Shell V-Power bad for your car?????
16 December 2006, 10:22 AM
#1
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Shell V-Power bad for your car?????
Have an MY(( standard and always used Optimax, so when Shell switched to V-Power, i continued using it.
Since then my car has been knocking intermittently and generally sounding rough. Filled up with standard unleaded, and all problems solved.
Has anyone else experienced this?? Could it be the fuel or another problem??
PS recently had a service and a ECU check, which reported no faults.
Since then my car has been knocking intermittently and generally sounding rough. Filled up with standard unleaded, and all problems solved.
Has anyone else experienced this?? Could it be the fuel or another problem??
PS recently had a service and a ECU check, which reported no faults.
16 December 2006, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by RB5DOCC
Have an MY(( standard and always used Optimax, so when Shell switched to V-Power, i continued using it.
Since then my car has been knocking intermittently and generally sounding rough. Filled up with standard unleaded, and all problems solved.
Has anyone else experienced this?? Could it be the fuel or another problem??
PS recently had a service and a ECU check, which reported no faults.
Since then my car has been knocking intermittently and generally sounding rough. Filled up with standard unleaded, and all problems solved.
Has anyone else experienced this?? Could it be the fuel or another problem??
PS recently had a service and a ECU check, which reported no faults.
My girlfriend has a '95 WRX and experienced similar problems.We both tried Tesco 99 and after running on it for a few days all the problems with both cars were gone.
I know ill be sticking to Tesco 99 from now on !
.
16 December 2006, 11:31 AM
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I get poorer fuel consumption on V-Power. Loose about 30 miles per tank compared to Optimax. But as per my other thread, it's not going to be a problem anymore as the local Shell garages have closed around here.
16 December 2006, 12:54 PM
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Nice to see its not just me experiencing problems. I thought that Subarus had a knock sensor in the ECU that adjusted to take advantage of better fuel. Anyone have any ideas why V-Power may be causing problems??
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16 December 2006, 01:44 PM
#8
Originally Posted by RB5DOCC
Nice to see its not just me experiencing problems. I thought that Subarus had a knock sensor in the ECU that adjusted to take advantage of better fuel. Anyone have any ideas why V-Power may be causing problems??
- The standard knock sensor doesn't work above 5000rpm as it gets confused between knock and engine noise
- Only MY99+ cars will advance the ignition. Earlier ones only ever retard in the case of knock.
Someone will correct me I'm sure but these are the only two things that seem to be consistently stated.
I use T99 aswell and it runs fine. But then I've not had problems with V-Power either. BP SUL is dreadful in my car though.
16 December 2006, 06:50 PM
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Normally use V-power on both my Impreza's, and my wrx ra is fitted with a knocklink. It's on maximum sensitivity and very occassionally get 1 green light coming on, that's all.
After all the hype about Tesco 99, I filled up with that.
1 green light on all the time, and the second one came on at high revs.
Back to V-power, and no lights again.
After all the hype about Tesco 99, I filled up with that.
1 green light on all the time, and the second one came on at high revs.
Back to V-power, and no lights again.
16 December 2006, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul3446
A standard MY should run perfectly well on any 95 RON fuel.
3000 posts!
I'm so sad! 
16 December 2006, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by chrispurvis100
What does it say inside your cars fuel flap? Mine says 'super unleaded only'.
3000 posts! I'm so sad!
3000 posts!
I'm so sad! Congratulations on your post count by the way
.Wolfie.
16 December 2006, 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfie28
The sticker on the inside of the petrol cap refers to the Japanese market, subaru couldn't be bothered to remove it for the UK cars.
Congratulations on your post count by the way.
Wolfie.
Congratulations on your post count by the way
.Wolfie.
16 December 2006, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by chrispurvis100
Why is it in english then?
its only what the dealer told me so it could be bull.Wolfie.
16 December 2006, 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfie28
I haven't a clue mate its only what the dealer told me so it could be bull.
Wolfie.
its only what the dealer told me so it could be bull.Wolfie.
16 December 2006, 09:46 PM
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I just got my car back on the road after a rebuild and filled up with V power and there was a fair few misfires and very choppy drive. Put it down to post rebuild niggles but looks like this could be another factor as well.
Need to keep my eye on this post and see what the general consensus is .......
Need to keep my eye on this post and see what the general consensus is .......
16 December 2006, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Kennyf
I just got my car back on the road after a rebuild and filled up with V power and there was a fair few misfires and very choppy drive. Put it down to post rebuild niggles but looks like this could be another factor as well.
Need to keep my eye on this post and see what the general consensus is .......
Need to keep my eye on this post and see what the general consensus is .......
16 December 2006, 09:55 PM
#18
Yes, I've experienced difficulties with V-Power too.
1. More activity on the Knocklink
2. Less miles to a tank
3. Doesn't feel as quick
On Optimax I didn't get any lights showing on the KL but on VP I get up to 2 lights regularly. Someone mentioned it might be because of the mapping, i.e mapped for Optimax and octane booster? I'm not entirely sure.
