Hello everyone,

 

I recently acquired a Skoda Superb Mk3 (2019, 272PS) and am trying to make sure I don't make any regretable mistakes with the petrol I use.

The dilemma I am facing is that there the majority of petrol stations here provide you with 95 RON and 99 or 100 RON as options.

 

I checked out the car's flap as my 'source of truth' and it specifies "benzin RON/ROZ 98 min. 95", attached file skoda_flap.jpg.

 

I was hoping someone has already been through this scenario and could share his experience (hopefully positive ones!).

 

Short version:

I am tempted to use 100 RON, but am afraid about screwing up the engine.

 

Long version:

I found this thread, which gets close to my question, but doesn't make clear statements about using higher octane values

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/386759-petrol-octane-rating/

 

I've downloaded the car's manual, using the VIN to make sure it matches, and found 2 relevant pages:

 

Page 266, attaches file skoda_manual_266.png

Here the wording is a bit confusing for me, since it mentions 1) 'specified petrol 95/ min. 92 RON', 2) 'unleaded petrol min 95 RON', and 3) 'prescribed petrol 98/(95)'.

Based on the fonts they used, I think these are 3 distinct ways they specify the fuels on their flaps and I believe that I fall under the first formulation, but with 98 and 95 as RON values, instead of 95 and 92.

 

Page 266 didn't clarify matters for me, because I was searching for an upper boundary for the octane number and it provided a recommended value which I cannot find in petrol stations.

 

Page 267, attaches file skoda_manual_267.png

Here the Note touches the higher octane topic with all 3 points:

■ Unleaded petrol that has a higher octane number than that required by the engine can be used without limitations.
■ The use of petrol with an octane rating higher than 95 RON in does not result in either a noticeable increase in power nor lower fuel consumption in vehicles for which unleaded petrol 95/min 92 or 93 RON is specified.
■ On vehicles using prescribed petrol of min. 95 RON, the use of petrol with a higher octane number than 95 RON can increase the power and reduce fuel consumption.

 

So... I'd conclude it's OK to use 100 RON?

 

---

 

P.S. I mainly use the car on holidays, only minimal driving in the city, so fuel price isn't really critical.

Welcome.

 

Your car is the Min 95 octane.  So forget the Min 92 / 93 stuff as for other world regions or engines.

 

You have the Prescribed 98 as VW / Skoda have in the EU / Europe / UK,  except we in the UK have 95 E10 or 97 or 99 min E5.

 

That 99 Min in the UK can be 100 or 100+ on occasions. Locations.    

The Continental Europe 100, 100 + is lovely stuff for a TSI.     Enjoy. 

 

 

Edited 3 May, 20242 yr by Ootohere

Your question includes the answer you are looking for?

 

 

 

The higher octane petrols also generally have higher levels of cleaning additives which you may feel give additional benefits.

 

As you have a more sporty engine you may wish to take advantage of that by sticking to the required 98 (+) octane petrol, as stated it "can increase the power and reduce the fuel consumption".  Why bother having a higher powered engine and not run it on the recommended rating of fuel and have "slight power loss" and "slightly increased fuel consumption" other than only having 95 available as a top up to get you to the next available 98 fuel, or cost, in which case why have a sporty engine.

 

I do not know how is in your region, but here in mine fuel is very crappy regardless of rating. From people who have run lab analysis, in many case is lower octane fuel "boosted" with additives and not exactly true higher octane fuel.

Check with the local community what's their take on the fuel quality you have available there.

 

This said, I agree whole with the boys above, you can run 95 if you cannot do anything else, the engine will not suffer (will adjust timing), but you will not be getting the best out of it. Plus - again, check in your case - the 95 here is not best option for a high- performance engine. Since we do not have 97 or 98 here, I try to mix with 100 whenever I can, compatible with the pocket availability 😊

Hello again,

 

Thank you very much for the detailed replies.

 

During my trip this weekend I had half a tank of OMV 95 octane petrol left and filled the tank up with OMV 100plus. I chose OMV since the majority of posts from our local community recommended them for quality fuel in Romania.

After refueling the engine ran more smoothly on this 50-50% mix and the fuel consumption decreased a little bit. It will take me a few more trips to gradually use up the remaining 95 octane, but I liked the initial results.

 

@Ootohere
- thank you for the .pdf printout with the content of the fuels in the UK. It gave me a better idea what to look for. Indeed, the engine seemed to appreciate the 100plus.

