20 replies to this topic

[bcjames]

My mini runs on sainsburys regular most of the time. I've tried vpower and the bp version and I can't tell any difference in the way it drives. I can't comment on the specific additives, but my engine seems happy enough 84k on!

[Wil_h]

I always run the higher octane fuel in anything i have, this is because when i was racing motocross i started to run cheaper fuel and after 10 hours of use i changed the piston, with the cheaper fuel the piston was starting to break apart and the ring had totally lost its seal, with the higher octane fuel the bike was much more responsive and the piston never started to break apart and i only once had a ring that wasnt sealed properly when i ripped it apart plus everything was alot cleaner, with the cheaper fuel the piston would be really chared on the top but with the higher octane fuel it was alot cleaner, all this means i could run on a piston and ring for longer with the more expensive fuel plus it was more responsive off the bottom end so win win for me and thats why i use nothing else

I guess in tis example you were running very high cromression ratios, so the higher octane fuel was needed. This does not extrapolate to it being better in all cases. In all cases it will be no worse, but generally you're just wasting money.

it does make a difference to performance, but "well i think" to only more powerful cars.

as my dad has a 1969 rover v8 and with bp ultimate there is no pinking under hard acceleration

but i think with a mini such as a 998 i dont think it wont make a difference

and have you seen how much petrol is bp normal unleaded 137.9

It's nothing to do with power. If you have a 998 with 12:1 CR then you may need high octane fuel.

As expected, in your dads V8 it stopped the pinking, this bis what high octane fuel does (reduced knock). But it's more likely that it had too much advance, rather than it really needed higher RON petrol.

It won't make a difference in terms of your engine being able to run more advance because a Mini does not have this ability but the fuel will burn more cleanly and will keep the intake system cleaner so if you can afford it then its well worth using it.

Sounds like you have fallen for the advertising to me!

I had to run the high-octane fuel in my 1098 as it kept blowing head gaskets and also it was running on the high octane fuel stopped both things from happening

YetI

As above, the high octane fuel is a fix, but it may be that you were running lean or had too much CR or ignition advance. Of course, you may have deliberatly designed your engine to be high CR and then set the ignition advance to maximum based on high octane fuel.

But if your car is setup to run on 95RON and there is no way for the engine to change the settings to accomodate different fuels, then it's just a waste of money buying any super unleaded.

p.s. I use V-power and then add a 3 point octane boost to the fuel I use in my 998 turbo hillclimber. If I used 95 RON pump fuel, I would risk melting something, as I have optimised boost and ignition advance on the higher octane fuel.

[AVV IT]

V-Power???? ..... Geezz isn't fuel expensive enough for you people at the moment, without paying out for that stuff!!

Back in the day when I was but a boy, my Dad used to own a MK3 mini 1000 and I can still remember the day in the mid eighties when all the petrol stations stopped providing 3 star at the pumps and he then had to pay the extra for 4 star instead!!.... I can still hear his angry protests now "Four Star in a mini.... what an utter waste of my hard earned money!!"


(and for the benefit of the youngsters out there who have no idea what I'm going on about:... Before unleaded petrol came along you used to be able to buy 2 star, 3 star and 4 star petrol at the pumps. 2 star (the cheapest and lowest grade) generally was for lawn mowers, chainsaws and old bangers, 3 star was for most cars of the time, (much like unleaded is today) and 4 star was only if you had a new, performance or prestige car and most importantly if you afford the luxury of buying it (much like the super unleaded fuels are today!) .... Oh and then there were separate diesel pumps too, but they were only for lorries, everything else ran on petrol!! )

[g0myw]

and there was 5 star.

I think the rover v8 and lotus range recomended it amoung other 'exotic' makes..!!

[OzOAP]

This will be a pretty pointless post, not my first some would say, as I am not going to say the results, but fuel does make a difference.
Using regular pump fuel, Shell Unleaded, Optimax/V-Power, BP Ultimate, Tesco Momentum 99, Total Super and Premium.
On a 105hp Mini 7 there was a 4hp difference between best and worse. Timing/fueling was altered for each fuel tested. Not really detectable on a road car, but every horsepower counts on the track.

[cal844]

My minis seem to pull and run better on Tesco 99 fuel, compared to Morrisons Unleaded. I dont change anything at all just a general back to back test. Tesco 99 fuel does make a difference