what would scooby do

Rather than test ultimate in my v5 Type R I decided to try it out in my SAAB 9-3 Turbo (1999 MY). What I list here is totally subjective and is just what I have observed.

The SAAB has a boost "gauge" that consists of a needle sweeping through a white section, then green and then red. Therefore it doesn't tell me amount of boost - just an indication.

The SAAB ECU seems to be several generations ahead of the scooby on in terms of knock detection, it doesn't use a "microphone" it analyses the combustion output. The ECU also adapts pretty instantly to changes of fuel.

Righty-ho - here's what I did.

1) I have been running the car on normal unleaded from tesco's, BP Shell etc -95 RON standard stuff for 6 months. Boost gauge always peaked dead middle of the green sector - no deviations come hot or cold weather.

2) I have filled the car with optimax from empty on some occasions. What the car then does is boost half way into the red sector and the ecu seems to hit some pre-set safety limit and the boost drops back to 1/4 into red-sector. It then boosts again into 1/2 red and drops back depending on loadings and/or revs.

3) Yesterday I filled the tank from empty with ultimate and it smoothly boosted through 90% of orange but never entered the red sector. A second tankful this morning again, same result.

The car feels better on optimax, didn't feel any difference running ultimate.

Again, these are just my observations..

Defiant STI

Nice consumer testing there! Good job

I think it confirms what the RON figures already tell us, BP Ultimate isn't

misty

well thats good enough for me m8. I'll stick with Shell.
dave

ozzy

Well, I filled up my Scooby last weekend with Ultimate. My local garage still had it branded as SUL 97, but after speaking to the manager they confirmed they'd had it for at least a week prior to the launch since the tanks were cleaned.

Anyway, last week you could see the car didn't like it at all as the Knocklink activity was far greater than running with Optimax. I could almost guarantee seeing some amber as soon as the car (MY99 RB5) was at 5000rpm.

I filled the car with Optimax on Wednesday before heading off to the Scottish hills. I didn't hang around on the journey back, but the Knocklink was pretty quite. Never had one spike into Amber or Red and the most I ever had was one green.

Driving was some high-speed blasts across Rannoch Moor and spirited 3rd/4th gear driving on the A-roads from Crianlarich down to Stirling.

Shell will keep my business for the time being

Stefan

King RA

I feel optimax is still the best also. This is just from my own feelings on the cars performance though, and nothing scientific.

pslewis

I find that Sainsburys Super is, by far, the best for me - not sure what RON it is ..... the car just runs great on it AND its 75.9p!!!!! Can't fall off it!! Fill yer boots!!

Pete

Buzzer

Ozzy

Do you have a boost gauge fitted?

I have a fairly standard WRX. With optimax i have peaked at 1.1 bar.

I filled up with ultimate twice last week and only managed a peak of 0.9 bar. Put optimax back in on Saturday and again managed a peak of 1.1 bar.

Dont really know in real terms what this means overall. I dont have knocklink fitted yet so i cant comment

Pete

TopBanana

My Passat TDi seems to enjoy Ultimate Diesel!

Leslie

I think that overall, Optimax is as good as you can get at the moment.

Les

SiPie

Myself and my knocklink agree with Les

TelBoy

Thank God for Optimax, eh Les?

ozzy

Buzzer,

Yes I do have a boost gauge, but I hardly look at it to be honest. The knocklink catches me eye on full chat more than the boost gauge.

Can't say I noticed any difference with the boost between them. Neither feels noticeably faster, just more protection from det with the Optimax.

Stefan

Buzzer

Thanx Stefan

Although i saw a difference of 0.2 bar, i did in no way feel any difference at all on the way the car handled or responded etc.

Pete

what would scooby do

I'll be sticking to Optimax and not even trying Ultimate in the scoob, unless of course I get stuck with no Shell garage nearby..