2022 ST3

Thoughts on higher octane fuels?

I've started to use higher octane E5 fuel. First Esso 97 octane, and recently Shell 99 octane. Today filled up with Tesco Momentum 99 octane.

Can't say I've definitively noticed any difference in performance; however, I've just done a 1000 mile round trip (2 days) and averaged just over 50 mpg (my general mpg is nearer 30, I got a quite heavy right foot). This was 90% motorway, and I was in driving Miss Daisy mode, cruise stuck at 72mph apart from  the relentless 50mph limits that curse our motorways.

I did the outbound journey on shell 99 and home on Tesco 99. I was most likely hallucinating that the return journey (tesco fuel) seemed "smoother". MPG was exactly the same. 

Thoughts on the pros and cons of higher octane fuel (the increased cost is frankly not an issue)?

And thoughts on Tesco 99 vs Shell 99? Is the anti-supermarket bias a thing? 

The car will adapt to anything 95 or higher. It might run rough if you have it running on 97 or 99 then put 95 in it, but again, give it time and it will become smooth again. 

The ECU is programmed to adapt to the fuel you put in. Personally I like to run STs on 97 as they are a higher state of tune, but I've also run my 2018 Fiesta ST and current car on 95 and it adapts fine. 

Fuel has to reach a minimum legal standard, I tend to put Sainsbury's 97 in mine, simply because it's the cheapest 97+ in my area. 

Hi Weesam,

It is not the higher octane that makes the difference. It is the additives, especially friction modifiers, which some companies add in their top fuels. The Austrian group OMV and the Austrian AC2T tribology lab published a paper on how these friction modifiers impact piston rings. Same conclusion was reached by the American SWRI tribology lab. And the conclusion was that the piston rings are better protected, and the oil life is extended due to fuel dilution.

Therefore, if cost is not a problem for you, try to find the spec sheets for the fuels and see which one has friction modifier additives. Check for multiple brands. Try them out and come back with conclusions.

Or try Archoil or similar for petrol (for diesel it has additives that give premium fuel at half the garage premium):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Archoil-AR6900-P-Advanced-Petrol-Synthesis/dp/B0727XC5BR?th=1

Anyone remember 5 Star fuel ? 

49 minutes ago, Ian Lanc said:

Anyone remember 5 Star fuel ? 

Yep, and 2 ,3 and 4. Redex shots. 

, 2 star was 92 octane, 3 star 95 octane 4 star 98 octane and 5 star 101 octane.

I worked in a village petrol station as a teenager. Attended service. Shots of red x and shots of 2 stoke oil for the bikes. 

If my memory serves me well the Octane Rating dropped from 98 to 95 when Unleaded was introduced instead of the normal 4 Star.

I still remember that 2 or was it 3 Star was the recommended Petrol for some Japanese cars. 

3 hours ago, weesam said:

2022 ST3

Thoughts on higher octane fuels?

Thoughts on the pros and cons of higher octane fuel (the increased cost is frankly not an issue)?

And thoughts on Tesco 99 vs Shell 99? Is the anti-supermarket bias a thing? 

You have a few things going on here.

1 - there's no such thing as 'supermarket fuel'.  Most fuel comes from the nearest distribution point, and each branded tanker that fills up there will have an additives package that is unique to Shell or Esso or Sainburys etc etc. but the base fuel is the same.  Tescos were different 10+ years ago in that their RON 99 fuel came from Greenergy's distribution centre in the Thames estuary, which then rolled-out over the whole of the UK....but I think even that has changed recently.

So yes there is a difference in each Brand's package that gets added to the basic fuel....I don't think anyone can say whether one Brand's additives are better than another Brand's -  but more important is

2 - how much ethanol is in the fuel - RON 95 is up to 10%, and RON 97 or 99 is only up to 5%

Many people question how much damage is being done by high levels of ethanol, and on any car that you are keeping for any significant number of years, and no matter what RON it can recognise and utilise, you should run the lowest levels of ethanol you can.

ESSO a couple of years ago tried advertising that their Super was 0% ethanol, (and that was supplied by Greenergy at the time) but for whatever reason they abandoned that marketing.

Bottom line - ethanol isn't great for engines, fuel systems and even the tank, and if your car can recognise and exploit a higher RON, it does give a better MPG.  Therefore if you can afford it, go RON 99 and E5.

2 hours ago, Ian Lanc said:

Anyone remember 5 Star fuel ? 

Sadly, yes.

On the main point, I've run my current car virtually exclusively on Tesco Momentum as it's my local (and you get Clubcard points😀). On the odd occasion I've needed to use 95 I've not had a problem.

