Again I have noticed an improvement of 3 to 4mpg on the maxi dot whilst using BP superunleaded so this goes some way in justifying the added expense and shows to me the car runs better. As for tuned to a certain grade of fuel you have to understand how fuel injection works and afrs etc. The car is tuned to run better and more efficient on the higher grade fuels

Will suck it and see when I do test.

But thanks for your comments.

It would be helpful if VAG gave more general advice on options.

They obviously look at costs/emissions / performance  and economy. as this helps sell the product to the masses.

 

Trying to find objective test data,some reports go back into early 2000's and indicate very little difference-hence I will continue to investigate as now interested to getting a  definitive conclusion that suits my all round requirement in owning this quality product.

 

Love it even running at current status!

Theres a lot of back and forth over what seems to be very Fn simple, a petrol engine in fact any petrol engine will run better on a higher grade of petrol (that bit doesn't need a rocket scientist) but, due to not every fuel filling station stocking the higher grades of petrol, Skoda make their engines capable of running on lower grades of petrol also.  I would guess, every OEM does.

 

Google it, if you don't believe me but I find in a complicated world, a little common sense goes a long way.

 

Regards

T

a petrol engine in fact any petrol engine will run better on a higher grade of petrol (that bit doesn't need a rocket scientist) 

 

That's not necessarily true and shouldn't be followed as the bible of motoring. It simply depends on how the engine has been tuned, just as some of the posters here have already mentioned. Try putting >105 Ron fuel in your TSI engine and see what happens.

 

This is from Wikipedia (I know it's not the most trustworthy source):

"Many high-performance engines are designed to operate with a high maximum compression, and thus demand fuels of higher octane. A common misconception is that power output or fuel efficiency can be improved by burning fuel of higher octane than that specified by the engine manufacturer. The power output of an engine depends in part on the energy density of the fuel being burnt. Fuels of different octane ratings may have similar densities, but because switching to a higher octane fuel does not add more hydrocarbon content or oxygen, the engine cannot develop more power."

Edited 13 January, 201412 yr by TudorM

Today I have contacted Skoda UK / VW technical  departments FOR CLARIFICATION FOR OVERALL BEST  OPERATING RESULT for the short or long term owner.

 

Now waiting for a constructive reply. 

 

Not everyone has technical or engineering knowhow,so common sense can't always apply.

What's your usual route? You seem to be getting quite excellent mpg from this engine. Which is not something I'm getting, hehe.

 

I've tried both 95, during the running in as I was taking it easy anyway. And now I'm on 98. To be honest, couldn't really tell any difference. The engine is so smooth anyway and so eager to pull at any speed that you'd be going highly illegal speeds before you notice any real differences. I'll be running 98 anyway since the fill-up cost difference to 95 is minimal (around 6.5 euros) where I live. When you consider how much the car cost in the first place, that's peanuts... 

 

I live near Guildford and it involves about 0.33 mile in a country lane, then 5½ via a normal A road, a small section of which I can get 50-60 mph when its quiet, then 1¼ urban, most of it I can do around about 35-40 mph. It's now got 218 on the trip computer and it's now in the middle of the segment before the ½ tank mark.

 

I got stuck in traffic and behind several "old" folk who like to pootle around at 20 mph  (for feck sake get a bus if you want to go that slow!), so it drunk a bit more than usual today. But it's still looking good for around about 380-400 per tank.

I'd be a happy man to get 400 miles from a tank from this engine... Oh well, I am happy to own it anyway.

I definitely notice better performance (and economy) when using Shell V-Power, Esso Super plus and Tesco's momentum 99. The engine just feels smoother and throttle response is quicker.

 

I am getting roughly 400 miles for a full tank.

Mine is at appox. 380-400 best on 95 RON, so pretty pleased.

 

Have you tried  running lower RON for a tank?

To me the 380-400 mark is great for a car that's not run in as yet, I mean I couldn't expect anything near 340/50 on my last car a piece of diesel junk AWD thing.

 

It's referred to as a thing as I cannot bear to mention its brand or model name it just makes me feel sick (so please don't ask).

 

I can't wait to see what the car will do once it has a few thousand miles OTC, I'm sure that it will only get better. 

Today I have contacted Skoda UK / VW technical  departments FOR CLARIFICATION FOR OVERALL BEST  OPERATING RESULT for the short or long term owner.

 

Now waiting for a constructive reply. 

 

Not everyone has technical or engineering knowhow,so common sense can't always apply.

 I await their reply also but, common sense goes a long way, I tend to apply it first and wait to be proved wrong, which I'm always more than willing to be.

