But my PI only gets Optimax unless I am desperate and can't find a Shell
station. It runs noticeably worse on anything else.

Jim - I support this view 100% based on recent drives in my PI. I've dialled
in a wee bit more advance to make use of the Optimax claimed higher than
98.5 ron - sure sounds sweet, big improvement. I used a tank load to travel
to Scotland recently, had a great drive. Then had to fill up using BP
superunleaded - noticeable difference, didn't pull nearly as well.

I've even started using it in my 92 VW Scirocco (which claims to need 98 ron
anyhow) - same story. Tweaked the advance again, crisper response - cleaner
idling note too.

Chuffed, well worth the extra few pence per litre.
--
Ken Davidson


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On 3 Nov 2003 "Ken Forrest" wrote:

Maybe we should all use "proper" fuel occasionally? I think my 7 prefers it
but can't be proved really. Dunno about BP as it's not available in these
parts ( unless Safeway use it?)

I can get proper fuel locally (in Marlow) but it's about £1 a litre
and the extra mpg isn't worth that much. The extra tax is just stupid
because it encourages people who don't have to use unleaded to use a
less efficient fuel and thus generate more CO2.

--
Richard Porter
Mail to username ricp at domain minijem.plus.com
"You can't have Windows without pains."

"Les Rose" wrote in message
...
This is not specifically a classic car issue, although we all want to
preserve our ancient engines as long as possible. Most Saturdays I read
Honest John's column in the Telegraph, and he's always banging on about
how
supermarket petrol doesn't have any detergents in in it, causing all sorts
of problems, whereas Shell and Texaco fuels are the ones of choice. He
says
it applies to diesel as well - these brands are high lubricity, Tesco etc
is
not. Last week I asked him what independent tests show the superiority
these
brands. Guess what? He couldn't cite any, but said it was his experience
and
that of his readers.

Twice I have had real trouble with Sainsbury's fuel causing pinking and
rough running -- never had any trouble with fuel bought from Safeway.

Real worry is the rate at which petrol stations are closing -- the housing
boom hasn't helped as land prices soar selling for redevelopment becomes
more tempting. In my area lack of petrol,station outside the supermarket
chains is a very real problem, even very busy stations are closing leaving
whole tracks of greater Glasgow without a petrol station.

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 00:58:18 GMT, "The Blue Max"
wrote:


"Les Rose" wrote

Now if this is a real effect why are these 2 companies not making as much
fuss about it as Honest John does?

I know the fuel purchasing guy at a major UK supermarket chain through work
and according to him it's true, of his brand.

Whether it will affect individual cars appreciably enough to be *noticeable*
is another matter. I suspect mostly not.

The reason the 2 companies you mentioned aren't making a fuss is probably
because they supply the supermarkets and would lose that supply position if
they publicly announced that they supply them with an inferior quality. It
might be true but Asda (or whoever) would be pretty unhappy.

The Asda U/L pumps in Derby clearly state 'contains detergent
additive'. They still have LRP (which also contains detergent) and no
Premium U/L.

--
Peter Hill
Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header
Can of worms - what every fisherman wants.
Can of worms - what every PC owner gets!

"Yippee" wrote in message
newsmbdqvsehbcob471c074ol583mnbmi696q@newsfeed03 .glasvezel.net...
"William Davies" realised it was
Sun, 2 Nov 2003 22:51:51 -0000 and decided it was time to write:

Something my wife pointed out to me when we first met (6 years ago) was
that she got consistently lower mpg figures on supermarket petrol.

Now there's an interesting conversation opener...

--
Y.
Well thanks folks, I think I have the answer, which is that there's no
definitive evidence and what there is is totally anecdotal. I will go for 97
octane from wherever I can get it.