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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:26 PM
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Talking Optimax.... voodoo.....

Was at the petrol station the other day. Filled up with optimax as normal. Get back in the car and get an ear full off SWMBO - "dont know why you put that optimax in, its a load of crap"... I go onto explain how my 03WRX needs good fuel and Optimax is what it needs. I try to explain how it will prevent engine damage and will keep the car running well. She does not believe any of it!!!

So can you guys help me out - what do you think of optimax? And do you use it?

I will then e-mail her this thread
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:34 PM
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Mine runs rough on anything else - plus loses throttle response!

Even my wife can tell the difference in her Clio 172 .......
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:34 PM
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explain to her about Detonation and high compression engines and why the chance of this is reduced when you use a higher octane fuel than the standard filth from the pumps.

(Optimax is 98ron compared to Standard which is 95ron)
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:37 PM
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Billy, I take the view that whilst Optimax costs more it pays for itself in the long run with improved fuel consumption and a reduced liklihood of engine problems which can arise from using inferior fuel. My wife accepts this and appreciates that the scoob would lose some of the whoosh she enjoys when I floor it for overtaking etc. Come to think of it, that's another good reason for using high RON fuel - it's safer because you can overtake a bit faster!

I hope these views will help during your lively debates at the petrol pump....
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:42 PM
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my95wrx import,63.000 only ever run on optimax, serviced regularly,has not gone bang yet!
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:42 PM
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Yes, this is all good stuff - keep it coming and I will send this to her tonight (away on business this week)
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 05:43 PM
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I actually find esso super to be better than optimax altho i do use optimax when i cant find an esso garage
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 06:06 PM
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just tell her to **** off, what does it matter if sum random doesnt know why you need it?

whats a SWMBO??
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by billythekid
Was at the petrol station the other day. Filled up with optimax as normal. Get back in the car and get an ear full off SWMBO - "dont know why you put that optimax in, its a load of crap"... I go onto explain how my 03WRX needs good fuel and Optimax is what it needs. I try to explain how it will prevent engine damage and will keep the car running well. She does not believe any of it!!!

So can you guys help me out - what do you think of optimax? And do you use it?

I will then e-mail her this thread
Does she drive your car herself? If not, let her drive it.That will put smile on her face and she will know why a super car needs super fuel
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 06:45 PM
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SWMBO

She Who Must Be Obeyed
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 06:59 PM
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What reasoning does she have for saying it's crap??
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 07:05 PM
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Exclamation A few weeks ago I would have agreed with her...not now!

Up until recently I have been running my car (a MY01 WRX) on Tescos petrol. Subaru told me thats all that I needed to do. My mates all run on optimax so last month I decided to change just to see what it was like.

I have a much more responsive engine at the lower end. Before there was no 'pull' when I came out of junctions in second gear, my golf did better!

I now get slightly more miles to a tank of petrol than I did before.

The whole car feels totally different. Its far removed from what it was last month. My mate who now drives a scooby used to have a Golf R32 said he experianced exactly the same sluggish performance anytime he put 95 in the VW.

I admit that until a few weeks ago I thought it was just all a load of old tosh, HOW WRONG COULD I BE??


Its BP/Optimax all the time now. I am never going back!


My personal opinion is that unless you put 97/98 in the car you are missing out on so much of the cars capabilities. After all its not that much more is it?

Good luck!
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by mt fuji
my95wrx import,63.000 only ever run on optimax, serviced regularly,has not gone bang yet!
make sure you add octane booster too mate,mine was the same sort of milage with no sign of problems when it went
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 07:31 PM
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She does drive it - not that often but maybe few times a month.

I will send the link on now LOL!
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 07:47 PM
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=StickyMicky]just tell her to **** off, what does it matter if sum random doesnt know why you need it?
Blunt, but straight to the point

