After reading a previous thread (somewhere) on the forum about high octane fuel, I thought I'd run a little experiment of my own. I don't have access to a rolling road, computers and all the other accoutrements that go with it so you'll have to take my word for it.

For my 1st tank I've put 97RON in. It's 6p a litre more expensive than the 4 star at my local Esso, which I'm using as my control and has cost me an extra £3.22 for this tank.

I've done just over 100 miles so far, the needle hasn't moved and according to the trip I've got 380 miles of range left. I normally tootle round at the speed limit, unless a clown sits right up my arse (at which point I engage Sport and make it so) and normally average approx 350 to a tank. I'm using Fuelly but I realise it's subjective as my wife doesn't always ram it to the gunnels like I do.

I'm curious to see if anyone else does this or has considered it?

Updates to follow.....

As I mentioned in the other thread, My car has Revo Stage 1 and undoubtedly is better with high octane fuel. My overall economy has dropped I guess but that's down to having over 200bhp now and using it occasionally

Be aware that to have fitted nearly 54 litres of fuel in you must have vented the expansion space in the tank with nozzle (Tank capacity is 45L). If you have done this deliberately and repeat this every time you will be fine but if it was accidental and next time it doesn't vent it will skew your results dramatically.

Be aware that to have fitted nearly 54 litres of fuel in you must have vented the expansion space in the tank with nozzle (Tank capacity is 45L). If you have done this deliberately and repeat this every time you will be fine but if it was accidental and next time it doesn't vent it will skew your results dramatically.

A very good point Fatbloke.

Hence why filling from the 'peep' to the 'click' is a good way to monitor this accurately!

another thing, the pumps will also (sometimes) click off early, just a bit of backwash giving enough pressure ect... at the last WSM mee and damo (both fabia 2 vRS's ) both filled up with tesco momentum to the top of the tank (well, untill it clicked off) and went off for the drive, and he "apparently" used way more fuel than me, yet we were driving the same cars on the same route in the same way....

our conclusion was (given the computers showed similar fuel consumption) that the pump he was using must have clicked off a little earlyer than mine, and I got a bit more fuel in....

remember when it clicks off, if you sometimes go for it again, you get a load more in? if it clicks off three times in a row, fair enough, you are full...

another thing, the pumps will also (sometimes) click off early, just a bit of backwash giving enough pressure ect... at the last WSM mee and damo (both fabia 2 vRS's ) both filled up with tesco momentum to the top of the tank (well, untill it clicked off) and went off for the drive, and he "apparently" used way more fuel than me, yet we were driving the same cars on the same route in the same way....

our conclusion was (given the computers showed similar fuel consumption) that the pump he was using must have clicked off a little earlyer than mine, and I got a bit more fuel in....

remember when it clicks off, if you sometimes go for it again, you get a load more in? if it clicks off three times in a row, fair enough, you are full...

Hence how I managed to ram 54 litres in.....

if it helps, I've done a direct comparison when travelling to and from the last WSM meet (6 hours of motorway!)

on the way down (I had 97 RON BP Ultimate in) I did the motorway at an "indicated" 80 so circa 72mph....

on the way back I was on empty at the travelodge and assumed The attending service station would have super... it didn't, I put 95 in...

on the way home ,same speed, same motorway = 3mpg less on 95 ..... dont know what that would relate to in range on a tank full I'll leave you to figure that out if you wish...

I always use super, normally a mix of esso 97 and BP ultimate, but shell and tesco when I get a chance (none near me hence normally BP)

Put the 2nd tank in today. Tesco's Momentum 99 RON. I got 454 miles out of the last tank but I did ram it to the gunnels with 54 litres. The car worked it out at 37.5 mpg. We'll see how well we do on this tank. I only managed 46 litres this time.....

454!!!! I usually get 300 miles per tank.