1. More activity on the Knocklink
2. Less miles to a tank
3. Doesn't feel as quick
On Optimax I didn't get any lights showing on the KL but on VP I get up to 2 lights regularly. Someone mentioned it might be because of the mapping, i.e mapped for Optimax and octane booster? I'm not entirely sure.
16 December 2006, 09:55 PM
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I'm using V-Power on my My00 T2000 UK Classic and had no problems at all. It seems to run smoother, with less noise, feels like it pull better at low revs and am getting an extra 2-3mpg.
16 December 2006, 10:19 PM
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my reviews on V-power...
been using Tescos 99 since it came out, and it was excellent.
then car was mapped for T99 fuel.
had my full tank of V-power last week and managed alot less MPG, same driving style.
think i will stay with Tesco 99 and you get club points and discounts
been using Tescos 99 since it came out, and it was excellent.
then car was mapped for T99 fuel.
had my full tank of V-power last week and managed alot less MPG, same driving style.
think i will stay with Tesco 99 and you get club points and discounts
16 December 2006, 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Scooby-doo97
Yes, I've experienced difficulties with V-Power too.
1. More activity on the Knocklink
2. Less miles to a tank
3. Doesn't feel as quick
On Optimax I didn't get any lights showing on the KL but on VP I get up to 2 lights regularly. Someone mentioned it might be because of the mapping, i.e mapped for Optimax and octane booster? I'm not entirely sure.
1. More activity on the Knocklink
2. Less miles to a tank
3. Doesn't feel as quick
On Optimax I didn't get any lights showing on the KL but on VP I get up to 2 lights regularly. Someone mentioned it might be because of the mapping, i.e mapped for Optimax and octane booster? I'm not entirely sure.
This is actually quite a odd thread because when the stuff was first launched people on here managed to coinvince themselves that it must be 102ron, because their cars were 'going so well' on it, getting so much more MPG
Last edited by Martin2005; 16 December 2006 at 10:51 PM.
16 December 2006, 11:39 PM
#23
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I have only used Optimax then V Power in my 05 STI PPP. IMO it runs slightly better but wouldn`t say the MPG has changed. My local Tesco has 99RON so I now have a choice. 
17 December 2006, 01:40 AM
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Noticed no difference between Optimax and V-Power.
I remember when V-Power was launched, lots of posts here about how good it was and how mpg had gone up by 25% (Yes, really!)
Sell it and get an oil burner - you seem to be able to chuck anything into them and they will run
I remember when V-Power was launched, lots of posts here about how good it was and how mpg had gone up by 25% (Yes, really!)
Sell it and get an oil burner - you seem to be able to chuck anything into them and they will run
17 December 2006, 10:55 AM
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Of course they might have changed the formulation.
I used to use Tesco 99 in its early days and I was getting more miles on a tank than I did on Optimax. Then, over time, lots of people were posting that they were getting fewer miles on T99. Lots of debate but never any real conclusion.
I'd been on Optimax for a while when V-Power came out, and the mileage difference was very noticeable - the VP was giving 20-30 more miles to a tank and seemed to have more 'urge'. Now the mileage has steadily fallen to the same numbers as Optimax. For the introduction of VP they would have used the best possible formulation, just to make sure everyone noticed the improvement.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are summer and winter versions of the fuel, and neither would I be surprised if the amount of bio-ethanol in VP has now increased to the max allowed (just like T99). That would give less mileage, and it is cheaper for Shell.
I used to use Tesco 99 in its early days and I was getting more miles on a tank than I did on Optimax. Then, over time, lots of people were posting that they were getting fewer miles on T99. Lots of debate but never any real conclusion.
I'd been on Optimax for a while when V-Power came out, and the mileage difference was very noticeable - the VP was giving 20-30 more miles to a tank and seemed to have more 'urge'. Now the mileage has steadily fallen to the same numbers as Optimax. For the introduction of VP they would have used the best possible formulation, just to make sure everyone noticed the improvement.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are summer and winter versions of the fuel, and neither would I be surprised if the amount of bio-ethanol in VP has now increased to the max allowed (just like T99). That would give less mileage, and it is cheaper for Shell.
17 December 2006, 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by DCR59
Normally use V-power on both my Impreza's, and my wrx ra is fitted with a knocklink. It's on maximum sensitivity and very occassionally get 1 green light coming on, that's all.
After all the hype about Tesco 99, I filled up with that.
1 green light on all the time, and the second one came on at high revs.
Back to V-power, and no lights again.
After all the hype about Tesco 99, I filled up with that.
1 green light on all the time, and the second one came on at high revs.
Back to V-power, and no lights again.
19 December 2006, 10:09 AM
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my my97 turbo definately loses some mpg on v power compared to standard 95 ron. is my car ok to use 95 ron on? don't have knock link so don't know about that pedal response seems about the same.....
excuse the newb
excuse the newb