 

Regards

T

Now whilst not Scientific at all. Honest John always suggests Shell V Power for petrol cars. More so than Ultimate as it apparently has a higher octane rating. I know someone with a Mazda 6 who swears by V Power. So with this in mind, I changed from conventional Sainsburys/ Shell/ BP, to Shell V Power. I very rarely checked what sort of range i was getting on a tank, but I usually did when on a run to Scotland. Running on virtually a full tank of V Power (the first time i put it in), I found I got extra mileage. Working it out, showed that I was better off money wise by running on V Power. Thats not even thinking about the supposed benefits to the engine.

I wouldnt say I noticed the car running any better, and I couldnt notice any extra power. But if you worked the mileage out, you got better mileage on it, plus I also noticed the car was more willing to run in a higher gear. For example I would run at 30mph in 5th gear. Before that it seemed to struggle slightly trying this, so i never did. So if it really did help the engine as well, then it was a win win situation.

Very interesting James, so now we know i works on diesels we've just gotta figure it out on petrols

 

Regards

T

I tend to wait and see what happens with the supermarkets, because every so often they do money off fuel when you do the weekly shop + nectar/clubcard points on top.

 

The 1st tank of petrol was at JS and courtesy of my parents I got given a voucher for 10ppl off, so that was a rather nice amount saved.

 

I also have a Shell Drivers Club card, which gets a few fills on it, but only regular UL, at the moment. I don't use BP, they're rip off merchants around here, Esso I won't use either.

Very interesting James, so now we know i works on diesels we've just gotta figure it out on petrols

 

Regards

T

I may not have made it clear, but all of what i said is based on petrol vehicles. My friends approx 4yr old petrol Mazda 6 (2.0l), and my old '06 plate Ford Focus (1.6l).

From what i can tell, the super unleaded fuels are better than conventional for petrol vehicles, and it is usually quite obvious, but on diesels the difference is less so. In fact, Shell V Power diesel has a worse calorific value than Shell conventional diesel, so you are not going to see any benefit in terms of mileage or power. In fact it would be the opposite. However the cleaning agents and any other supplements added to VPower supposedly counteract the worse calorific value. Thats what ive been able to ascertain regarding diesel. Honest John recomments BP Ultimate diesel

Hope these videos from 5th gear help, one is from 2010 and the other 2012.

 

2010

http://youtu.be/gQghB4asSnI

 

2012

http://youtu.be/WTaBngvsPrc?t=27s

Hope these videos from 5th gear help, one is from 2010 and the other 2012.

 

2010

http://youtu.be/gQghB4asSnI

 

2012

http://youtu.be/WTaBngvsPrc?t=27s

That last one was a poor summary. She says VPower isnt worth it because on an everyday drive you wouldnt notice the increased power. But she hasnt taken any increased mileage into account. The chances are if you stayed on conventional Asda fuel, you'd get less mileage to a tank. So actually, you'll probably find Asda fuel isnt worth it.

Thats before we even think of the long term benefits of the cleaning agents in VPower.

That last one was a poor summary. She says VPower isnt worth it because on an everyday drive you wouldnt notice the increased power. But she hasnt taken any increased mileage into account. The chances are if you stayed on conventional Asda fuel, you'd get less mileage to a tank. So actually, you'll probably find Asda fuel isnt worth it.

Thats before we even think of the long term benefits of the cleaning agents in VPower.

Interesting test.

Conclusion ,unfortunately only based on power output - wish they could also have done a fuel consumption test as well.

 

But thanks for the investigation and examples shown.

 

I had a miss phone call from Skoda UK yesterday , relating too my questions raised .

 

Want them to  reply in writing.

 

Hope they get back in touch again soon but done anticipate anything much more that the words in the manual or the filler.

 

Lets hope you a bit more but not holding my breath

 

I tend to wait and see what happens with the supermarkets, because every so often they do money off fuel when you do the weekly shop + nectar/clubcard points on top.

 

The 1st tank of petrol was at JS and courtesy of my parents I got given a voucher for 10ppl off, so that was a rather nice amount saved.

 

I also have a Shell Drivers Club card, which gets a few fills on it, but only regular UL, at the moment. I don't use BP, they're rip off merchants around here, Esso I won't use either.

 

Both Tesco's & Asda have cut tupenny off a litre this morning, could be the tempation required to try that 99 Ron from Tesco's

Regards

T

Edited 14 January, 201412 yr by themanwithnoaim

Feedback today from Skoda UK Technical Support Team:

 

Use  The Higher RON rating, for Better performance, Longevity and Better Consumption.

 

This was via John Good Customer Services.

 

What annoys me is why this is not on the filler cap, as it was on the Fabia vRS MK2.

 

However, I still plan to do a back to back test.

... The chances are if you stayed on conventional Asda fuel, you'd get less mileage to a tank ...

If you want to know if there is any advantage, you need to measure the fuel consumption - accurately.  Simple enough - measure how much fuel you put in and note what the mileage is each time.

