With petrol prices on the up again I've started to question my use of SUL in the Octy. My usual tipple at the pumps is Sainsbury's 97 RON Super. I filled up with V-Power once and couldn't sleep for a week thinking about the price tag for the stuff

So is there really any point in spending the extra? I know it won't put out the full 180BHP but how much of a difference are we talking? Even the 3 p/l difference between the cheap SUL and the regular 95 octane stuff works out at about £70 a year so I thought it was worth considering. The difference with 98RON will be even more.

If you think you want to save £70 a year then I see no reason why not.3

That I said I found when I switched to using V-Power that I actually got more miles per gallon so it's not a clear cut saving.

Yeah on the grand scheme of things £70 is naff all but thats for 97 RON so even that isn't getting the best out of the old girl. For 98 RON its probably double the difference or more and then we start getting into proper money. Added on to the fact that the price increase alone is going to cost £150 + a year and all of a sudden my fuel bills are higher than I was expecting.

What I don't know and was wondering if anyone on here knew was what the effect on performance is in rough terms?

98RON = 180BHP

97RON = ???

95RON = ???

I would start your comparison here myself -

98RON = ???

97RON = Approximately 180BHP

95RON = ???

It's not all about HP, you experiance better throttle responce for instance.

I would start your comparison here myself -

98RON = ???

97RON = Approximately 180BHP

95RON = ???

It's not all about HP, you experiance better throttle responce for instance.

Yeah I agree completely, I just picked ultimate power output as thats something you can easily put a figure on. I must admit I didn't notice any change going from regular to SUL... maybe I'll notice it in reverse. Time will tell I guess.

just a note, my old Lupo Sport hated running on normal unleaded, it coughed and spluttered and generally sounded like it didn't want it.

with at least 97 in her, she ran well and even better on 99!

It's not all about HP, you experiance better throttle responce for instance.

It does feel more "there" on decent fuel, I find less throttle needed when creeping around on sul.

fyi it requires time for the ecu to work out what fuel is in the tank so you won't notice it straight away it usually takes a tank full before the ecu adjusts timings etc

HTH

It does feel more "there" on decent fuel, I find less throttle needed when creeping around on sul.

fyi it requires time for the ecu to work out what fuel is in the tank so you won't notice it straight away it usually takes a tank full before the ecu adjusts timings etc

HTH

Yeah I can't really comment on V-Power because I only used a single tank of that but I had about 8 tanks in a row of SUL and that didn't seem to make a difference. As I say maybe I'll notice the difference if I swap back to regular.

And don't forget the ecu will get used to your style of driving so boot it whenever possible:rolleyes:

been running my vrs for most of the last 2.5 years on 95 and it has been fine. the odd time I have run it on super I have really not noticed any great advantage.

What I have notice though is if you run a few tanks of cheap supermarket fuel though that the economy does go down. the exception be in sainsburys standard which it seem very happy on and economy seems good.

becuase I spend a lot of time doing town driving super has no advantage for me

the exception be in sainsburys standard which it seem very happy on and economy seems good.

A little birdie told me that Sainsbury's is supplied only by BP whereas Tesco Asda etc. supply via... and this is where I get the name completely wrong... Greenergy?

I only use Sainsbury's, BP or Shell myself.

I felt a slight power drop in normal unleaded, I only put 15 quid a week in anyway and I guess all helps with it being remapped too.

Hurry up and get it done plus rear ARB

I felt a slight power drop in normal unleaded, I only put 15 quid a week in

Jesus I'm doing 15 quid a day :eek::eek:

I don't pay for it though ............which is nice

I only put 15 quid a week in anyway

Hurry up and get it done plus rear ARB

:( £50 notes a week here, and thats with work being a bit slow and not using it on the weekends :( Economy is bang on what I expected (currently 32.1mpg) but I find it harder accepting the amount I hand over at the pump each week than I thought I would. Who'd have thought a 180BHP car would cost more to run than a 75BHP one :P

I was wondering with regards to remaps- is it worth getting it remapped to regular unleaded? I've heard you'll still see 200 BHP easily on regular. Just throwing it out there as if I was bothering to get it remapped I might aswell get it mapped and run it on super.

Remap + ARB probably will happen early next year Infact I might splash out and get a full service + remap + ARB done at somewhere like Jabba.

Ouch, 50 notes a week is a bit of a stinger. Dont forget though your MPG will probably well improve if you dont wear your lead boots on the odd occasion The engine really sings on full chat.

Im not sure what my map is designed for, but it behaves fine on both UL and V-Power, I just feel as though there is more there with the dear stuff. Either way youll be impressed with the power increase through the range.

