Unleaded or Optimax

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 12:21 pm

im sure this has been previously asked but who here uses optimax and who uses regular unleaded?

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 12:27 pm

I think putting regular unleaded in a car like the fto would be the same as getting a lousy valantine present for you girlfriend...

Premium unleaded is what the fto was designed to use in Japan...

The question that you should be asking is "Which premium unleaded do you use?"

Post by **Supplanter** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 12:42 pm

I am currently doing an experiment to test the efficiencies and performance of each premium fuel.

I am using each type for 10 tanks each and then averaging the milage (kilometrage?) for each brand.

Performance will be more subjective though.

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 12:57 pm

search twice, post once!

Fuel issues has been covered many times, if you use normal unleaded the car will still run fine as the computer will alter the engine accordingly, however you will get less power and less efficiency.

If you want to use Optimax, be my guest, but most would suggest it is very questionable and that you should go for either BP Ultimate or Mobil 8000.

I don't know if your post was serious or a joke Supplanter, but I'm sure someone else already did a similar sort of test. I remember someone did all sorts of cost calculations etc.

Personally, in order of preference:
1) BP Ultimate
2) Mobil 8000
3) Premium Unleaded
4) Optimax (that's right, I'd use Premium Unleaded before I'd use Optimax)
5) Normal Unleaded

Post by **Supplanter** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 1:18 pm

rxboy did something like that, but i can't be arsed hunting for it.

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:14 pm

whats wrong with optimax? i use it all the time

Post by **Supplanter** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:29 pm

His ruchiness doesn't like it

Actually there are a few forum posts around on other forums that mention preferred petrols, and optimax isn't one of them.

I was using Optimax up until recently because it was close by.

I have now changed to BP Ultimate to test it out and have noticed an increase in preformance... I think.

Anyone want to pay for some dyno runs so I can check?

Hellsmurf · Post by **Hellsmurf** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 8:45 pm

Basically I think the main differance between say, BP Ultimate and Shell Optimax is the quiality control and the maximum level of harmful concentrates in their fuels:

Ultimate:
50 ppm max Sulphar
1 % Max Benzene

Optimax:
500 ppm max Sulphar
5 % Max Benzene
(taken from: http://board.performanceforums.com/foru ... d=67170167)

also:
BP Ultimate <B>minimum</B> Octane: 98
Shell Optimax <B>typical Octane</B>: 98.4
(from the same place)

Now, sulfur is NASTY stuff for the engine and the environment, so the less the better...Benzine is a carcinogen (means it provokes cancer) and can build up in your engine...also, i think a MINIMUM octane rating is far better than a TYPICAL octane rating...

whenever i can i stop at BPs, even when i dont really need a fill that much...the car just feels sprightlier (lol being 35 years old and all, "faster" didn't seem appropriate)...

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 10:46 pm

everything is a carcinogen these days even beef
there is no BP anywhere near strathfield and there is a shell like right there
so i got the choice of buyin from budget petrol which has unleaded for 89.1c or caltex vortex or shell optimax

i might try ulitimate one day

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 1:12 am

Supplanter wrote:I am currently doing an experiment to test the efficiencies and performance of each premium fuel.

I am using each type for 10 tanks each and then averaging the milage (kilometrage?) for each brand.

Performance will be more subjective though.

Hey James, what stage are you up to with this experiment, i love to see the result when you finish.

G1 · Post by G1 » Mon Apr 05, 2004 9:32 am

yeah i live around same area as you jonowong, and sadly BP ultimate is nowhere near as accessible as Optimax. Out of Optimax, Synergy 8000 and Ultimate, I have 2 servos close to me which are both Optimax! Nearest Ultimate is 4 suburbs away! 8000 is 3.

I did try Ultimate a couple of times last year, and ended up getting less milage so I didn't bother using it after that...

rxboy · Post by **rxboy** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 1:12 pm

I've been using Optimax for nearly a year now after they closed the Mobil servo next to me. I didn't notice any difference b/w Optimax and Synergy 8000, but Optimax ends up being cheaper with the 4c discount Coles offer in Vic. Plus I've got 3 Shell servos very close to where I live, conveniently spaced out in many directions

.