"Miles per tankful" is virtually meaningless.  What is 'a tankful'?  Empty?  Nearly empty?  How nearly empty?  'Nearly' empty to exactly the same extent each time?  There doesn't seem to be much point in trying to claim that X fuel gives better fuel economy than Y fuel if you couldn't even be bothered to take the trouble to actually measure the fuel consumption!

If you want to know if there is any advantage, you need to measure the fuel consumption - accurately.  Simple enough - measure how much fuel you put in and note what the mileage is each time.

"Miles per tankful" is virtually meaningless.  What is 'a tankful'?  Empty?  Nearly empty?  How nearly empty?  'Nearly' empty to exactly the same extent each time?  There doesn't seem to be much point in trying to claim that X fuel gives better fuel economy than Y fuel if you couldn't even be bothered to take the trouble to actually measure the fuel consumption!

There is always the possibility that some may not know how to fill up their tanks (in litres) then work it back to mpg.....

 

i.e to convert litres to gallons divide by 4.546 then divide the miles driven since last fill by that figure....

Edited 17 January, 201412 yr by Timoctav

  

Both Tesco's & Asda have cut tupenny off a litre this morning, could be the tempation required to try that 99 Ron from Tesco's

Regards

T

Which is fine provided you have a Tesco or Asda a nearby, but I don't so I have to use JS or Shell only without going well out of my way to get it, which is completely pointless.

Nearest Tesco is Aldershot or Broadbridge Heath (Horsham) 18 miles away.

I do have a BP station locally but they are very expensive (3ppl) on average more on standard fuel, let alone super unleaded.

Arrr haaa. good point, well made, its not worth going off route for a slightly cheaper filling station, I use http://www.petrolprices.com/ then setup a search with the postcode and say 5 miles radius but then, I setup another search for the next 5 miles along commonly used routes such as, home to work.  This way I get price updates on the filling stations on my usual routes.

 

The wife works at Mount Browne and has found a cheaper filling station over there, I'll ask her which and get back to you, fortunately for me, Tesco's at The Meadows, Camberley and JS at Watchmoor Park are en route to work hence, I've got most of the bases covered.

 

Regards

T

If you want to know if there is any advantage, you need to measure the fuel consumption - accurately.  Simple enough - measure how much fuel you put in and note what the mileage is each time.

"Miles per tankful" is virtually meaningless.  What is 'a tankful'?  Empty?  Nearly empty?  How nearly empty?  'Nearly' empty to exactly the same extent each time?  There doesn't seem to be much point in trying to claim that X fuel gives better fuel economy than Y fuel if you couldn't even be bothered to take the trouble to actually measure the fuel consumption!

Eh, what is a tankful? Well its exactly the same as the day before, or the day before that. Same car, same tank. I mentioned tankful, because thats how i worked out whether the extra cost was worth it, and because i like to know what i am getting on a tank.  

 

Anyway, very kind of you to be so concerned. However, when have i said that i am just guessing? OK, I said people 'MAY' find they get less mileage on Asda fuel, but i said that just in case some cars amazingly didnt. If i hadnt of put the word 'May' in there, someone would have told me off for claiming all cars are the same. Seems as though im in a lose lose situation.

 

Amazing as it may seem, as i have mentioned somewhere previously, I have worked out what mileage/ consumption/ whatever other word in the dictionary you so wish to use. I fill a car up, then see what i got on half a tank (never had a problem with the gauge), then when i came to fill it up, checked what was put in.

 

So all because i used a word you didnt like, you dont accept wht I say? Or just decide im making things up?

Guess what? On my current diesel, Im getting more mileage on a smaller tank than i was on my petrols larger tank. Am i talking rubbish just because i used the word mileage? 

Mileage/ consumption- If on the same size tank, it basically tells you the same thing. Oh, and no method (even yours) is 100% accurate. Depends how sensitive the pressure sensor on the hose is. Some will let you get more fuel in than another. Yes, if you use the same hose everytime, then OK, but then you cant check between different fuels. 

 

Thankfully the difference in 'mileage' was great enough to not be down to a fuelling error.

The actual tank may remain the same, but a "tankful" doesn't mean much since you don't know with any accuracy how full it is!  It is the lack of precision which I am commenting about, not the phraseology people use to describe their fuel consumption.

I don't wish to be discourteous, but I am intrigued that people apparently care enough to post about their fuel consumption to post on here, yet haven't bothered to measure or calculate what their fuel consumption is!  Do such people not know how much fuel they put in when they fill up?  If they noted or recorded this, they would soon realise how variable a quantity this mystical "tankful" was. 

(For the mathematically challenged, if you wish to quote your fuel in mpg so that it is comparable with everyone else, simply multipy litres x 0.22 to get gallons.  Really not difficult!)