InsBro

You may have read the GTR register discussions on octane booster and optimax well:

Some points they have answered, they will be glad to answer any questions!

From a website
"Why is Optimax so variable?

Age, 'Optimax' has a 'tank life' it degrades quite rapidly as the super hot
benzene 'loses' it volitility after just 40days in the tank [the one in your
car or the one in the ground at you petrol station.

From this day, if you use it, then ask the attendent when the last delivery
of it was, if he can't answer then get the Manager, I've started doing this
lately and they are blissfully unaware of the time thing so answer with a
flourish of paperwork and a quizzical look. My rule is simple, look at the
docket, it says size of tank 10k ltrs, the discharged amount AT LEAST 90% is
needed to keep it at the 97/98 ron, the stuff in the tanker will be 98. this
started from the simple question posed me 'What RON is Optimax' the answer
is......enhanced 95ron...this is to avoid prosecution by the Customs and
Excise if they perform one of their checks.

Shell Say

"I will reiterate:

'Shell Optimax is 98 RON min, it is a completely new uniquely formulated fuel in which the high octane comes from refinery blending components not octane boosting additives. It also contains a top tier detergent additive which has the ability to clean away the deposits left behind in the airways of the engine by other fuels.

All Petrol, including Optimax, is manufactured to a specification which correlates to a storage stability of 2 years when stored under correct conditions. We do not, however, recommend that it is stored for a period of more than 6 months due to the seasonal variations of the fuel. The RON of Optimax would not decrease over the period of time that the fuel remains in the tank of the vehicle or the retail site, and is only likely to decrease by 0.5 RON max under very extreme conditions.'

The comments regarding benzene are irrelevant since benzene is not particularly volatile, and it is typically only present in quantities of 0.5%v/v or less in fact the specification for all grades of petrol is 1% max.

Optimax is 98 RON min, typically around 98.6. It is NOT an enhanced 95 RON fuel, it is a uniquely formulated fuel in which the increased octane comes from high octane refinery streams not an additive."

Another
"It also scrubs the tank, and this may well be what fooked Adis' cats, his
explanation of events fits the dirty tank scenario, apparently the smallest
tank on the forecourt is selected [this bit also explains why it is not
available nationally] It is cleaned and sealed with an inert gas awaiting
its new load, the inert gas does escape and if the gas is not present the
new surface scales into rust, the oxide is bad for the SH Benzene and makes
it behave oddly during burning, there is a precipitate (solid) formed and
this is what I think got Adis cat in trouble, the heating of the solid means
that it can perforate the matrix of the cat blowing a hole clean thu it in a
few hudred miles."

Shell

"When a tank on a forecourt becomes available for Optimax it is drained and refilled in quick succession (if it is a diesel tank it may require testing for licensing purposes and this will be the only situation where nitrogen (or any gas) would be introduced). The tanks at our retail sites are manufactured from coated steel and therefore occurrence of rust is very unlikely. And again, the benzene issue becomes irrelevant on two counts."

Another

"Manganese is essential for Optimax to work (see my paper of Oct. 2000,
LSOC) I have found only traces of Toluene in Opt. for the most part it is
Xylene and Benzene."

Shell
"There is no manganese in Optimax. Manganese is often used in octane boosting additives, however Optimax is a uniquely formulated fuel where the increased octane comes from refinery streams alone.

Again, the maximum benzene spec for all UK petrols is 1%, Optimax is typically 0.5% or less."

Another

"Optimax is high (very high) in Iso-parafins."


Shell

"Probably quite true - iso paraffins are generally high in octane."

Another

"Any 'metal' (if its compound is 'soft') will assist the valves and to some
extent the detonation. However some metals will cause the valves to rotate
to quickly (performance road cars valves rotate at around 1/2RPM, saloon
cars 1RPM) causing valve wear, this what caused all the trouble with Shells
last foray into the hi-performance fuels, that had to be withdrawn as the
claims against them were getting 'out of hand' I like what Optimax does, but
I am always aware that their last effort screwed cars over a 2year period, I
hate to feel like a long term test 'guinea-pig'. To some extent I feel that
way about all the OBs'."