 

If anyone wants to read more on how the adaption system works. This is a great in depth article:

https://www.motorsport-developments.co.uk/Understanding-Ford-Ecoboost-OAR-Systems.html

For the last 3 years, I have now run my old LX on BP Ultimate E5. The cost difference in minimal when you consider how much you spend on overall maintenance, and it just makes me feel good knowing I'm feeding her well...

Tesco Momentum is not only 99 RON but E-zero and very, very good value.

I'd stick to that, but you ideally need to stick to the same fuel all the time as the PCM adapts after a while then settles down

Anyone who has a Diesel I can't recommend Archoil D-Max enough, mine's like a new car!!

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Tesco Momentum is not only 99 RON but E-zero....

Please share where you got this info 🙂

As I said above, both ESSO and Tesco have their fuel supplied by Greenergy, and any supplier can choose to add less (or no) ethanol when delivered to the tanker, and ESSO did do market this as zero a few years ago, but nowhere today can I find anyone claiming 0%

... for example, these tests are very useful, but you have to remember that supplies can vary across the UK, and that ESSO and Shell (or any other brand) may well be exactly the same.

 

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

For the last 3 years, I have now run my old LX on BP Ultimate E5. The cost difference in minimal when you consider how much you spend on overall maintenance, and it just makes me feel good knowing I'm feeding her well...

Do you get BP points in NI?  I've still got a few spare which are going to be lost due to inactivity soon but can't remember how they get redeemed now.

24 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Do you get BP points in NI?

I sure do LOL Have redeemed them a few times now for my favourite shopping source - Amazon 🤣 When I get a minimum amount for redemption (I think it's £5), it appears on my BP app...

5 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

I sure do LOL Have redeemed them a few times now for my favourite shopping source - Amazon 🤣 When I get a minimum amount for redemption, it appears on my BP app...

Ah, I think that explains it.  I probably have too few points left if there is a minimum.  I can see I redeemed 1000 points a few years ago, but not how or where.

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

Ah, I think that explains it.  I probably have too few points left if there is a minimum.  I can see I redeemed 1000 points a few years ago, but not how or where.

The BP app restarted last year requiring me to set up a new login to access. Maybe your points are still there but just need a new login in to access?

They expire if you don't earn or spend anything for 2 years.

1 minute ago, StephenFord said:

The BP app restarted last year requiring me to set up a new login to access. Maybe your points are still there but just need a new login in to access?

I can access the points.  It says there are just under £5's worth left.  But doesn't tell me how I can redeem those.  I'm now thinking the minimum redemption must be set at £5?

I got an email telling me they'll expire soon.  Obviously I won't be buying any more fuel, so will just let the account expire, but didn't want to waste these points before it goes.

2 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Tesco Momentum is not only 99 RON but E-zero and very, very good value.

I'd stick to that, but you ideally need to stick to the same fuel all the time as the PCM adapts after a while then settles down

Anyone who has a Diesel I can't recommend Archoil D-Max enough, mine's like a new car!!

I didn't know Tesco was E-zero. Good to know. I have a massive Tesco about a mile or two from where I live, so I think I will stick to that wherever possible (and Tesco is everywhere now...)

I was (just) starting to stick to Shell V. As said previously, it's got to be a placebo, but the car felt much "smoother" (and no I cannot quantify that it any way) with the Tesco fuel.

 

Regarding PCM adaptation : stupid question, but this is just regarding the octane value, yes? So you can mix between any 99 octane fuels with no adaptation worries?

19 minutes ago, weesam said:

Regarding PCM adaptation : stupid question, but this is just regarding the octane value, yes? So you can mix between any 99 octane fuels with no adaptation worries?

I'd stick to the same

2 hours ago, orangecurry said:

Please share where you got this info 🙂

I watched that video you posted the other day😆😆😆

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

I watched that video you posted the other day😆😆😆

ok... so that means it may or may not be E0 where you live 😘

I find it's best to pass on factual info rather than making a statement such as 'Tesco 99 is 0% ethanol' when even Tesco make no claims as such.

14 hours ago, Tizer said:

If my memory serves me well the Octane Rating dropped from 98 to 95 when Unleaded was introduced instead of the normal 4 Star.

Yes, it serves you well, John!😀 

That was really the only time I found a particularly noticeable change between fuels. I switched to diesel a few years later, but the petrol cars we had then (Cavalier 2.0GLi and Astra 1.8 SRi) didn't like it one bit!

Vauxhalls at the time had a reversible plug under the bonnet to supposedly tweak the ignition timing to suit the lower octane rating of unleaded. I tried to do the right thing for a couple of weeks but soon reverted to lovely leaded 4* which was still available for some time and normality was restored!

Eventually higher octane unleaded was introduced, of course.