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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
        
(Message started by: johnv on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 6:52pm)

Title: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 6:52pm

At the local petrol stations at supermarkets. its got two pumps side by side.
One is for unleaded and the other is unleaded ultimate.
I looked at the lable on the ultimate pump and it says it gives you a cleaner engine and more miles per gallon, but it costs more.
Anyone got any ideas on wether it worth using this ultimate stuff bearing in mind it costs more.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Dave on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 9:44pm

Hi John,

I have a friend who's Dad does a high mileage every year and changes his cars every 3 years or so. He reckons that using something like Shell Optimax rather than standard unleaded gets him more mpg and a smoother running engine. Apparently cars like the Scorpio should run better on it! It would take 2-3 tanks to make much difference though...

Cheers

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Snoopy on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 7:45am

Optimax is higher octane rated and is a better petrol with additives to clean the injectors etc as cost its down to the additives and whether you think it is worth the extra 5p or so a litre I run on it during the summer on long runs and definitely get more MPG I think it covers the increased cost......
Normal petrol is 95 ron and optimax is 98 ron you pays your money and takes your chances...
If you decide to run on 98 ron petrol the increased perfoance and mileage doe sNOT happen overnight it takes several tank full to do its trick......

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:45am

thanks to Dave and Snoopy for replies. I did not exspect such positive replies.
So if you get a mile or two more out of the Ultimate petrol to off set the higher cost, that can't be bad.
I think I use it all the time, I will check my fuel figures after useing it in say three to four tank fills.
So does that mean you don't now have to buy injector cleaner and put that in your tank, if you use the Ulyimate pertol all the time
I not happy with my Cosworth that only done 60,000 miles. Most of the time it OK but just when you think that it is; you get rough running. (only a bit) its like slight misfiring, then it clears.
while you are in a spate of rough running, if you floor the throttle it clear's and you rocket ahead. but as soon as you easy off it start to run lumpy again.
When I brought it, it did 2000 miles no problem at all, but just of recent this rough runnin appears from time to time.
Still its MOT time in February so I will have it looked at then. I just might decide to sell it. Don't know yet.
I keep reading all the problems other Cosworth owners are having.
The two 2.3 cars run like a dream and so does the 2.0 16V. The 2 .3's performance is just stunning, as good as the cosworth, so i saying to myself why have a cosworth.
I also wonder if not using the cosworth on fast motorway driving or the like is sooting up the plugs or something like. But I will wait till February and see if it can be sorted.
Also there is no chain rattle at start up like others are state they have.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Pam and John on Dec 24^th, 2004, 8:19pm

Been running with Ultimate in other car (Probe V6) for a while now - felt more responsive from the start and mpg gradually got better and am now getting consistantly further for my money.

Will be trying to get Pam to use it once things settled with the Scorpio, should be worth it.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Dec 27^th, 2004, 1:13pm

can someone clear up the point please about if i going to start using ultimate petrol from now on do i still need to use injector cleaner. or if using the better petrol constanly will that not be needed. thanks.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by wumpster on Dec 27^th, 2004, 2:05pm

if you are using optimax all the time you should not need injector cleaner as it should clean them and the rest of the system ;)

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Dec 27^th, 2004, 7:03pm

thanks to wumpster, that's what i wanted to hear. i am going to up-grade now to the better petrol and i will see what's happens in about 3 months.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Dave on Dec 30^th, 2004, 9:06pm

Sorry about the delay there - agree with Wumpster (just a bit late) ;D

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by craig on Jan 10^th, 2005, 7:30pm

well following on from this thread,i decided to try the "super unleaded" and have been using the said petrol for about a month now,have i noticed a difference in fuel consumption ?,no,unfortunatly thats 1 thing i do not monitor,dont ask me what it does to the gallon (i was once told "if you have to ask what it does to the gallon,you cant afford it !!!).BUT have i noticed a difference in performance...certainly,a lot smoother,and a little more responsive...
in my opinion,certainly worth spending the extra 2p a litre....

