just be the placebo effect.

I've been using Optimax exclusively now for sometime and IMHO my RS run's smoother than running with 95RON unleaded. I also get better MPG.

Must admit I haven't run on SUL for an extended time; my nearest SUL supplier is Sainsburys. Will have to checkout some of the dedicated petrol retailers me thinks.

With all this talk of Optimax not living upto it's reputation may be that's why Shell may be releasing that 100+ RON petrol found on the Continent.

Cheers.

Adrian.

Originally posted by SkodiRS in this post

Will have to checkout some of the dedicated petrol retailers me thinks.

Cheers.

Adrian.

I'm not sure that they exist, in the way we would like them to. Up here in the north west we have a Shell refinery at Stanlow, if you drive in the area near to the distribution terminal gates you'd be surprised at the number of different 'logos' you see on the tanker vehicles working out of there. When Shell make their claims for Optimax, then they have to be certain that's what is reaching their retail storage tanks other wise there would be major problems with the likes of trades-description-act. However when you fill up you'll see a couple of numbers displayed on the pump something like 95RON regular, 97RON super and then BS4040 or BS7070, (can't remember which) but this is the clue to what you are buying. This is the standard that the fuel in that nozzle must comply with. Whether or not it was refined by the company whose name appears on all the signage, well...that may be different.

I am often amused to hear folks being very dismissive of 'super market rubbish' when talking about fuels. It may have been purchased through a supermarket pump, but you would need some detailed information on the supply route before you could

A sign in my local Shell garage indicates Optimax as Fuel Of The Year (2002 I think)!

Any idea how they judge best fuel?!

Was wondering about supermarket petrol, as Morrisons is cheap and they do vouchers

and stuff to knock the price down further...

Rob.

Originally posted by spc in this post

Reading the contributions to this thread clearly many of have gone out of our way to try Optimax...Personally I

Originally posted by robmawer in this post

Was wondering about supermarket petrol, as Morrisons is cheap and they do vouchers

and stuff to knock the price down further...

Rob.

Rob

I'm about 2 miles from Morrisons, unleaded is 72.9ppl at present, with a store loyalty card you can get this down by 1.5ppl (don't know the details). I've done about 1000 miles on this since I stopped my Optimax experiment. If there is any difference in the way the car runs I can't feel it, cause I'm distracted thinking about the extra money I'm making out of my company mileage allowance:D

I suppose if we really wanted to save money we could look at lpg / lng ! There is plenty of that about @ 35ppl.

Stands back and waits for someone to say 'Diesel'............

:cheers: Paul

Yeah, I've thought about LPG but I don't know if my mileage and engine size would make

it particularly worthwhile for the initial outlay. And 35ppl is a *lot* more expensive than

it was in Crete, so it's not like the government aren't going to screw it for tax when they

can!

I wouldn't really want to drive a diesel, due to the pollutants...

Rob.

Originally posted by robmawer in this post

........... so it's not like the government aren't going to screw it for tax when they

can!

Rob.

:rant: Now to the heart of the problem.....if it wasn't for the tax on fuel, the duty, and any other bloody add-on I've forgotten then we wouldn't have a problem!

Paul

It may be expensive, but at least the money has been used to improve public services

and reduce crime...

Hmm...

Rob.

Rob

Couldn't possibly respond to your last message on a public forum like this

Paul

One of my mates runs a 140bhp Beemer 3-series and swears that there is a noticeable improvement in acceleration when he fills up with Optimax. Personally, I think petrol's petrol, wherever you buy it ...

A friend of mine carefully logs his MPG on his Volvo S40, and reckons that Optimax improves his MPG sufficiently to offset the higher price. Unless his wife drives, then it drops the consumption by 5mpg, because she says it goes faster on Optimax!

I'd call him a sad slow driver, but his other car is an XJS V12 with manual box, big bore exhaust and some other bits, which gives roughly 400bhp, no matter what you run it on! My Omega is pretty indifferent to what kind of Unleaded you run it on. I think it must vary according to car and driver -plus a factor for how long the stuff's been stored, since Optimax seems to "go off" fairly quickly -I suspect that the more volatile additives must evaporate.

Phil