Last edited by Dazza01; Aug 17, 2004 at 01:50 AM.
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 07:55 PM
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Have to agree with the comments....i get slightly better throttle response and much improved economy....a tank tends to get me about 260 by the time the light comes on now....and with the piece of mind of being physically kinder to the engine, its well worth 5-6p per litre more...at the end of the day it's only a £2-3 more per tank....just have a pint less down the pub at the weekend!!
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:01 PM
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Absolute ****e, hate the stuff. runs like a bag of **** on it, lumpy power delivery and flat midrange, Esso SUL all the way for me, much smoother and screams like a banshee on full throttle
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by andypugh2000
Absolute ****e, hate the stuff. runs like a bag of **** on it, lumpy power delivery and flat midrange, Esso SUL all the way for me, much smoother and screams like a banshee on full throttle
Have to admit i'd heard as such, but the local Esso doesn't stock it!!! Certainly want to try it!!
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by WRXPete
Have to admit i'd heard as such, but the local Esso doesn't stock it!!! Certainly want to try it!!
You personally know what my wagon goes like pete and it aint no snail, Try esso and you will know what i mean, fill up at the hogs back hotel services as they sell it see you at the bbq
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:09 PM
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Mine is (was) mapped for Esso SUL - Optimax was a bit "fluffy" on the AE800 ECU. Ultimate from BP meant it detted its **** off
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by WRXPete
just have a pint less down the pub at the weekend!!
**** that, i would rather damage the engine
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 08:44 PM
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'Evo Magazine' did a test of Optimax with some of its 'Long term test cars'. They used endoscopes to check the Inlet valves etc. of the engine and found over a relatively short period of time that the engine was cleaner of deposits and acceleration times were improved. Would you rather pay more money for petrol (If that's what the complaint is) or a couple of grand for an engine rebuild?

Optimax makes pure sense to me.

Aaquil.
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 09:11 PM
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My 04WRX was like a different car after I changed to optimax, but recently I was forced to use a couple of fills of ESSO SUL and I am pretty sure it is even better !
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Old Aug 16, 2004 | 11:35 PM
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FILLED UP WITH OPTI TODAY IN SEVENOAKS 85.6P LITRE. CHEAP COMPARED TO SOME 95 RON IN OTHER SERVICE STATIONS. MY DEALER SAID USE NOTHING BUT.

THE BOLLOX
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 11:45 AM
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Was filling up with Optimax last week, when i noticed a lad putting Optimax in his Scooter.

Shouted to him does it make a difference ? he said, yeh it's BRILL.

Red.
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 11:48 AM
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ran a 94 Sti Wagon for 2 years and 60K on normal unleaded. Even put a gallon of Outboard motor mix in it once.
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 11:49 AM
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What about the BP 97 RON stuff? Any good?
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 01:03 PM
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An MSA scrutineer at Kames sprint was going on about how Optimax is bad for the valves and that Esso SUL was better. Has anyone heard this before?
I've been using it for the last 18 months with no probs as I thought it would be better protection for driving in sprints etc. My standard MY97 seems to run smoother but with no great increase in power. There's no Esso SUL around here that I can find to see if there's any difference.
I can get Q8 98 but have no idea what it's like.

John
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Dracoro
What reasoning does she have for saying it's crap??

She/the female does not need a reason, it's a female.

Remember FEMALES and technology do not mix.
Why explain the fundamentals of combustion, ignition temperatures, octane levels, boost control,,,,, ect,,,,,,, remote controls............something's just don't mix.

Would you ask her why the *uck she paints all that crap on her face and why they use the products they use for the job. NO!!!!! we don't care as long as it covers up all the dents, scuffs, crows feet......... some cases been passed the sell by date it's like taking a **** in to the wind and trying not to get wet.......... Impossible, so don't bother.

God I'm Bored today

Do you see a female in F1................... I rest the case
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Old Aug 17, 2004 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by andypugh2000
Absolute ****e, hate the stuff. runs like a bag of **** on it, lumpy power delivery and flat midrange, Esso SUL all the way for me, much smoother and screams like a banshee on full throttle
I use Esso Super in my 5gtt. I used to work at ESSO's hq and after speaking to some of the top bods that worked there they were saying that although Optimax is 98 ron it is only refined to 95 then "boosted" up to 98, whereas the ESSO SU is refined to it's octance rating of 97. Therefore the octane rating of the Shell fuel drops off quicker. My mate who sells race fuel (I forget which company he works for) also told me the same thing, and that Opticrap is a bit shady!!

There's also rumors starting to crop up in the gtt world that Opticrap can "possibly" cause liner failure at high boost (1.5bar plus), but they are purley rumors based on a few people switching fuel and going bang soon after. However, that could just be coincedence .

Don't go asking me why because I'm not exactly Mr Technical and i'm purely stating what i've been told/read
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