182 - 98 Ron recommended

[AndyG]

Righto folks, hope you can help with this one.

The 182 handbook states 98 Ron as the fuel to use, as does the petrol cap cover. Either Renault are in Cahoots with BP/Shell, or its said for good reason.

However, the 182 will no doubt end up in the hands of all sorts of owners, who will no doubt not be overly fussed about what they stick in.

Some questions (and please forgive me if its been asked before, but I tried a search and the system crashed!);

- how many of you peeps use 98 instead of 95?
- can 95 damange the car in any way?
- does the CPU/whatever detect the octane and adjust the setup?
- what differnce does 98 really make to the 182s performance?

Nothing was specifically mentioned at the dealer about 98, so maybe its fine either way; but I just wanted to check Thanks in advance!!

 

[Tom]

I use 95 about 8/10 trips.

97 and 98 when i can be assed.

 

[martynh]

I use Sainsburys Super Unleaded, only 97 Ron but cheaper than Shell or BP and hey, what 1 Ron between friends?

 

[blink172]

Only ever used 98 in my 172 since day 1. Get good mpg out of it, so not bothered for a few quid. Shell got a wrap on the knuckles for claiming it game cars extra oomph (Possibly because older cars didnt get anymore power), so i suppose its just the cleaning parts of the fuel that are any good.

several people on here use 95 and claim to notice no difference, so its just a placebo thing.

 

[McBunny]

i use 95ron 99.9999999999% of the time and tbh its makes f**k all difference to mine

 

[Don]

I used to use Sainsburys Super Unleaded, the car was a bit jerky at startup, since switching to Optimax the car is much better when starting up, there is a v.slight performance increase (v.negligable though). I wouldnt use 95 ron as it would lose its economy but suppose its personal preference really.

 

[badinvincible]

Quote: Originally posted by martynh on 27 July 2004

I use Sainsburys Super Unleaded, only 97 Ron but cheaper than Shell or BP and hey, what 1 Ron between friends?

me too!

 

[Matt16v]

I use BP Ultimate, but thats cause mine should be run on 106ron!!

Damn Japs.

Renault prob quote that because its cleaner and more efficient. Its not a turbo so I see no problems using it.

I think Shell Optimax is the only 98ron you can get - I know Ultimate is 97ron

 

[Ang]

i only ever use Optimax (well once id used the stuff the garage had put in it)......used it in my last Clio too, I notice the difference.....

(had to put normal in the 182 once, was stuck on a motorway for hours, needed petrol desperately......and it ran really ropey....maybe its just my imagination though)

 

[pkimber]

Performance car should equal performance fuel.

Optimax and Ultimate are not just about performance though, cleaning agents are included that are not there on supermarket fuel, hence it is cheaper. When Optimax originally became available I was drivng a vvti Celica, ( another high revving block )the difference on mpg and performance was amazing.

I have done 750 miles now in 182, cannot tell the difference between Optimax or Ultimate ( the only ones I will ever use ) but suspect that is because engine is still tight.

 

[homerjay]

Quote: Originally posted by dogmaul on 27 July 2004

i use 95ron 99.9999999999% of the time and tbh its makes f**k all difference to mine



lol, how do ya know it makes no difference if ya use 95 99.9999999999% of the time?

optimax all the way, all the time for me...

 

[Lee]

Quote: Originally posted by Tomclio182 on 27 July 2004


I use 95 about 8/10 trips.

97 and 98 when i can be assed.

Chav.

Optimax only in mine.

 

[dk]

I use optimax all the time because the way I see it is that I have bought a performance car so it needs to have the proper tools to make it run as such and 5p a litre doesnt mean that much in the grand scheme of things when I spend £350 odd at a trackday.

If I wanted to save on petrol I would have bought a Fabia VRs or other performance diesel but I dont so I will continue with optimax if my car was designed to run on it.

Thats my look on things anyway.

