95RON vs 97RON for a 197

[alanc1000]

Hi,

i have always used super unleaded petrol out of habit (i use the tesco 99ron), but I note that in the fuel filler flap, Renault recommend both 97 and 95.

This seems to go against all previous recommendations, indeed the handbook for my old 182 only recommended 98ron.

Bearing in mind the stupid fuel prices (governments fault due to stupid tax rates, not the economy, but thats another story :boring: ) , is there anyone here who can put their hands up to only using 95ron? Any issues?

To be fair i never really hammer the engine, mostly town driving, but i am thinking more long term, i.e regular use of 95 causing pinking / poor general performance / lower MPG etc.

 

[Alan]

Run 97 or above for best results.

Lock this thread as its been done about 1 million times already!!

Also can i ask why you have a 197 if you 'never really hammer it'?

 

[Christopher]

Try ethanol. It'll run a lot better!

 

[alanc1000]

Run 97 or above for best results.

Lock this thread as its been done about 1 million times already!!

Also can i ask why you have a 197 if you 'never really hammer it'?

You can ask yes - because i am a responsible driver!! BUT i also like the 197, the gadgets, the image, the look, as a renaultsport enthusiast it needn't always be about drving around like a loony.

 

[GinandGasoline]

no problems with 95 for me

 

[Alan]

See i'll let you off with the statement above because you have a cool name

 

[seb]

some guy on the RS forum used 95 and his catalytic convertor imploded. don't know how true that is though.

it says 98 ron only on my cap iirc. no mention of 95 my end tbh.

 

[alanc1000]

some guy on the RS forum used 95 and his catalytic convertor imploded. don't know how true that is though.

it says 98 ron only on my cap iirc. no mention of 95 my end tbh.

....that was why i was fairly suprised to see 95 recommended on my cap - in fact it was 95 and 98 recommended not 97 sorry. Its the first time i've seen it on the cap as it wasnt on the 182 or 172 i had, so i wondered if there was a specific reason why Renault feel confident enough about the 197 to start recommending 95ron, rather than the general unleaded/super unleaded debate.

@alan = it was due to your sound choice of car and good name skills also that i didnt get the hump and headbut my keyboard.

oh sod it there is a BP garage that does that 120ron racing fuel (because its next door to the Ferarri Marinello dealership i suspect) so i might load up with some of that tomorrow for a laugh. I'll expense it through work, i'm sure they'll support me in the interest of research!

 

[GinandGasoline]

See i'll let you off with the statement above because you have a cool name

lol, thanks :approve:

 

[GinandGasoline]

some guy on the RS forum used 95 and his catalytic convertor imploded. don't know how true that is though.

it says 98 ron only on my cap iirc. no mention of 95 my end tbh.

weird... mine says 95 or 98.... it took me a few months to notice that though tbh

 

[Dave H]

Asda 95 Ron for me in my re-mapped 182 Cup.


No issues at all.No really difference either from 97/98 Ron.



Quick...lock this thread !!!!

 

[GinandGasoline]

No issues at all.No really difference either from 97/98 Ron.

other than having a heavier wallet

i won't use supermarket fuel.... mine only gets Shell and i'm using a mix of V Power every few tanks still

 

[seb]

some guy on the RS forum used 95 and his catalytic convertor imploded. don't know how true that is though.

it says 98 ron only on my cap iirc. no mention of 95 my end tbh.

weird... mine says 95 or 98.... it took me a few months to notice that though tbh

yes it does say that but the renault garage should have put a sticker over the 95 one. the 197 is recommended to be run on 98.

http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/community/experts/answer.asp?QuestionID=1057&ExpertID=5&TopicID=1

however, i have read claims of the catalytic converter imploding for one poor sod. whether that was fuel related or not... who knows!

so basically 95 or 98 is fine according to renualt!

 

[GinandGasoline]

weird... mine says 95 or 98.... it took me a few months to notice that though tbh

yes it does say that but the renault garage should have put a sticker over the 95 one. the 197 is recommended to be run on 98.

http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/community/experts/answer.asp?QuestionID=1057&ExpertID=5&TopicID=1

however, i have read claims of the catalytic converter imploding for one poor sod. whether that was fuel related or not... who knows!

so basically 95 or 98 is fine according to renualt!

that link just takes me to the forum and not the thread plus the search facility on there is pants.

i guess we have 3 years warranty if something goes wrong, i will have sold mine before it runs out anyway!

 

[seb]

sorry!!! here it is for ya:

speedysiggy asks
I have had two occassions when I have had the catalytic converter pollution warning. The second time it was accompanied by misfiring and failure of esp control. My dealer reset ECU and hoped it was a glich. Any advantage in putting in 98 instead of 95RON? Speedysiggy DA06EKG Wirral.
Jeremy Townsend responds
There is a slight performance advantage and we recommend all Renault Sport products use 97 or 98RON fuel.

--------------------------------------

CaptainK asks
Ok what is the technical reason for the 197 requiring 97 RON and above? How can using 95 RON cause damage to the catalitic converter. Surely they would have developed this engine using 95 RON in which both the 172 and 182 would happily run on without any issues. Many thanks Kirke
Jeremy Townsend responds
Using 95 RON does not cause damage to any components. It is just that the mapping is optimised for the higher grade fuel : compression ratio / amount of fuel injected / ignition / etc to extract the optimum amount of power without compromise for durability.

 

[GinandGasoline]

sorry!!! here it is for ya:

speedysiggy asks
I have had two occassions when I have had the catalytic converter pollution warning. The second time it was accompanied by misfiring and failure of esp control. My dealer reset ECU and hoped it was a glich. Any advantage in putting in 98 instead of 95RON? Speedysiggy DA06EKG Wirral.
Jeremy Townsend responds
There is a slight performance advantage and we recommend all Renault Sport products use 97 or 98RON fuel.

--------------------------------------

CaptainK asks
Ok what is the technical reason for the 197 requiring 97 RON and above? How can using 95 RON cause damage to the catalitic converter. Surely they would have developed this engine using 95 RON in which both the 172 and 182 would happily run on without any issues. Many thanks Kirke
Jeremy Townsend responds
Using 95 RON does not cause damage to any components. It is just that the mapping is optimised for the higher grade fuel : compression ratio / amount of fuel injected / ignition / etc to extract the optimum amount of power without compromise for durability.

useful stuff, nice one :approve:

 

[alanc1000]

very useful and good insight - thanks people!

i'm going to start sticking 95 in for a while, its only town driving never much passed 3kRPM and if my car blows up i will just point the finger at Renault. My original question wasnt really too much about optimum performance, more about long term engine issues and a general recommendation, so the above answers it perfectly.

cheers,
alant1000

 

[trile]

i switched from poor 95ron (no more than 90 real octanes in it) to super-unleaded 100RON - and the difference was massive!
it even burbled at the exhaust and downshifts, and it never does this on normal unleaded.
Also more power/torque and better noise and much much better mpg

but bear in mind that 95ron where I live shouldn't be put in tractors let alone cars but...