Running a MY98 UK turbo no mods other than full exhaust.
whats this optimax all about ? is it worth the extra dosh?

 

Depends on compared to what - a Euro should be run on 98 RON (ignore the UK handbook - look in a Euro one where they don't have the same political blindness to more efficient fuels) & it's 98 minimum. However... the ECU can adapt to a lower octane fuel, but with lower performance (noticeable, even on a totally standard car) and a steadily lower safety margin.
Optimax varies dramatically in quality, I have found. Some garages it can 'feel' (and behave!) worse than a quality SUL (Esso), others it's great at.
But I've found that frequently Optimax costs less than SUL, so I tend to use it anyway Depends onwhere you are, I suppose!

 

At end of day, Optimax is just an SUL with some extra detergent and a high profile advertising campaign. It's sold under BS7800 just like all the other refiners' SUL's after all, so it can't legally be that different...

To answer the original poster's question, what fuel are you using at the moment? If you're putting common or garden "normal" unleaded in it, then yes, using SUL/Optimax should give you a noticeable performance improvement, while probably also offering you a marginal fuel economy gain too.

 

just running in on bog standard unleaded at moment.

 

You bought a performance car, why are you putting cheap petrol in it? Even bog standard UK cars can det on regular unleaded, especially supermarket grade of questionable providence.

Your car will run better on SUL - there is no good reason not to use it.

 

yes optimax the cars worth it , alan.

 

My work gives me a fuel card for all my fuel! So running my scooby is a lot cheaper than most of you guys! I am allowed to use shell or esso stations. I fill up with either premium unleaded at the esso stations or optimax at the shell stations (sseing as I am not paying for it! never anything else and i would certainly NEVER use normal unleaded (even if I was paying for it) - heard too many bad stories. I even ran my previous car (RS turbo) my car is also a ukmy98 and to be honest, i do not notice any difference between premium unleaded and optimax. It goes like **** off a hot shovel on both!

 

Scoobynson,

You'll have to do an ECU reset to get the full benefits of changing over to Optimax, for your model. The MY98 ECU doesn't "learn" very quick to fuel changes like the newer models do.

Cheers,

George.