HIGH OCTANE FUEL

[TJ-MK.J]

Just thought I would treat the car to some super unleaded, but I am not sure I should be putting this in the car. Can anyone tell me if putting super unleaded in would be any better?

Ime not to botherd about getting better MPG but if its better for the engine runs smoother etc.

We have had our car just over 3 weeks now we have coverd nearly 700 miles and are getting 40mpg and still going up. all I could squeeze out of the 1.6 mini was 32!

[harweyko]

I`ve had few times 98 and 99+ octane fuel, consumption was the same, maybe little bit better, what was really better for me was sound of the engine, much smoother (but as price is 0.20€ per liter higher I`m not using it regularly). Just give it a try, I think you can`t harm your engine with one full tank... (try to click on my consumption below, you`ll see more, also can compare with more 1.6 ti-vct`s)

[Smett72]

I've been running on Shell V-Power since I got the car, so I can't compare it with normal unleaded. I do lots of short journeys (less than 8 miles) so I prefer to use the higher quality fuel to help look after the engine. The car runs very nicely and i'm getting around 40mpg, which I think is pretty good considering all the short journeys.

My dealer also recommended V-Power. He runs his Focus ST on it and claims to get better performance and mpg. Although he did say that he didn't notice any difference until the second tank full.

[sussex]

I do 50 mile round trip for work, almost all on dual carriage way and motorway and Im lucky to get 40mpg even if I drive carefully and you get 40mpg on a 1.6 petrol on regular short journeys!

[Smett72]

I do 50 mile round trip for work, almost all on dual carriage way and motorway and Im lucky to get 40mpg even if I drive carefully and you get 40mpg on a 1.6 petrol on regular short journeys!

I'm afriad so. Although it does drop if I 'enjoy' myself too much. On the few longer journeys I've done I've got nearer to 45mpg.

I wouldn't trust the trip computer though. When I work my mpg out using a calculator it's usually 2-3mpg below the trip computer estimate.

[TJ-MK.J]

I do 50 mile round trip for work, almost all on dual carriage way and motorway and Im lucky to get 40mpg even if I drive carefully and you get 40mpg on a 1.6 petrol on regular short journeys!

Yes I worked our fuel out on a calculator and it was .1 mpg out from the cars on board mpg 39.7 and still getting better I am amazed at how frugal it is , and I have a heavy right foot!!! oh and most of our driving is in and around town

[greenymk7]

used higher octane fuel on 2 cars now and never noticed any difference to be honest.

i think if your running around in a ferrari or porsche then fair enough but not for a small hatch

[hammie]

what mpg are people geting from there 1.6tdci fiestas?? im only geting about 40mpg around town

[greenymk7]

Mines on 53.9 atm

[titanium_s_spec]

what mpg are people geting from there 1.6tdci fiestas?? im only geting about 40mpg around town

lucky you im lucky to get 35mpg and v-pwr and the bp 1 are better for your car.i had a mk2 escort 2 litre with a lot of work done on the engine and was adviced by builder to use higher octane fuel..and just by using it in my fiesta notice the difference on power...supermarket fuel is a big no no it may be cheap but not good for mpg and power..and if u can't aford the fuel treat your self to a bottle of good octane boost which also works well if the right 1 is purchased....

[Elly2112]

Totally notice the difference when I've used Shell V-Power to just ordinary fuel. V-Power gives my car the "kick up the *****" it needs! 

[Milkman]

The only difference between the regular and higher octane petrol is that the latter burns hotter and as such will sometimes in some vehicles give slightly more get up and go because of that, it won't necessarily give you better MPG. Don't forget that an engine needs upper lubrication and if you use the higher octane fuel you should use a fuel additive every 4th tank full.

[alexp999]

[Blatto]

7 hours ago, Milkman said:

The only difference between the regular and higher octane petrol is that the latter burns hotter and as such will sometimes in some vehicles give slightly more get up and go because of that, it won't necessarily give you better MPG.

I'm not sure that description of Octane is correct.

 

The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating. 

Especially in Turbo'd engines where you are increasing the pressure above atmospheric it can cause the fuel to ignite before the spark, due to the temperature caused by the compression. This causes knock, which if severe can damage your engine.

 All modern engines have knock sensors which will use various methods to stop the knock from happening and these will stop you from getting full power.
I think I read somewhere that one of the methods used in the ecoboost engine is to inject more fuel than required (i.e. running rich) which has a cooling effect that stops the fuel from detonating due to the high compression. This will obviously have a detrimental effect on mpg as it's just wasting fuel to reduce knock.

Using a higher octane fuel will just stop the knock from happening so soon as it can withstand more compression before igniting.

Therefore you could get more power from a higher octane fuel if it stops the knock sensor from cutting in so soon. As this is only likely to occur under high engine loads, the higher octane fuel is unlikely to make much difference in normal driving unless you drive everywhere flat out or pulling heavy loads up hills etc...

As to some of the fuels like Shell V Power,  it's not just a higher octane but also cleaning/friction reducing additives as well.

I tried some of the super fuels in my MK7.5 ST-Line 140 but couldn't really notice any difference, it certainly made next to no difference to mpg over two tank fulls. Think I got about 1-2mpg better but that could have just been variations in the driving or the ambient temps as I think it was a few degrees warmer on the weeks I had the more expensive fuel in.

 

 

[Jim H]

There are some engine that have to run on Super unleaded. I know the VAG 1.4 TSI (turbo and supercharged) cars had to. They wouldn't run right if fuelled with 95 octane, had to be 98. However most other engines (including Fords) will run happily on standard fuel. Don't think Super will make much difference, certainly won't if engine is naturally aspirated (non-turbo).

I have tried VPD on previous car, and only difference was I became lighter.... in my back pocket!!! In saying that, I have been tempted to try V-power now fuel prices are low, but Super is not low enough!. Last week I filled with normal Shell at £1.05 p/l in Middlesbrough, I think Super was £1.19 p/l ish

[Jim H]

9 hours ago, Elly2112 said:

Totally notice the difference when I've used Shell V-Power to just ordinary fuel. V-Power gives my car the "kick up the *****" it needs! 

If "ordinary Fuel" was forever been bought at supermarket stations, then V-power probably will make a difference. The extra detergents, additives and octane will clean and make the engine run better.