 

[dk]

Quote: Originally posted by blink172 on 27 July 2004


Only ever used 98 in my 172 since day 1. Get good mpg out of it, so not bothered for a few quid. Shell got a wrap on the knuckles for claiming it game cars extra oomph (Possibly because older cars didnt get anymore power), so i suppose its just the cleaning parts of the fuel that are any good.

several people on here use 95 and claim to notice no difference, so its just a placebo thing.

AFAIK, this was BP not shell, BP were the ones stating specific better performance figures for cars running on ultimate, I think Shell just make vague claims about cleaning engine and the fact that it is endorsed by Ferrari etc.

 

[JAF 182]

95 - Lawnmower

98 - Clio

ps - Q8 do 98 as well as Shell - any others?

 

[telford_mike]

Cant see the point in paying 89.9p for Optimax when supermarket 95 RON can be had for 73p and works almost as well. There is a difference, but theres no way its worth an extra £7 or £8 a tankful, unless youre going quarter-mile racing or doing a trackday.

I use about 1 tank a week, that would add up to about £350-£400 a year extra for Optimax. Id rather spend it on a few trackdays or a holiday.

There are many parts of the world where the car is sold that cannot supply Optimax. THe ECU compensates for the difference.

 

[CocoPops]

I run Optimax, unless I get "caught short" and have to put super unleaded in.

 

[dk]

Quote: Originally posted by telford_mike on 27 July 2004


Cant see the point in paying 89.9p for Optimax when supermarket 95 RON can be had for 73p and works almost as well. There is a difference, but theres no way its worth an extra £7 or £8 a tankful, unless youre going quarter-mile racing or doing a trackday.

I use about 1 tank a week, that would add up to about £350-£400 a year extra for Optimax. Id rather spend it on a few trackdays or a holiday.

There are many parts of the world where the car is sold that cannot supply Optimax. THe ECU compensates for the difference.

where the hell do you live, optimax at 89.9 with 95 ron supermarket at 73p! Everywhere I have seen there is only a 5p difference with optimax which equates to about £2 a tank difference, not that really! I havent seen 73p for a LONG time, the cheapest I have seen is 79.9 and I pay 85p for optimax.

 

[RS182]

I always use optimax, unless a real emergency and no shell garage around, on the very rare occasions using 95 ron i find that the car feels very sluggish it goes well better on 98 and incrased MPG makes up for price difference.

 

[Tom]

Quote: Originally posted by Lee M on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by Tomclio182 on 27 July 2004


I use 95 about 8/10 trips.

97 and 98 when i can be assed.

Chav.

Optimax only in mine.





Says tuscany boy! mines faster

 

[AndyG]

Cool, so does the CPU/whatever detect the octane and adjust the fuel mixture automatically?

Thanks yall!

 

[dk]

Quote: Originally posted by Tomclio182 on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by Lee M on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by Tomclio182 on 27 July 2004


I use 95 about 8/10 trips.

97 and 98 when i can be assed.

Chav.

Optimax only in mine.






Says tuscany boy! mines faster

have you sorted your misfire?

 

[Lagerlout]

Quote: Originally posted by CocoPops on 27 July 2004

I run Optimax, unless I get "caught short" and have to put super unleaded in.

Same as. Cant say I notice any difference when I run it on 95 ron though tbh. I seem to rember a good thread a while back where BenR and some other guy were explaing how using 98 ron will not offer any increase in performance over 95..... Still use Optimax most of the time though. Just to be on the safe side lol...

 

[Liam]

only ever put optimax in, even the fill up from new what the dealer did was optimax.

Must say however its hard to tell the quality of the tanks at petrol stations isnt it, who knows whats in some of them! :-(

 

[Matt16v]

Quote: Originally posted by dave182 on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by telford_mike on 27 July 2004


Cant see the point in paying 89.9p for Optimax when supermarket 95 RON can be had for 73p and works almost as well. There is a difference, but theres no way its worth an extra £7 or £8 a tankful, unless youre going quarter-mile racing or doing a trackday.