It's also been said that you won't see any difference until you empty-top up with Ron 99 2 or 3 times in a row as the ECU takes its time to adapt to the new fuel. Therefore I suspect your findings may not be that different from the very first tank of 99. I guess it would need a long test to confirm differences between the two. 3 times of ron 95, 3 times of 99, comparing the 3rd tank each time, so maybe even more tanks are needed.

454!!!! I usually get 300 miles per tank.

That was from a tank that was rammed and I managed to get 54 litres in it.....

It's also been said that you won't see any difference until you empty-top up with Ron 99 2 or 3 times in a row as the ECU takes its time to adapt to the new fuel. Therefore I suspect your findings may not be that different from the very first tank of 99. I guess it would need a long test to confirm differences between the two. 3 times of ron 95, 3 times of 99, comparing the 3rd tank each time, so maybe even more tanks are needed.

I've had the car for well over a year and have run it on normal 95 RON until the start of this experiment so I'm well aware of what it'll do on normal unleaded. As this is the 2nd tank of high octane I expect the economy to improve.....

That was from a tank that was rammed and I managed to get 54 litres in it.....

I've had the car for well over a year and have run it on normal 95 RON until the start of this experiment so I'm well aware of what it'll do on normal unleaded. As this is the 2nd tank of high octane I expect the economy to improve.....

Don't expect miracles! I swear by Momentum 99, but only because it drives sooooo much better than on 95ron. I know its always going to achieve a better mpg aswell, but I can't say its been that noticable. Its all about the performance for me, and that is very noticable.

Don't expect miracles! I swear by Momentum 99, but only because it drives sooooo much better than on 95ron. I know its always going to achieve a better mpg aswell, but I can't say its been that noticable. Its all about the performance for me, and that is very noticable.

I cant believe anyone with a turbo charged car like ours wouldnt ever put anything in other than premium unleaded. I know it wont kill the car on 95oct but still.

My fabia has only ever had shell vpower and the odd tank of Tesco 99.

My mate has a bmw 335d and had it remapped so it goes like stink. Anyways hes spent alot of money on his car over the years and services it religiously. But hes always put in standard diesel which I just didnt get. He always said premium was a waste of money unitl he had to take it into the garage for a clogged fuel filter. Bet ur ass that wouldnt have happened if he used premium as the additives would have prevented that.

Tank of Shell V Power this time. All seems to be going well. I've noticed the performance has picked up, or at least it feels like it has.....

Tank of Shell V Power this time. All seems to be going well. I've noticed the performance has picked up, or at least it feels like it has.....

It's all in your mind ......

I have run nothing but v power and higher octane fuels in mine since 24miles ( 4 weeks ago :-p )

When I owned petrol cars I always used high octane petrol,as this is known to be better for the engine overall increasing responsiveness, lubrication and mpg. Not sure if you'll save money overall, here it's nearly 10p per litre more expensive.

V-power is better (as per all type of petrol or diesel) as Shell use more additives than other brands which also reflects on the price.

Witnessed a young lassie filling up a top of the range convertible merc (sl55 amg or suhin like that) with normal unleaded the other day.......pretty sure that should be running on super unleaded

It should, no real mechanical issue as the ECU will adapt, I guess the car wous bough based on look only..

It should, no real mechanical issue as the ECU will adapt, I guess the car wous bough based on look only..

Im guessing it was daddy that bought her it as she only looked a year or two older than me so shes probably clueless about it.

An audi R8 was filling up at the same time as me the other day but couldnt get a look to see what fuel he was putting in.....safe to say briskoda has made me a fuel snob : (

I'm going to fill up today with Tesco Momentum 99 (as it's across the road from work!).

I've used Shell V-Power in the car exclusively so far so before I do the deed what are opinions between the two fuels?

Thanks

we dont have tesco 99 near us, but I filled up and did the whole of the last WSM with it, and it performs exactly the same as v-power in my opinion

More than happy with Tesco Momentum and won't run it on anything else. A new Tesco opened nearby which not many people go to do it's always got some

I personally found that with tesco 99 i get no less performance wise but i get about 10mpg less than with vpower.