 

@Stonekeeper
- I was just being very cautious, before posting I initially tried looking up how to achieve 98 octane petrol by mixing fuel ratios (wasn't sure if mixing fuels follows a linear relationship) and came across posts that said some engines don't get along well with higher octane than recommended in the manual

- I agree that the Skoda's manual carries the greatest weight and it states in black on white that it accepts higher octane, but wanted to double check with other people's hands on experience 😁

 

@nta16

- higher cleaning additives content sounds like a good reason to get the premium petrol, I'd rather prevent & delay issues rather than fix them  

- I was just a bit stuck with the fact that 98 octane was very hard to find and wanted to be sure 100 is safe to use, but I've overcome that concern, thank you!

 

@leolito

- I checked with the local community, they recommended OMV/Petrom, but advised against refueling at Lukoil; couldn't find any lab results so I'll have to stick to the popular opinion from the forums

- right now I'm running a 50-50% mix, but I'll try out increasing the proportion of 100plus octane petrol over the next month to see how the engine behaves

 

Cheers!

The cars might well run well run on 100 +  maybe 102 ron Race / Track fuel. Especially if mapped to.

Twice the price in the UK, but then no daft additives / detergents, you know every time what you are getting.

 

In Italy near the factories or tracks there is Shell V-Power 102 ron available at pumps. 

(Which is where their advert / vid of a F1 car running on pump fuel came about. A bit sneaky really.)

 

There used to be pre 2010 102 ron BP Ultimate available in a few filling stations in the UK near to tracks.

 

 

Edited 6 May, 20242 yr by Ootohere

5 hours ago, thedude92 said:

- I checked with the local community, they recommended OMV/Petrom, but advised against refueling at Lukoil; couldn't find any lab results so I'll have to stick to the popular opinion from the forums

- right now I'm running a 50-50% mix, but I'll try out increasing the proportion of 100plus octane petrol over the next month to see how the engine behaves

Interesting, also here OMV is well regarded, but opinions on LukOil are very divided, for the obvious reasons.

Try to continue running differently and see how it goes. I've tried a similar long-distance trip with 95 and 100 but got no meaningful differences neither in MPG, or in performance ...

5 hours ago, thedude92 said:

I'd rather prevent & delay issues rather than fix them

On that theme you would want timely servicing , maintenance and repairs of the whole and beyond the VWSkoda limited "servicing" and "maintenance" schedules keeping well on top of all clean and lubricate stuff.  For the engine that would be timely changes of engine oil and filter using very god quality oil for a sporty car and good quality oil filter, changing the air filter perhaps well in advance of VWSkoda schedules (in the UK at least) and spark plugs,  Just because a part is working doesn't mean it is working as good as it could or should be and in relation to a performance model too.

 

5 hours ago, thedude92 said:

It will take me a few more trips to gradually use up the remaining 95 octane, but I liked the initial results.

No need to wait if you do not want to, fill up the tank again now with 98 or 100.

 

A problem is that you can soon get used to improvements and they become the norm and no longer improvements - at least until you have to drop to previous levels.

 

Good luck

 

On that theme you would want timely servicing , maintenance and repairs of the whole and beyond the VWSkoda limited "servicing" and "maintenance" schedules keeping well on top of all clean and lubricate stuff.  For the engine that would be timely changes of engine oil and filter using very god quality oil for a sporty car and good quality oil filter, changing the air filter perhaps well in advance of VWSkoda schedules ...

 

On this subject, I am having a struggle with the fact the car is still in warranty and they do not "warrant" that I accelerate the schedule, claiming the use of long term oils with high level additives "warrants" longer scheduled intervals, but I still feel that they will not "warrant" engine degradation over time when the "warranty" expires ... I am thinking if perhaps get OE filters and 'trick' the oil change will trigger some hidden sensor that will advertise the work done ...

You may need to check where you are but there no reason why you can't do additional work and reset any reminders as long as the work done and items used are to warranty specification.

 

Personally I take the German additional specification numbers with a pinch of salt - but my wife's car is not under warranty - good oil that meets the required specification is a good oil, VW (and others) will use and promote the oil (company) that they have a commercial contract with and then go on to change their own specification numbers and oil suppliers other the years and decades and possibly sales markets.

 

A very good quality oil will protect more and for longer, it does not need any "long life" label.  The oil change (along with other) schedules are merely based on mileage or time not the condition of the oil (and filter) and the oil may best be changed sooner or possibly even a bit later, it depends on so many variables.  In the USA where oil is (even) more of a consumable they have places that change engine oil at 3,000 and 5,000 mile intervals.