I use about 1 tank a week, that would add up to about £350-£400 a year extra for Optimax. Id rather spend it on a few trackdays or a holiday.

There are many parts of the world where the car is sold that cannot supply Optimax. THe ECU compensates for the difference.

where the hell do you live, optimax at 89.9 with 95 ron supermarket at 73p! Everywhere I have seen there is only a 5p difference with optimax which equates to about £2 a tank difference, not that really! I havent seen 73p for a LONG time, the cheapest I have seen is 79.9 and I pay 85p for optimax.

Theres at least 10p in it where I live.

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by AndyG on 27 July 2004


Cool, so does the CPU/whatever detect the octane and adjust the fuel mixture automatically?

Thanks yall!

Its the ignition timing, and yes it does.

 

[JAF 182]

Quote: Originally posted by telford_mike on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by AndyG on 27 July 2004


Cool, so does the CPU/whatever detect the octane and adjust the fuel mixture automatically?

Thanks yall!

Its the ignition timing, and yes it does.

Very clever this business - apparently the knock sensor listens to the cylinder head and adjusts the timing dependant on the number of RONs knocking it hears. Your 95 RON knocks 95 times but - heres the counter-intuitive catch - slower than the 98 RON knocks 98 times. So if the knock sensor hears 95 slow knocks it retards the ignition and if it hears 98 fast knocks it advances the ignition. Optimax knocks louder so makes the knock sensor and ECU job a bit easier - and with the reduced effort the power output and economy is improved. FACT

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by dave182 on 27 July 2004

Quote: Originally posted by telford_mike on 27 July 2004


Cant see the point in paying 89.9p for Optimax when supermarket 95 RON can be had for 73p and works almost as well. <snip>

where the hell do you live, optimax at 89.9 with 95 ron supermarket at 73p! Everywhere I have seen there is only a 5p difference with optimax which equates to about £2 a tank difference, not that really! I havent seen 73p for a LONG time, the cheapest I have seen is 79.9 and I pay 85p for optimax.

Tescos generally do it for 77 or 78p, but if you shop at Tesco you get vouchers when you pay - very often its 5p off a litre at their filling station.

 

[Mole]

Quote: Originally posted by pkimber on 27 July 2004

Optimax and Ultimate are not just about performance though, cleaning agents are included that are not there on supermarket fuel, hence it is cheaper.


I do believe tescos fuel has cleaning agents in their petrol

 

[jonnyboy]

Ive said it before and ~Ill say it again. 98 RON is no different to 95 RON. I got identical 1/4 mile times using both in similar conditions. Mine will always be run on asdas finest 95 ron unleaded.

 

[iceblue182]

get free fuel so its always optimax

too be fair i do get a couple of extra mpg than when i have had to use 95 cos I cant find a shell gagrage on my travels

 

[Neil82]

Never put anything but Optimax in mine, it seems to go well

 

[213bhp_VR6]

the knock sensor will adjust the ignition timing in accordance with what octane rating the fuel you put in it has and should increase/decrease your peak torque very slightly, depending on what fuel you put in - check your manuals (especially newer clio owners, like 182s V6s etc).

my car has dual knock sensors and can be run on either 95ron or 98ron. with 98ron the knock sensors will adjust the ignition timing to produce around 5nm of extra torque, as it states in the manual.


[Edited by 213bhp_VR6 on 28 July 2004 at 1:49pm]

 

[JAF 182]

Knock sensors... any less than one per cylinder is el cheapo as you risk detonation in a non-monitored cylinder...

 

[y0z2a]

I use 98 with Octane Booster if it is going to get some abuse.

/y0z

 

[McBunny]

ok i have used optimax quite abit but it really makes no real difference to mine i can still get 40+ mpg very easily its certainly not a slouch mine either made good power etc etc