Shell Optimax Petrol....

[IdolDroog]

Right. I was wondering what the actual difference was between this and the regular petrol despite the obvious 5p per litre and so I asked inside the station and the guy told me that he had been told it has a higher level of octane and thus improves overall performance, reduces engine noise, healthier for the engine and most interestingly is more economical. This lead me to wonder if the 5p per litre extra cost would work itself out even with the economy of consumption so I started to do a little research online and found a few sites and consumer opinions which virtually all praised Optimax as being worthwhile despite the extra cost (doesnt cost shell any more to make it annoyingly)

This site was the best Ive found so far where he roughly concludes regular petrol was coming in at:

Petrol Cost per mile: 9?15 pence per mile (adjusted gives 9?04 pence per mile).

and Optimax at:
Petrol Cost per mile: 8?75 pence per mile.

I find this very interesting as even if it was slightly more expensive it would be worth it for the beenfits on the car. Im gonna try it out next time, i just wondered what the forumites thoughts are on the matter - i know we had a petrol discussion recently but not on this issue. Have any of you tried switching? Were you the unlucky ones who it doesnt seem to work for? Any overall thoughts without getting too political? Any reason why it isnt the ONLY petrol offered if its healthier for our cars and improves general performance? The floor is open.........................................................

[essarr]

I drive a scooby wrx and use optimax as often as i can on the advice of friends whose advice i trust. I dont mind paying the extra if its better .

[IdolDroog]

Aww I'd never heard them called Scoobys before but definitely good to hear someone uses it especially on what is definitely a performance car. Like I said though, Im not sure it is actually more expensive so overall...a good start to the topic though thanks

btw - http://www.scoobytuner.com/ thats how I found out what a scooby was, does anyone know any equivalent sites for VW Golfs? Im not doing too well with it

[Rude Boy]

I've used this and it does seem to make a difference although I suspected it was probably advertising bollocks before I used it. I ran a 190 Celica on it for a while and it ran really well but that was such a brilliant car it was hard to tell how much difference the fuel made as the car ALWAYS ran well. On the other hand I also used it in a Ferrari and the difference was massive, it ran well on Optimax from cold unlike with normal fuels and performed like the proverbial shit off a shovel. The guy who used to work at the Shell station nearest to me told me that numerous petrolhead types used to travel there especially to fill up with Optimax.

[IdolDroog]

Thanks for your reply RudeBoy, the pattern that is emerging is that the "better" or more performance the car is the better it reacts to this petrol. Even if it didnt work out more economical the other reasons in itself would be enough to make it worth using. I cant wait to try it out next time I fill up...although, how much regular unleaded did you people have left in your car when you added as presumably you'd just be diluting it by mixing.

Another thought ive had is that as soon as you fill up and put your foot down the car responds extremely well anyway - I noticed this more than any other car in my own. Obviously temperature and atmosphere affects the drive of a car anyway and so Im wondering just how much difference I will noticed....but hey, thanks again and congrats on the Ferrari lol

[Deuce Bigolo]

As a non-car user/owner I'd say the 5p difference would be the amount of ethanol used....probably close to zero in Optimax you'd think

Downunder its meant to be no more than 10% but unscrupulous operators have been putting in anything up to 30% and in some cases substituting ethanol with other similar but far cheaper additives

Might mention it to the Bus Driver next time I'm travelling but the suspension being replaced would probably give a better ride...lol

cheers
B....OZ

[IdolDroog]

hey deuce, apparently the difference is the octane levels from 95 in normal unleaded to 97/98 in Optimax (i think they are percentages). As I said earlier and read online apparently it doesnt cost any more to make it - just they charge more because its better for the car and is more economical. Big of a bugger but cant say I blame them. Why dont you drive man!! Where do u live exactly

[Deuce Bigolo]

I see

Unlike some of my petrol head friends who are always crying poverty because of their mode of transport I've never had the inclination of owning a car.

Living within spitting distance of the biggest shopping/cinema complex in the southern hemisphere and with bus & trains within 5 minutes
I don't need one.

Might have something to do with those Family Sunday drives I had to suffer through for nigh on 10 years

Its a convenience this Greeny can quite happily do without

If I need to go somewhere ASAP I hail a taxi/cab

cheers
B....OZ Adelaide

[Rude Boy]

I think "Evo" magazine did a big spread on Optimax once but I can't be sure if it was that magazine or one of the other car titles. Anyway I remember that the overall conclusion was that it DID improve performance, the same conclusion as the Braintree area petrolheads!! For me the huge improvement in the car running smoothly from cold/several weeks in the garage outweighed any performance gain.

With all this talk of Optimax I put fifteen quid's worth in my new, bog-standard Celica (The 190 went just after I lost all my no claim's bonus!!) this morning and I'd SWEAR it's running better! This is the first time I've put Optimax in a car that's not a high-performance type so that's an interesting factor to throw into the mix!