Although I've heard people bag Optimax before, I didn't know it was because of contaminants. Maybe I'll give BP Ultimate a try.

And yeah that was me who worked out that 98 RON fuel was costing me less per km than ULP.

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 1:42 pm

I'm not going to go into detail as enough info is available on this topic in this forum and in other places on the internet to suggest that Optimax is both worse for the environment and that the additives designed to clean your engine can cause additional engine wear and problems.

I suggest you do a search both on this forum, other forums, and the internet. I also suggest you try the various fuels for yourself.

If after reading the information and trying it out, you still think Optimax is the best, then the smart thing to do would be to use it

Personally I'll stick to BP Ultimate or Mobil 8000, as will a number of other people on this forum too

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:11 pm

rxboy wrote: And yeah that was me who worked out that 98 RON fuel was costing me less per km than ULP.

Great, so in other word what James is doing is totally different to what you done. So come on James quickly do more kms so we can have the result sooner.

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:36 pm

Its interesting Ive always been told shell is the best.... it was the first designed and then other companies copied them. e.g BP etc..

and the v8 supercars all use shell optimax? (i know its probably a contract etc, but surely they would choose the petrol that gave the best performance?)

TheSentry · Post by **TheSentry** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:55 pm

EURO wrote:and the v8 supercars all use shell optimax? (i know its probably a contract etc, but surely they would choose the petrol that gave the best performance?)

Shell is on contract to provide the control fuel to the V8s just as Dunlop provides the control tyres. It's hard to say if Optimax is the best for their application as I don't believe they've been challenged by Mobil/BP in that area. In the case of the tyres though, Dunlop's contract ends this year and I believe Bridgestone is going to throw their hat in the ring with Dunlop. I think it's likely that Bridgestone can produce a better tyre. If something similar is going to happen when the fuel contract runs out we'll have to wait and see.

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 3:57 pm

I'm glad to see marketing works, I bet Shell is glad it's working too!

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 5:51 pm

of course ruchi.... But i woulda thought if there was a BIG difference, that it would be in the best interest of "v8 supercars" to get the best fuel for the best results... I know there is a contract, but negotiations happen first.... and at the end of the day, if it was a lot worse (no matter wahat cash was involved) i thought they would choose the best option.... do shell do F1 as well? im just tossing up ideas...

if i can relate it back to what i know best...... Nike has the best marketing strategies, but everyone who runs know that brooks and asics are the best running shoes.... therefore thats what everyone wears.... (in terms, of cars, the v8s obviously have to use shell - but i would thought they won the contract for $$ and for being a leading fuel?)

twistea · Post by **twistea** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 5:54 pm

BP ultimate 98 all the way, its good stuff

TheSentry · Post by **TheSentry** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 6:06 pm

I don't think there'd be big performance differences between Optimax and the other fuels as long as they have the 98 octane rating. I think the issue here is what the stuff in Optimax does to your engine. Now in the case of V8 Supercars, that wouldn't be a majour concern as their engines receive a high amount of servicing to keep them running and engine swaps are also common.

In the case of the normal everyday driver, we need our engines to last as long as possible. We don't have the luxary of maintaining our engines so they perform just like new every day of the week. That's where the concern surrounding Optimax comes in. What will the fuel do to our engines in the long term? It's all fogged by opinion and of course marketing. If V8 Supercars run on Optimax then it must be good for my car as well right? Well no, because their application is different.

It's pretty much the same for oil marketing, for example how Mobil proclaim HRT use Mobil 1, Shell Helix Racing use Shell Helix Ultra and Stone Brothers use Caltex Havoline. What most people don't take note of, is that the oils they use are of a different rating to the commercial product and they dump the oil after every race.

FTO AUSTRALIA

Unleaded or Optimax

what do you use?

Unleaded or Optimax

v8 supercars?

Re: v8 supercars?