What fuel do you use?

[cc123]

I was reading an article (below) on another forum about types of fuel and whats best. Personally I've always used Optimax, no question. When I had my old petrol Focus, I used to sneak in a cheeky tank of the stuff every few weeks (on the company!) and noticed the difference in response and overall perfomance.

So now that I'm running a bike, I've always put Optimax in but now I'm not sure if I should by trying Esso SUL....

Read below:

A bit long winded but interesting

Copied and pasted from another Forum, this guys father in law also works down at Shell Haven and confirms this is pretty much about the size of it,

"Super unleaded is a fine fuel, but only if purchased from reputable dealers. Esso SUPER, like BP are about the best you can buy. Supermarket stuff is just 4 star without the valve addictive, which itself is just 95 unleaded that has been octane boosted. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Supermarket petrol is a very dirty fuel. Any engineer of their pumps will confirm that. I have seen the results of their filters and you get everything from feathers to god knows what flowing through supermarket fuels. EVEN SAND.

All Super by law has to be 97 ron, but where its stable enough to hold higher octane, stations are able to advertise its octane as being higher sometimes.

Optimax has a variable octane rating, due to its structure its less stable, but leaves the refinery at 101 octiane. Thats the equivalent to the old 5 star for those old enough to remember it. By the time you buy it, its closer to around 97. This is why its octane isnt always stated.

Normal 95 or 97 fuels wont lose octane, whereas optimax does, but used fresh, its the highest octane fuel you can buy.

All supermarket fuels come from either the Matex or Purfleit refineries for the south east. These only take oil from the eastern block. They are most definately NOT the same fuels as ESSO and such like. They also remix contaminations for other companies then sell the fuel on via supermarkets as well. On average, each 50 litres brought from a supermarket will have 8% contaminates, and 9 grams of grit. I have got 2 test tubes sitting on my desk at work of both ESSO and Tesco regular 95 for simple comparisons when arguing these points with supermarket buyers. There is a bead in both which on the Tesco tube floats in mid suspension due to the grittiness of its petrol. The ESSO falls straight to the bottom. These are random samples taken every few weeks, and the results are always the same.

Texaco is a subsidary of ESSO and both use the same petrol.

There are basically 3 companies which supply fuel to the UK. ESSO, BP, AND SHELL.

Each sells to all the other names you find.

JET, FINA, Q8 and a few other smaller outlets all use SHELL.

TEXACO and TOTAL use ESSO,

Supermarkets use Eastern Block fuels, which are primarily designed for the 91 Ron continent market. These are upgraded in the UK to UK specs by using Butane gas. Hence to avoid.

BP Ultimate is just its old Super grade cleaned up a bit. IE. It goes through another filter at the refinery. Not a bad fuel though, second only to ESSO in quality. Its Diesel is the best in the world for all you Diesel owners.

OPTICRAP. Need i say more. All grades supplied by Shell. Might as well fill from your local FINA station and pop a bottle of Halfarts octane super duper booster plus in.

ESSO 95 and 97 = If you want every pennies worth in quality petrol, look no further. Get it at your local TOTAL, TEXACO or ESSO "

So basically, if you know someone at your local Shell garage, find out when the fuel lorry is coming but if not, use ESSO!

Any thoughts?
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[instigator]

I'll just stick the first green tap I come across in my tank

Well, if it says unleaded, I'lll just put it in. Not really bothered what price or octane thingmyjig level it has

[cc123]

But after reading that, surely you must think what crap is going through your engine?

Dunno about you, but I like my bike to be running a sweet as possible and if that means a few extra pennies at the pump then so be it...
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[instigator]

Hmm, having actually read it () it does make you think more, but when I only plan to keep the bike for less than a year (hopefully upgrade this october) I guess I care less

Just with my income, price tends to come first and if I'm near a tesco's, then chances are, I'll go tehre.

[cc123]

What bike you up-grading to?
If your getting a sports bike then higher RON fuel is the way to go. You want to get the best for your engine and with bits of crap floating around in 'lesser' fuels it can't be doing much good...

I'll just need to remember to ask the staff in my local Shell when they are getting fresh fuel in..... Optimax starts at 101 RON when it's fresh...crazy but I want some of that!
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[8316]

i dont think optimax does much difference for an old 70's designed 125 engine-so i stick with "total"'s standard unleaded
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[Kickstart]

[eddie_gumshoe]

I have tried fancy 'performance' fuel, fancy 'clean' fuels, and can honestly say thay I have not noticed any difference in performance, economy or anything else on me old 89 VFR .

