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Super vs Premium unleaded


SO16_Saint
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Probably one for the Motoring forum, but it never seems to get much traffic (badum-tish)

 

This may have already been done to death, so apologies if it has, but is it worth putting in the more expensive "super" grade unleaded (or Diesel, if there is such a thing?) in an Insignia?

I assume (rightly or wrongly) that they are aimed at more high performance vehicles and wouldn't give much benefit versus the extra spend.

Thoughts?

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You may get marginally more MPG, but I think it's a bit of Emperor's New Clothing at play.

 

When I had my last 350z, BP were then doing an Ultimate 102 - which was ridiculously expensive. All it seemed to do was make my already loud car, louder. I didn't notice more MPG or hidden BHP.

 

I believe it is 'better' for your engine, but apart from that there isn't a lot of difference. I used it on both the performance engnes I had...

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I had a Mazda RX8 (one that had been "breathed on" a bit by Prodrive). I got a track tuition day with it and asked one of the Prodrive guys, who said even though my engine was a rotary and thus in theory fragile, just use high quality oil and stick to normal unleaded. Did as he said and never had an issue

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I believe it is 'better' for your engine, but apart from that there isn't a lot of difference. I used it on both the performance engnes I had...

 

Yep, I don't bother anymore on every fill up, but I do use it when I can based on the fact they do say it is better for the engine. But then, I picked up a new AMG in October and I actually asked the dealer this very question, he said 95 or 97 is fine ... so I'm still erring on the side of "Emperor's new clothes" a little ;)

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Yup my RX8 only ever drank the normal ron .

 

Remeber that our fuel has a higher ron than most countries anyway.

 

I do occasionally give my 5litre supercharged V8 a drink of the good stuff, but I've not noticed a lot of difference truth be told. Think the best i can get round here is the Tesco one bizarrely which is 100 I think

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Yup my RX8 only ever drank the normal ron .

 

Remeber that our fuel has a higher ron than most countries anyway.

 

I do occasionally give my 5litre supercharged V8 a drink of the good stuff, but I've not noticed a lot of difference truth be told. Think the best i can get round here is the Tesco one bizarrely which is 100 I think

 

That's very true, forgot about that!!

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My BMW 5 series used to have about a 10% fuel economy on the expensive stuff which just about paid for the difference. It might seem that there's no advantage but it did mean longer between fill ups and also the service interval on BMWs is calculated according to the fuel used so it also meant longer between services.

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I heard a feature on this on the radio the other week but wasn't paying a huge amount of attention to it.

 

As far as I remember it has something to do with the higher octane rating in the 'super' category and something to do with this higher ratings ability - or rather inability - to 'self ignite'. Self ignition is bad for a combustion engine so higher octane ratings are used for super performance cars. Basically for anything that isn't used in professional sport you should use the octane rating that is recommended by the manufacturer - this is usually on a sticker on the inside of your petrol flap... Everything else is indeed 'emperor's clothing' and will be a waste of money....

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I heard a feature on this on the radio the other week but wasn't paying a huge amount of attention to it.

 

As far as I remember it has something to do with the higher octane rating in the 'super' category and something to do with this higher ratings ability - or rather inability - to 'self ignite'. Self ignition is bad for a combustion engine so higher octane ratings are used for super performance cars. Basically for anything that isn't used in professional sport you should use the octane rating that is recommended by the manufacturer - this is usually on a sticker on the inside of your petrol flap... Everything else is indeed 'emperor's clothing' and will be a waste of money....

 

Modern engine management systems auto-adjust to the octane rating.

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Oh I love bragging about what car I drive on the innernezzzz!! When had my Maserati quadroporte s V6 I found that it was slightly less economical on super unleaded than my than my current Aston Martin DB9, which was more economical on premium! Go figure! There is nothing more satisfying than pulling up at the petrol pump next to some top man suited rep in his mondeo, pulling out the pump in Swift no nonsense all in one move fashion like a gun from it's holster and inserting into my vehicle like a slotting a penis into a moist Vagina whilst thinking 'take that rep boy, your suit is sh*t your car is sh*t and you're sh*t' now let me get on the innernezzz and brag about it all.

Edited by Turkish
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Modern engine management systems auto-adjust to the octane rating.

 

Correct, the knock sensor makes the adjustment meaning that octane ratings make little or no difference in modern cars.

 

In older cars without engine management systems the differences make a big difference.

 

The biggest issue though is that ethanol is in standard fuels, but absent in most super fuels. Its presence is quite damaging to old cars, particularly classics and vintage cars.

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Yep, I don't bother anymore on every fill up, but I do use it when I can based on the fact they do say it is better for the engine. But then, I picked up a new AMG in October and I actually asked the dealer this very question, he said 95 or 97 is fine ... so I'm still erring on the side of "Emperor's new clothes" a little ;)

 

What year? You running a 6.3 v8?

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Yup my RX8 only ever drank the normal ron .

 

Remeber that our fuel has a higher ron than most countries anyway.

 

I do occasionally give my 5litre supercharged V8 a drink of the good stuff, but I've not noticed a lot of difference truth be told. Think the best i can get round here is the Tesco one bizarrely which is 100 I think

 

To be fair, you needed to save your fuel money for high quality oil with an RX8.

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Oh I love bragging about what car I drive on the innernezzzz!! When had my Maserati quadroporte s V6 I found that it was slightly less economical on super unleaded than my than my current Aston Martin DB9, which was more economical on premium! Go figure! There is nothing more satisfying than pulling up at the petrol pump next to some top man suited rep in his mondeo, pulling out the pump in Swift no nonsense all in one move fashion like a gun from it's holster and inserting into my vehicle like a slotting a penis into a moist Vagina whilst thinking 'take that rep boy, your suit is sh*t your car is sh*t and you're sh*t' now let me get on the innernezzz and brag about it all.

 

To be fair you didn't get a V6 Quattroporte unless you're driving a **** 90's version...

 

What's wrong with enjoying a car anyways Turks?

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Oh I love bragging about what car I drive on the innernezzzz!! When had my Maserati quadroporte s V6 I found that it was slightly less economical on super unleaded than my than my current Aston Martin DB9, which was more economical on premium! Go figure! There is nothing more satisfying than pulling up at the petrol pump next to some top man suited rep in his mondeo, pulling out the pump in Swift no nonsense all in one move fashion like a gun from it's holster and inserting into my vehicle like a slotting a penis into a moist Vagina whilst thinking 'take that rep boy, your suit is sh*t your car is sh*t and you're sh*t' now let me get on the innernezzz and brag about it all.

 

Totally agree. All goes out the window though when you realise you haven't selected 'pay at kiosk' or 'pay at pump' so nothing is happening.

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