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Jan 10^th, 2005, 10:18pm

hey craig what's this extra 2p a lt. In Coventry there is no shell station. it mostly BP with a odd Esso.
So at Safeways, its BP, un-leaded 81.9 and Untimate 88.9 per lt. so that a differents of 7p per lt.
Still I started to use that now the past two weeks or so. If it cuts down the expense in the long run like bad running etc. it will be worth it.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by craig on Jan 11^th, 2005, 6:55am

:( :( :( sorry john..
it was supposed to be 2p "or so"....
"emphasis on the or so"
glastonbury does not have a shell either,only an expensive petrol station (no names),and a safeway and a sainsbury's (in street),si i plumped for the sainbury's ultimate unleaded (97 ron),but again as to the difference in price (i think) it is 5p a litre,but honestly dont know,as previous mentioned i try not to look at "running costs",it may just put me off the car for good ...............
i ran the tank down to practically empty to run down the unleaded,then started using the ultimate,all i do now is when the car gets to about a 1/4 of a tank,i fill her up,MPG and all that,dont even use the trip computer (well apart from checking the temperature that is) ;) ;)

regards

craig..

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by johnv on Jan 11^th, 2005, 9:43am

thanks to craig.
a bit more.
some years ago about 10 i was listening to a radio programe, and a petrol tanker driver stated that the petrol he delivered to super-markets was not the same that he delived to petrol stations. (non super markets). He stated that the super market petrol had not got the full range of additives in it as the non super markets and that was why they could sell it cheaper.
I don't know if that was true. but like I say it was stated from a petrol tanker driver.
Myself, I think that they buy such a lot and have deals with the suppliers that's why they can sell it cheaper.
Anyway I going to run the cars on the Ultimate for the summer and see what happens.
I am like you, I fill up each time that the fuel warming light comes on at 50 miles. I never hardy use the fuel gauge, I have my trip set on how many miles I got to run on what fuel there is in the tank.
One warnimg, it you get down to 10 miles form then onwards you have not got 10 miles its goes down to 0 in about 1 mile.
Same as my speedo. I never use that I go on my Cyclops radar detector. It tells you in large green numbers your speed. They turn red when you come to a camera etc. and as you get closer it starts the beeping which increases the nearer you get there.
Did you know this; at 70 MPH on the ford speedo you are in fact doing only 63 MPH. Its like that on all the 4 scorpios I have.
The Gobal positioning are of course correct.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Dave on Jan 11^th, 2005, 2:45pm

How do. I used to work at an Esso garage and indeed, supermarket fuel used to be 'watered down', but they didn't like to say that.. they said it had different additives and detergents. But nowadays, since around 2000, it's all exactly the same, supposedly. So if you use regular premium unleaded, it should be the same whether you buy it from Tesco or Esso. Obviously optimax is currently the most highly regarded petrol, but at the same time it depends entirely on your car. I tried three tanks of super unleaded (esso) in my oldish Volkswagen and it absolutely hated it. It's just whatever works.

The other thing, people often moan about paying more for 'better' fuel, but forget the better fuel economy.
Also Honda VTI units return 5bhp more with super unleaded/optimax compared with regular stuff.

Oui.

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Vulcan on Jan 11^th, 2005, 2:55pm

I always found it odd when people said don't buy from Tesco go but to an Esso station for better petrol, because my local Tesco's supermarket and the minimarket versions both have a large Esso sign outside.

I'm not certain about the Morrisons (I'll check on the way home) but I think that one has a BP sign up.

George

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by LiverpaulH on Jan 11^th, 2005, 3:17pm

Vulcan

I think you'll find that that is because they are tied in. Many BP stations are upgrading their shops to safeway (morrison) to make more from the non fuel sales. Tesco have been upgrading and taking over esso shops for a while now. (Tesco's most profitable store per sq ft in England is the one attached to an Esso PFS in Selly Oak, Birmingham next to the University!! sorry to bore with useless info). I would therefore expect if they are a branded sign i.e BP with safeway, the fuel will be a BP fuel with their additives, and an asda own fuel station with their signs up will have asda spec petrol including their specified additives, (if any).

Honest John who writes in the Saturday Telegraph and has his own website (honestjohn.co.uk) swears by optimax and believes that a lot of poor running in cars is down to inferior supermarket fuel. Accordingly general consensus is that it's worth the extra money, especially in engines such as the 2.9.

I'm yet to establish if the diesel is any better having just changed over from a petrol car.

Cheers
Paul
:)

Title: Re: UNLEADED versu ULTIMATE UNLEADED.
Post by Dave on Jan 14^th, 2005, 10:59am

Also.. what Liverpaul says about making room for non fuel sales. This is just a random piece of interesting but useless info. Petrol stations make a profit of less than half a penny for every litre of fuel they sell. They actually make more profit by selling one pint than they do a 35 litre fill up.
This is why our garages are full to the brim with useless crap these days. Plastic ice scrapers and three different types of screenwash. Very annoying!
D