Ouch, 50 notes a week is a bit of a stinger. Dont forget though your MPG will probably well improve if you dont wear your lead boots on the odd occasion The engine really sings on full chat.

Im not sure what my map is designed for, but it behaves fine on both UL and V-Power, I just feel as though there is more there with the dear stuff. Either way youll be impressed with the power increase through the range.

Yeah sometimes I have an "economical day" and then either I get frustrated with numpty's on the road or I just feel like stretching the old girls legs a bit and it all goes pear shaped Lots of short trips and drives through town don't help either.

Its all good really. Its one of those things you think oh no look at all that extra money I'm spending when in reality its the difference of say £150 between v-power and regular... on the otherhand if I was to get up 10 mins earlier and have breakfast at home rather than getting some out every work day I could save around £400 :eek:

So I guess its all relative :P

Well thats your remap sorted if you get up 10 mins earlier a day for a year

I put in the V-Power by accident the other day - its 6p/l more and I didn't realise until i'd put in half a tank. I filled it in the end, I couldn't be bothered to stop, and fill again with the usual cheaper stuff.

Anyway, she was running on fumes, and 53l of V-Power will mean very little dilution.

She's running much smoother this week, and has more torque low down - so much so that I can often get away with a higher gear than previously.

And she goes like **** off a shovel when I REALLY hammer it on the B-Roads. I just wish the suspension would take the extra welly in the corners :(

Editted to add : - Oops, just realised this is in the wrong forum - mines an Octy II - Oh well, I'm sure its still relevant.

A little birdie told me that Sainsbury's is supplied only by BP whereas Tesco Asda etc. supply via... and this is where I get the name completely wrong... Greenergy?

I only use Sainsbury's, BP or Shell myself.

yep that is what i had heard. the other week it was confrimed when the BP wagon was in filling the tanks at the local sainsbury's:D

the other thing that confirm's it, is that sainsburys were the only supermarket not to have problems with their fuel earler in the year:D

in my particular case there was a marked difference in standard form between 95 and 97, well worth the few p/L extra. Once remapped the difference is more marked obviously.

If you have access to Vagcom, look at the Knock retard figures on 95RON fuel while you boot it round at high load/rpm, if you are seeing retard figures exceeding 5 or 6 degrees (the EcU retards ignition timing if it detects knock) then you will likely see a benefit from 97. If the knock retard figures are insignificant for your driving style then you are unlikely to see gains.

To get the best benefit if changing from 95 to 97, reset the ECU adaptions (as it's got used to the 95) by disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes or so.

I too used to dislike paying all that money for fuel to run my vrs (95ron). With the amount of milage I do a week I worked out I could afford to swap for a diesel of similar age and within 6 months I would have saved the cost to change in fuel/road tax/insurance. My 6 months has now been and gone and modding the diesel has commenced and I dont really notice any difference in performance between my old vrs and my oil burner. The Extra 200-250miles per tank over the vrs is well worth the extra few pennies at the pump.

I use v-power all the time in my vRS.

£35 of it a week :(

That's for about 220 miles though.

I too used to dislike paying all that money for fuel to run my vrs (95ron). With the amount of milage I do a week I worked out I could afford to swap for a diesel of similar age and within 6 months I would have saved the cost to change in fuel/road tax/insurance. My 6 months has now been and gone and modding the diesel has commenced and I dont really notice any difference in performance between my old vrs and my oil burner. The Extra 200-250miles per tank over the vrs is well worth the extra few pennies at the pump.

Yeah in reality I should have bought a diesel and I really should have got an estate but after 4 1/2 years in an old banger followed by 3 years in a capable but underpowered small hatch I decided it was time to get something that was a bit fruity, a bit... unnecessary, whilst still being able to cart all my stuff around for work

Its not a huge issue, as I say I budgeted for getting 30mpg and I'm getting just over 32mpg so thats all good. The bulk of my mileage is work related and I'm paid 40ppm for that so at the end of the day I'm still making money on it, just less than I was in my 306.

The main reason I brought it up was that I don't want be spending extra on SUL if it wasn't of any real benefit Not really a huge issue but some extra money over the year could help fund one of my many other vices :P

I've tried my 4x4 on Tesco's 99, 95 and V power - very little difference, probably totally subjective or down to different weather etc. Mind you it is mapped for 95 as I'm a cheapskate! Averages about 27 -28 mpg - 32 on a recent run, but I have had 39 on a run.

What kind of power are you putting out with it mapped for 95 musky?