I DID notice that in France last year I got almost 10% better economy ... and that cruisin the peage at around 90 - 100 mph ... anyone explain that ...??

[Keith]

Hmm. I only ever used to use an Esso station down the road, but when their prices rose, I only ever used a Tesco station which was the same distance away. Well I think I'll be avoiding the 'cheap' stuff from now on if they dont do any good for the engine. No wonder they can supply so cheap if its not even purified properly.

My dad works on oil rigs in Africa and all over the world, his last job was with Esso I believe. Just he said it all goes to the same refinery and its all shipped out and re-badged as different brands.

Nevermind. Think I'll start paying the few pence extra and fill my bike with some better quality stuff. Good post, was an interesting read.
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[cc123]

I might try the Esso stuff for a while to see if there is any difference. Even then, take it with a pinch of salt but would you still run the risk of using cheap supermarket fuel 'just incase'? Although there might be no immediate consequences it 'could' cause more long term effects?
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[Bendy]

I'll be sticking with my cheap supermarket petrol, been using it for about ten years and never come across any problems or noticeable performance difference. It saves me money and is nearest my house.

The only time I've ever noticed fuel having an effect was a phase of BP Unleaded making my bike backfire. No idea why.

[Kickstart]

[zephyrgirl]

I always put the cheapest stuff in my car, but have to 'fess up to falling for the blub and put BP Ultimate in my knackered old Zephyr every time.

I ride off the forecourt feeling smug, like I've really given the bike a 'treat', and...........poorer.
BP Unleaded atm is approx 75.9
BP Ultimate is 83.9

What a Muppet!
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Fly away on my Zephyr?
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[paulodd]

The green one, like instigator says the first green thing i see goes in.

Paul
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Paul
1999 Yamaha R6
www.coventrybikers.co.uk / www.norfolkriders.co.uk

[Ricey]

Used BP Ultimate in my car but in my ped I used Shell Optimax and it made a difference. But the BP stuff is not all that don't bother paying the extra.

[innominate]

Standard green.


Optimax or the like thrown in once a month.
With a little RedEx.

It does seem to start slightly easier with Optimax.
But would not jump to the expense of filling every time.
(Do about 250miles a week on meh cb500)
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I, as a responsible adult human being, will never concede the power to anyone to regulate my choice of what I put into my body, or where I go with my mind. From the skin inwards is my jurisdiction, is it not? I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the customs agent. I am the coast-guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory, and only the laws I choose to enact within myself are applicable.

[wave2k]

i use unleaded

more specific

Regualer unleaded
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[dodsi]

I use esso as it is nearest. Standard unleaded goes in the tank....easy.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Think higher octane fuels work better in my bike (runs smoother, which I like), but for the past few weeks/months I have been using regular unleaded simply because it's cheaper. Most of the riding I do at the moment is commuting.

Don't really need anything special for just bimbling around town, and I get more miles per tank... Maybe when the weather gets better, I might put in a nicer fuel for the different riding style...

[BUSA BOY]

very interesting read. .i tend to use optimax wi the busa. but it still scares me with asda fuel in it. but i will say that with optimax in the throttle feels crisper and not so lumpy low down wi the race cans on. .so nasel sex{f**ck knows}
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[cc123]

My bike is a toy only, I don't commute to work and back, got a company car for that but even then.... ?12-13 pounds for a tank of fuel ain't a great amount of money to fire some in some Optimax or Esso SUL?

How can you say it's a marketing thing for oil companies to 'big up' there special brands of fuel?? These oil/petrol companies are some of the richest in the world, why crave for more?!

I'll stick with the dear stuff thanks
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[Craig-]

I shove any unleaded in it, if I am running out I will use supermarket stuff if that the closest station, but most of the time I use Texaco Unleaded, never had any problems with it and I really don't care aslong as it makes my bike run.

[Bendy]

[TheShaggyDA]

Well as far as the car goes, it's diesel. The bike gets whatever unleaded is going, but I do follow 2 simple rules for both the car and bike. Firstly, I don't go below a quarter of a tank, and secondly, if I see a petrol tanker at the petrol station, I avoid it for at least 3 days. Don't like the amount of crap that gets stirred up.
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[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[cc123]

So many pro's and con's..............Eeeeekk !!

Anyone know where to buy 'race fuel' !?
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[octane]

BP Fancy stuff or Optimax.

[Kickstart]

[Kickstart]

[BUSA BOY]

[cc123]

[BUSA BOY]

not bad flames out the race can either. still not a fast as mine though
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!!MADE IN SCOTLAND.WHERE THE MEN ARE MEN
AND THE SHEEP ARE SCARED!!