Shell

"Optimax contains no metal compounds.

The fuel you remember was Formula Shell. Formula Shell contained a spark aider additive which was the cause of exhaust valve problems in a small minority of cars running on leaded petrol only. Shell Optimax is a completely different petrol formulation since it is an unleaded petrol and it does not contain the spark aider additive contained in Formula Shell.
We have extensive engine test data showing that this unique high octane, clean burning petrol, with its market leading additive performance will enhance engine performance, improving responsiveness and giving superior acceleration. This has also been rigorously tested and benchmarked against other petrols currently available in the UK."

Helen Scholey
Technical Manager - Automotive Fuels
Shell U.K. Oil Products Limited
Rowlandsway House, Rowlandsway, Manchester M22 5SB, United Kingdom

I am just awaiting confirmation I can publish the email address then you can send your own questions.

Jeremy

DrEvil

Nice

care3

top

Turkish1

Thats good to know, thanks for confirming it.



Turkish1

JonGould

so all in all it would seem that optimax is a good petrol to be putting in me car then...

i have always found it better, it is cheaper than BP super unleaded, seams to be a bit better for performance, definitly feels like a cleaner engine (more smooth) and i like the peace of mind of being able to put in 98RON in a jap car (its the closest we can get)

so all in all, am i correct in saying its a good idea to use?

*Sonic*

I always find (or may be its just recently) that once I fill up to the top, the car feels lardy for about the first 20-30 miles or so, then seems to get better

Is this the ecu buggering about cos the petrol is different

irawasher

good work fella

ruminator

Great thread...

Nice work, thanks for the follow up Insbro

Rumy

MATTeL

Now if you could get a statement from Shell saying that Optimax is not considered Super Unleaded I would be more than happy!

ScoobyJawa

shame the buggers put the price up 2p here today [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

APJ

Wow. Good work, thanks for that!

Mycroft

That letter from Shell is simply a re-iteration of what has been around for the last year or so, it has nothing new to offer, still some people are easily pleased.

Mycroft

Issued by a 'well known' cigarette manufacturer

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
Annual Shareholders report 1946.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
Annual Shareholders report 1952.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
Annual Shareholders report 1960.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
Annual Shareholders report 1966.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
AGM Highlights 1972.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
AGM Highlights 1977.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
AGM Highlights 1981.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
AGM Highlights 1987.

....'there is no established link between smoking and lung cancer'
AGM Highlights 1992.

....'there are some links now established that may result in some litigation but we have sectioned out that Company so that any payments will not be made to those who have survived until 2008'
AGM Special Reporting Proceedure 1998.

A bit extreme but you catch my drift... feed people enough of the same thing and they might just believe it... as a more sharp tongued person might say... 'there is one born every minute.' (more often than that, by the look of things)

StickyMicky

so what exactly is the problem??
are u sayin its unsafe?
what makes u think sul is safe??

Mycroft

Read the OB thread on the GTR site and make your own mind up.

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2480

or go to the Optimax thread...

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8636

[Edited by Mycroft - 2/28/2003 2:52:25 PM]

clarence

Dunno what all the fuss is about.
We have Optimax here in Hong Kong (called 'V-Power') since 1998, & nobody seems to have any problems with it.

Mycroft

Not the same stuff!

I have a windscreen cleaner from Sweden... Its called 'Super-P!ss' do you think it has urine in it?

Something might have the same name and be an entirely different material.

[Edited by Mycroft - 2/28/2003 4:33:13 PM]

[Edited by Mycroft - 2/28/2003 4:34:04 PM]

milkytadpole

Bit late joining in on this thread, (sounds as though it's been going on for a while). Sounds like there's some kind of shell "conspiracy theory" belief, what's that all about? J

Mycroft

Conspiracy theory?

How, what, where?

There is debate, who is 'conspiring against whom?

milkytadpole

I've only skimmed the very surface of the thread, so this has probably all been answered already. But what's wrong with the shell explanation of Optimax? Sounds perfectly feasible to me. J