Higher Ron Petrol

[Seefour05]

Does anyone know whether I can use both types of unleaded in my c4 1.6 vtr+. Just wondered whether a higher RON petrol would give any better performance. Thanx

[Mike5483]

You can use both.

 

Im not sure if the 1.6 has knock sensor to alter the timing.

 

If it doesnt, you wont see any benefit. If it does, you probably still wont because its a reletively small engine. Its generally only high performance engines that get any benefits power wise.

 

Of course, it will help keep the engine in a better condition due to the extra cleaners and additives.

 

If I were you, Id just fill up with a good quality normal fuel, and maybe use a higher octane one once a month to clean the engine up a little.

 

Ive tried V-Power in my 2 litre and it made it run a bit smoother, but I cant say I got any benefits out of it powerwise or economywise.

[lab44]

I tried Shell V Power the other day in my 1.6 VTR. Engine seemed a bit smoother but didnt really notice any difference in power. However I did get worse fuel consumption - could have just been my driving though. Probably wont bother again seeing as its 7p a litre more. I usually find shell normal 95 Ron the best.

[syrup]

The handbook actually reccomends 98 ron for the petrol models.

 

My brother works for a petrolium company and says performance aside the cleaning agents in them look after the engine more.

 

I suppose it depends on your mileage with regards to the cost, as I don't do a lot of miles I always fill up with the higher octane.

[Z3M Roadster]

The handbook recommends 98RON because I don't believe you can get anything lower in France.

 

Stick to 95 and save yourself some money

[Mike5483]

You can get 95 in France.

 

Sans Plomb 95 or Sans Plomb 98.

 

I suppose it is better for the engine, but its so damn expensive.

[iannez]

i drive a leon cupra r and have to run it no less than 98 ron or else it says it will damage the engine so there must be a diffrence. it says in the handbook if you have to use anything less do not go over 3000 revs.

[wozza]

It should be able to cope with 95 its just with the turbo you wont get the full performance benefit from it most turbo motors suffer from a power loss with 95ron versus 98.

 

If an audiTT. Golf GTI etc can use 95ron so can you. Its the same engine afterall. Its just you wont get the full power it can give. They loose around 10bhp from using 95ron.

 

But have seen it tested back to back on an audi tt.

 

And its not really that expensive for 98ron now cheaper than what we were paying for 95ron just a few weeks ago. Although petrol prices have dropped here again down to 83p now.

 

I use 98 most of the time filled it up with 95 at the moment. It does run smoother and the car feels better on 98 to drive plus the cleaners etc good to put a couple tank fulls in every so often.

[Z3M Roadster]

Personally I wouldn't bother with the extra expense. I quite happily run my vx220 on 95RON, can't notice any difference when filling up with 99RON V-Power.

 

Bigger engines you certainly notice a difference, my Z3M had to be run on 98 or would pink and my fathers Porsche/TVRs were always run on 98 for the same reason.

 

If obtaining an extra horse power is what you are after try BP102 or alternatively get a quicker car in the first place.

[wozza]

Tuned engines usually benefit more from 98ron as well. Know a few 1.2's that pink if there not run on 98RON or higher. Admittedly these 1.2's would hand pretty much everycar on here a new one.

 

Putting out nearly 200bhp from a 1.2 high boost turbo in a car that weighs under 700kg has that effect. Also doesnt make a particularly reliable car lol.

[iannez]

i've never used anything else in this car. the hand book and a sticker inside the petrol flap says 98 ron so thats what goes in. it is also mapped to 275bhp and the company who mapped it (revo) said not to use any less than 98 ron as it will use more fuel and run poor. all of the vag groups cars wich use v5 20 valve turbo engines hand books say it can cause damage if you use any less than 98. burns the valves out apparentley.

[wozza]

The Cupra R uses the same 1.8T 20v engine as in the A3, TT, Golf GTi etc and there all Inline4's just have 5 valves per cylinder rather than your typical 4.

 

V5 engines were a fair bit bigger 2.3 litre and up.

[Rich_Eason]

Been running the VTS on 99RON from Tescoids, only cos its been on cheap for a couple of weeks.

 

Marginally better performance and a few more MPG's per £, also the distance to next fill up has altered from the usual.

 

Performance wise say it has a bit more pedal responsivness but wouldnt say its amazing or makes any real great difference. As soon as the price goes up again I'll go back to good ol 95. Then I would imagine if there are any significant difference they would notice more.

[hertsnminds]

If you want an in depth article about RON and other things about petrol production you can read this...

 

http://www.fiatbarchetta.com/btech/petrol.html

 

It was written by someone who works in the oil industry.

 

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[ham's c4vts]

to tell the truth ive run a few tanks of unleaded the switched to 98 for a few tanks, and only difference is the acording to the trip, a few more miles per tank with 98.

that could be affected by weather etc, so like Z3M says keep using normal unleaded, unless your racing the car on a track and are looking hundreths to tenths of second

[Rich_Eason]

Exactly I have seen this topid debated until people got huffy and started to hurl abuse.

 

Fact is, it makes no odds to the driving, your car thinks its doing better MPG but then I could be driving along in a 95MPH tail wind...

[ham's c4vts]

its what ever floats yer boat! :D :P

[Safety Engineer]

Slight change of topic, in my 2.0HDi I've used Tesco's for most of the time, I started using Millers diesel additive and noticed better mpg, likewise BP Ultimax diesel also seems to give better mpg but then again it is 95p a litre were I live against Tesco's 89p a litre.