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General => General discussion => Topic started by: richy on 04 March 2004, 21:47

Title: Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: richy on 04 March 2004, 21:47
Is Shell Optimax worth the extra?  Does it do what they claim?
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: turbo on 04 March 2004, 23:54
i didnt see any gain.......i suppose you only gain is your high bhp engine wont pink!
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Cupra Turbo on 05 March 2004, 00:09
it idles better ... and runs smoother
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: vixteris on 05 March 2004, 02:16
i said no but only cos i havent had a 'new' true performance car to test it out on. ::)
all my babies love four star  (LRP) and I like to keep them happy. :D
Put optimax in my (cough) ford (cough) the other day and cant say i noticed any difference except it ran out quicker! :P
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Overseer on 05 March 2004, 08:12
^ thats because some cars wont gain any benefits.
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Omar on 05 March 2004, 08:50
Optimax!!.............its the future, Ive tasted it.
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: FastGTI on 05 March 2004, 08:55
Optimax is so much better and you really do notice the difference after a few tanks full...also cleans the engine.  Lets not forget the Top Trumps cards!  ;)
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: GavG60 on 05 March 2004, 09:52
made my 16v stop pinking for the first time in two years....feels smoother as well, mind you put an exotek valve on at the same time which makes a difference too... ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 05 March 2004, 10:19
whats the officiakl RON for all the petrols, cos unleaded is 95, and super is 97. thats all i know. i use super unleaded from sainsburies cos its only 2 p dearer than normal unleeaded.

and wouldnt want to forget about the nectar points ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: GavG60 on 05 March 2004, 10:22
So what should a mk2 16v run on?

4star lrp
super unleaded
optimax?

 ???
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 05 March 2004, 10:26
i think it should be 98 ron unleaded or leaded.
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Overseer on 05 March 2004, 10:43
inside the filler flap on my mk3 16v it says use 98ron unleaded fuel, or 95 unleaded ron fuel..

does the mk2 have that too?

Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: GavG60 on 05 March 2004, 10:49
err........never looked  :o will look when I get home! ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 05 March 2004, 10:51
yeah it says 98 RON
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Onge on 05 March 2004, 10:54
So what should a mk2 16v run on?

4star lrp
super unleaded
optimax?

 ???

I ran my Mk2 16v on LRP :)
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: GavG60 on 05 March 2004, 10:57
what ron is that?

funny, can't sday ron without laughing.......keep thinking of dodgy geezers in sheepskin jackets......
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: davidhawkins_78 on 05 March 2004, 10:57
USE OPTIMAX BOYS !!!

The cleaning agents in this stuff are far better than any other fuel - and don't put one tank in expecting miracles either! If you use it consitantly you see the benefits ...

On my MKII 8v GTI it says to only use RON 98 ...

The main reason for alot of speculation about this is for an engine to 'adapt' to it's fuel it has to have a knock sensor to give it the ability to adjust the timing for a higher RON rating. Not sure what Golf's do or don't have this this ... GTi's do

If you ran 2 engines - one on Optimax and one on Super and strip the block the difference inside is amazing ... Optimax definaltely does the job.

Dave

Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Golfgal on 05 March 2004, 11:04
boys? so we girls not good nuff for it then??


my car is better than yours anyway  :P
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: gazzagtiT on 05 March 2004, 11:15
It is better to use it's all about the ron! Did notice the car running a bit smoother but more on the second an third tank full rather than the first! :D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Onge on 05 March 2004, 11:23
LRP is 97 RON :)
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: GavG60 on 05 March 2004, 11:33
cheers Ron.... ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Onge on 05 March 2004, 11:47
Da do ron ron ron, da do ron ron

 ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Gambit on 05 March 2004, 12:31
use optimax (98 RON) if poss on a mk2, its what the engine was desgined to run on. so therefore will being running as effeciently as possible
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: JustVisiting on 05 March 2004, 13:00
Probably been mentioned before, but it's worth noting that BP's "Ultimate" is only 97 RON, - all they did was to rename their Super Unleaded (they may have improved the cleaning properties though?), so ignore the slick advertising :P

Optimax is the one to go for (if you use unleaded) it's 98 RON.

This page is worth a read if you want to know a bit more about fuel and why a higher octane (more refined) fuel may be beneficial to you - http://www.mgcars.org.uk/electrical/body_fuel.html

Yes, I know it's not a VW page :P
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: richy on 05 March 2004, 14:04
hmmm.  I think my manual says that my 1999 1.8 20v GTI should run on 95 Ron.  Does this mean its bad for me to use optimax?  ???
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Gambit on 05 March 2004, 14:18
you can use 98RON if you want, the ECU in the car will advance the timing. it will feel more responsive after a tank full or so
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: Overseer on 05 March 2004, 14:20
check your manual or fuel filler flap richy.

i try get a pic of mine up in the gallery soon.
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: JustVisiting on 05 March 2004, 14:46
hmmm.  I think my manual says that my 1999 1.8 20v GTI should run on 95 Ron.  Does this mean its bad for me to use optimax?  ???

No, Optimax will be fine, 95 RON is the recommended minimum fuel rating for your car.  

Using a more-refined fuel will not damage an engine.
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: richy on 05 March 2004, 22:13
Yeah, just checked my Mk4 manual.  I quote:

"Petrol engines
Vehicles with catalytic converter [....]
[use] Premium unloaded petrol RON 95
[....]
The use of unleaded regular petrol with a minimum of 91 RON leads to a slight loss of performance.
[....]
Fuel with a higher octane rating than that require by the engine can be used without limitation.  There are however no advantages regarding output and consumption."

Ace!  Optimax here I come.... ;D
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: richy on 06 March 2004, 11:38
Stuck some in this morning.  Only 4p a litre more than premium unleaded  :)

Didn't notice much difference yet.  I'll wait and see what its like after it's run through a bit.

Rich
Title: Re:Poll: Is Optimax any good?
Post by: richy on 06 March 2004, 23:21
Drove to Ikea in Brent Cross (Wembly) today.  Opened it up down the M1, and it does seem a bit smoother and more responsive, especially at high revs.  :)