[Kickstart]

[Will87]

cc123, i've seen this on a motors forum in a larger forum i visit daily and it has been posted numerous times and each time it has been totally dismissed, i'll see if i can dig out a thread and post the link here to tell you.

Only time i have noticed 'better fuel' having an effect was on a commando and that was most likely due to the fact the petrol we filled it up with before was a bit duff and that tank came from shell i think!

[cc123]

I think it started on a car forum somewhere but still, they charge more for it so you believe it's better.....


Piece of mind and all that?
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[Will87]

If i remember it the only vehicles that really respond better to the high octane fuels are the Jap sports cars as they are designed for the higher octane fuels.

The letter/article/whatever is just some bit of propaganda from an employee of one of those big fuel companies.

It does come down to piece of mind i suppose yea, it's fun to believe it sometimes and it did make my dads commando run a bit better (it actually sat at idle!) but we both thing that is down to the fact the petrol we put in before was a bit off if you get me.

[Jrod]

Have thought about trying optimax but never got round to it, I've never had any problems with my bike from cheap fuel.
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'02 ZX12R
'85 XR600

[Fortuna]

Did you know even F1 cars use 95 pump unleaded
Have done for a couple of years. High performance doesn't always mean high octane.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Think the TT rules mean that bikes must use fuel available on the road. One team a few years back had their bike tuned to use a fairly special fuel which they brought with them. Their argument was that it was available. That it was only available at a single pump in the middle of Silverstone circuit was not relevant!

All the best

Keith
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[impaler]

I'd like to put my mildly educated view across as a (student) chemical engineer...

[jaffa]

[mr.z]

Two words "paper filter" any fuel filth should be picked up, they only cost about ?5 and take seconds to fit...

Tend to use the closest i can find, though reading that will steer me towards places other than asda and the like..

The only place i make a special effort to go to sometimes is a small "local" station, two pumps and thy do it by hand (not that i let them tho ) apparently the last fuel crisis they were only serveing customers who were there reguarly, which i though was ace, appart from 20p cheeper after a fillup (wooo indeed)...

I do use redex every so often though, the 300bhp extra BS i dont believe, but the difference is noticeable (only a bit) so i've no doubt its doing good to the carbs e.t.c. on old/simple engines its worth it, modern 4s doubtful it will make the slightest difference...
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[stevo as b4]

I normally always use Optimax or BP ultimate or as a last resort super unleaded in my bike. I think that with a 12.8:1 compression ratio the higher 97-98RON fuels must be better for it. I'll have a chat about fuels when i book my bike in for dynojetting when its back on the road. It was interesting to see in RIDE that Optimax etc, does actually give a tiny but measurable increase in power and throttle response over normal unleaded. Ive got a 4degree ignition advancer to go on my bike, so i guess its will be advantagous to use Optimax all the time when its set up properly.

Im my Car i use Optimax nearly always too, as its the idea of it keeping the engine clean that appeals to be. My Car does not have a knock sensor (Rover K-series engine) but when ive carried out some tuning modifications later this year, im going to have a auxillary ECU fitted, that can be programmed to take advantage of using a higher grade fuel, and on similar engines/Cars to mine it has shown a 2-3bhp gain on top of the normal gains made from chipping the engine, and i want to get every last bhp i can from tuning, so thats why i'll probably stick to Optimax or its equivalent.

[california_rookie]

F.Y.I. California's current higest octane rating for pump gas is 91.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

[Tiger Lily]

Good old fashioned leaded 4 star, if I can find it, like rockin' horse poop now!
If not 4 star lead replacement, which is also getting harder to find.
Failing that, the green tap stuff with an additive.
Will now look out for the decent green stuff now, if I have to put that in!

[Knisis]

I don't think my poor Honda CLR125 12BHP would appreciate anything other than standard unleaded

[mrchips]

78p unleaded, none of the 86p super unleaded crap.
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[mchaggis]

If it's green, it goes in. Simple.

I tend to avoid BP and Esso like the plague, they're really rather expensive compared to the supermarkets. If I was going to shop in a supermarket, it wouldn't be as a result of being lured in by the petrol either. Do they really think that selling cheap petrol is going to make people buy their groceries in preference to going to a different supermarket? Supermarkets are all the same, as is their fuel. Adequate.
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[stryker]

Supermarket fuel prices means nothing to me. I could not be arsed wasting 15 mins of my life queueing, all in order to save 50p on a tank of petrol.
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Now what?

[mattsmith95]

I'm running with Esso Supreme, keeps my baby running sweet.