Hi,

Can anyone advise which unleaded fuel is best for this model ie. 98 or 95 Ron.

Many thanks.

How deep are your pockets I'd probably just run it on 95 RON

Chris

Hi,

I've been running mine for the past 3 years on "normal" Shell unleaded.

Just tried swapping to Shell V Power - getting an extra couple of miles to the gallon!

Can't say that I notice much of a difference in performance, but it's my "commuter car", so doesn't get thrashed very often.

The standard ECU map cannot handle more than 95 ron. Unlike Scoobies and other high performance cars....therefore shoving in higher octane fuel into an unmapped car is pointless.

The standard ECU map cannot handle more than 95 ron. Unlike Scoobies and other high performance cars....therefore shoving in higher octane fuel into an unmapped car is pointless.

The 1.4 16v is reccomended to use higher octane petrol in the manual and on the petrol flap, 96RON I beleive

Spot on Skodayouth - it is one of the (unexpected) cars that will benefit from the higher Octane rating.

I also put a dose of redex in with this tankful (half price @ Halfords) - I'm sure someone on here will say it's pointless, but figure it won't do any harm.

ran my Lupo Sport (1.4 16v) on 98 and then 99 when it came available, since it hated 95

Interesting. It's probably the only way they could get 100bhp from a 1.4 by ramping up the timing and making people run high octance fuel in it.

'Most' cars on a normal map don't benefit from anything over 95 ron though. People waste their money on Shell Unclemax and insist that they get more power and better mpg when their cars aren't even aware of the higher octane rating.

The placebo effect in action.

Yeah definatly.

That Lupo was the only car I'd ever felt the difference in the fuels

use 98 and u'll be happy, I use it on mine and i get more miles than the normal 95 and slightly better performance

I still have a 1.4 16v and have run it on both over the last 7 years. No difference in my opinion.

Slight noticable difference on mine to be honest.

My instructor told me that filling up with "The good stuff" every now and then is benificial to the engine - not sure how true this is but IMO if it aint a treat for the car then its a treat for me with extra oooph!

I'm sure that the 16V is supposed to be run on 98ron all the time , but I'm not sure if running it on 95 will do any harm.

Well, As I mentioned, the car 'should' retard the timing to suit the lower octane rating with a lower ron fuel put in. The knock sensors will detect preignition caused by the cheaper juice and pull back (retard) the ignition timing. Trouble is, from what I've heard, it takes a couple of tanks-worth of higher octane fuel to get the timing back up to the more advanced level. So, if you've been running it on 95 ron and you refill it with 98, then:

A: The higher octane will gradually filter through to the engine through the pump, filter, lines, injectors etc

B: The ignition timing will not suddenly 'jump' back up to a more advanced level once it has filtered through. The ECU gradually increases it bit by bit. This is done for safety and to avoid preignition.

The ECU has no way of knowing what RON the fuel is.....it increases the timing through a trial and error basis until it starts to knock and then pulls it back a smidgen. Some people reckon that resetting the ECU by pulling its fuse or removing the positive terminal from the battery can trick the ECU into picking up the timing a little quicker but I have my doubts. If anything I imagine it'd start at the timing levels aimed at 95 ron and slowly build it up if it can. Manufacturers program the ECU with engine longeivity in mind so to advance the timing too prematurely would defeat this purpose.

Would like to say thank you to everyone who replied, some very interesting answers. Think I will use 98ron for a while to see if I can notice any change.

Cheers.

Well, As I mentioned, the car 'should' retard the timing to suit the lower octane rating with a lower ron fuel put in. The knock sensors will detect preignition caused by the cheaper juice and pull back (retard) the ignition timing. Trouble is, from what I've heard, it takes a couple of tanks-worth of higher octane fuel to get the timing back up to the more advanced level. So, if you've been running it on 95 ron and you refill it with 98, then:

A: The higher octane will gradually filter through to the engine through the pump, filter, lines, injectors etc

B: The ignition timing will not suddenly 'jump' back up to a more advanced level once it has filtered through. The ECU gradually increases it bit by bit. This is done for safety and to avoid preignition.

The ECU has no way of knowing what RON the fuel is.....it increases the timing through a trial and error basis until it starts to knock and then pulls it back a smidgen. Some people reckon that resetting the ECU by pulling its fuse or removing the positive terminal from the battery can trick the ECU into picking up the timing a little quicker but I have my doubts. If anything I imagine it'd start at the timing levels aimed at 95 ron and slowly build it up if it can. Manufacturers program the ECU with engine longeivity in mind so to advance the timing too prematurely would defeat this purpose.

Thats probably why I only feel it when Im down to half a tank or less. I thought it was something all scientific like the pressure or mass of the fuel etc

Ta for the info:thumbup: