sorry if this has been covered...

i've got a new UK wrx (non ppp), even tho the car is set up to run on 95ron, is it still beneficial to use optimax, guy in dealership said the engine will adjust to the higher grade fuel if i used it regularly...

does anyone else notice real difference in power in a std wrx??

 

Evo did a test a couple years ago on there fast fleet. All the cars were running 95ron, so they tested the cars in gear times. They then ran all the cars on Optimax for 1500 miles, then retested the cars. Every single car was faster. The Civic Type R that had just run on supermarket 95ron fuel had the biggest benefits, and all the engines saw the internals cleaner. The M coupe had spotles internals.
So yes it works. Have only used Optimax for the last 3.5 years. The only drawback is it's bloody expensive.

 

Agreed, it is pricey, but having run it for a similar period, I reckon the extra cost is offset by the improved mpg (ie ca. 5.5% more per litre vs. ca. 10% better economy), not to mention increased "responsiveness" as Shell describe it.

 

If you have a new UK WRX, doesn't it say inside the petrol flap '98 ron only'?

 

nope, says 95 ron minimum!...seems odd

 

Optimax, never known any performance car not to run better on the stuff, other than with proper 5 star! (Age showing now)

 

Indeed; mine says 98 RON only.

 

i recon my wrx got a non-turbo petrol flap on the production line

 

that'll hurt your 0-60 times then!

 

Sounds like you did get a non turbo flap on your car! I had an 03 WRX and now have an 03 STi and both say '98 ron' inside the fuel flap, so does the handbook, yes, look in your handbook, unless there's a printing error and that too says 95!

 

yeah but i'm getting very good mpg...shouldn't i also have a bonnet scoop?

bugger...

 

I was using optimax on my 02 WRX (pretty much standard) then changed back to 95ron just to see the difference. what a difference to my fuel bills, not only is it cheaper but i am getting lots more miles out of a tank.

I know some might argue this but it applies to me, will switch back to optimax as soon as the car is mapped.

Full tank Optimax = approx 180 miles

Full tank 95ron = approx 220 miles




Cookie

 

I've only recently started using Optimax in my WRX and the car is definately more responsive, especially at lower revs.

The problem is, it's miles to the nearest Shell garage and it's 96.5p/litre.

 

Very interesting. My new WRX has PPP and my average mpg on Optimax has been about 33. (Don't know what that equates to per tank, but mid to high 300s at a guess!). However, it's still running in and hasn't been taken on any twisties properly -- yet!

 

NO WAY..!

Surely it's not running correctly, must be lean..!

The BEST I've had out of mine was 26mpg and that was on a 300 mile m'way trip 99% off boost at 80ish in top..!

Usually 22 mpg now ~24mpg after Ecutek..

 

I only use Optimax, do between 100 and 300 miles per day. I get 300 ish miles off a tank on mostly B roads and about 350 miles on the motorway. Even if it doesn't make a differance i've got a **** load of Shell Optimax points!

 

Oh yeah......if i've got the ac on for a full tanks worth of driving I get 50 miles less.

 

I look at it this way: you get out what you put in! No point on scrimping on the imp stuff like oil and fuel with a performance car, if you want to save money, don't buy a Scooby! :-)

NS04

 

That is interesting, i get 140-150 miles on just £20 worth of optimax and my car is very responsive, when i got the car a month ago the guy failed to tell me about fuel quality so i put in normal unleaded and it didnt like it one bit it was missing and spluttering and just would not go so i put bp optimax in and that cleared her out but the optimax is great and THE petrol for me.

 

I find that £20 would get me about 120 miles on my MY99 run on Optimax.

NS04

 

My WRX MY01 refuses to run on ordinary unleaded and engine management light comes on after hard driving using this. No problems at all with Optimax and its def quicker I reckon.