Optimax

[ClarkyClio]

Been on the fith gear website 2day, and its got a big section on it about optimax, basically is it a con or does it do anything. Anyway they did a road test on a 1.4 clio - made no difference Golf GTI gave it bout 5 or 10 bhp and a Scooby gave it 15 bhp.

Opinions any1?

 

[Fletcher]

I always use Optimax, imo the car feels a little bit more responsive, and definately runs better on very cold mornings.

 

[Adam]

cant be arsed putting it in.....
mite start to do so when i get the rs back..

 

[RobertCL]

172 runs better on idle with Optimax, and is maybe has a bit more go.

I wouldn't bother if it was just an "ordinary" car.

 

[ant]

cant say i noticed any difference tbh.

 

[kully]

cant say i noticed any difference tbh.

me neither , but ppl say its better than normal

 

[Jay]

i have always put optimax in mine from day one.

 

[edde]

Some people claim it helps MPG and makes idle and low rpm running smoother but it won't give any more power the GTI uses a turbo which it matters more to.

 

[Dan@SJM]

i was running on regular but im running on super now, its deffo better, especially the mpg.

 

[Fletcher]

Yeah i find i get better mpg returns with either Optimax or Tesco 99.

 

[TVO]

I run BP Super, with the odd tank of Optimax. Optimax is supposed to have cleaning agents as well which are good for the engine.

 

[Ian_182]

Ive had optimax for 5700 miles now and its never had anything else.Previous tests on my 172mk2 gave me more response and 3mpg better economy...

ian

 

[Martin_172]

optimax made mine idle better, especially when cold and it may all be in my head but seems to run a bit smoother when driving. i just put it in for the cleaning properties though

 

[Amandas172]

I fill Amanda's car up with Tesco 99ron. Has anyone used Octane Booster on 99ron? I used it once before on Amanda's as we we're filling up our cars together but haven't done so again.

I use 99ron now with a bottle of Millers Octane Plus (+2 ron) each fill up in my Scooby.

Steve (Amandas172 better bit)
:approve:

 

[Jay]

Is there a list of Tesco's that sell 99 Octane?

 

[Gweebs]

I've always used Optimax too, don't think its made a huge difference, but like ppl have said, its got cleaning agents in it.

I think it also has a lot to do with the ecu. When the ecu is std, it doesn't matter if you put 99/100/120 (race quality) fuel. The ecu is calibrated for 98 OCN fuel. The ecu just adjusts to stop the mixture going too rich, thus making the engine run leaner. Hence probably the better MPG.

 

[Rich]

Not tried anything else in the 182 to compare, but MPG was better in my 306 when using it in that. My 205 GTi used to run much better and rev more cleanly on Optimax than it would on any otehr brand of super.

 

[Neil G]

I used Super in my WRX and that was fine even though it was an import so I always whack SU in my 172 knowing that it's safe.

Lots of people rate Optimax but I also don't use it as there just aren't enough Shell garages around my way.

 

[Chad]

My 172 deffinately idles better and has better pick up especially when its cold if I use optimax.

 

[The Hoff]

I don't know what it is about these fuel topics, but we really need a sticky or something, or to use the search facility. Every week someone posts their opinion on fuels, and it just opens the same old boring debate where some people claim to get 0-60 in 5 seconds using optimax, or that it runs smoother, or that they get 89MPG using it - and then theres the other people who get no benefit from it what so ever.

Not saying its not open for debate, but it does get tedious talking about things that have been done to death

Maybe its just me and that i hate everyone!

 

[Rob669]

Ozzy, I agree there are many overlapping threads and we need more stickies.

For what its worth, I use Optimax os Sainsburys 97 stuff. Others didn't suit my engine (172).

Cheers, Rob669

 

[Neil G]

I don't know what it is about these fuel topics, but we really need a sticky or something, or to use the search facility. Every week someone posts their opinion on fuels, and it just opens the same old boring debate where some people claim to get 0-60 in 5 seconds using optimax, or that it runs smoother, or that they get 89MPG using it - and then theres the other people who get no benefit from it what so ever.

Not saying its not open for debate, but it does get tedious talking about things that have been done to death

Maybe its just me and that i hate everyone!

lol

We'll need a sticky for air filters/IKs, decats, exhausts etc etc though

 

[girl182]

optimax is good if you use it all the time as it doesnt block ur engine up like other petrol. Its like eating bad food all the time is gonna block up ur artuaries, eating good food keeps you healthy.

I think its impossible to actually increase the BHP, how can a bit of fuel do that??????? IMO its complete rubbish. Optimax maintains the performance of the car keeping the engine clean.

 

[The Hoff]

Not really a very good analogy there girl182, all petrol HAS to pass the correct specification in order to meet the regulations, so in effect its all good food as you say, and it won't actively attack your engine.

If your going down that route, then BP Ultimate is your best bet as afaik it has the highest and best blend of additives in terms of engine cleansing.

As for BHP gains, well actually you can easily increase BHP through higher RON fuels, its not rocket science either. More RON means its more volatile, and ignition can be advanced to produce more power per engine cycle. Cars (mainly Jap turbo) with a knock sensor, can actively detect a higher RON fuel and advance your timings to improve power output.

Go onto scoobynet and ask the lads running the WRX imports, if they run 95 RON their cars run like sh1te compared to 97/98/99 RON fuel.

Like i said theres a wealth of (useless) information and discussion on this, and yes I use BP Ultimate 90% of the time, but it makes absolutely no difference what so ever.

 

[girl182]

I dont know how you can physically gain bhp? please explain, as you say its not rocket science.

 

[The Hoff]

As my understanding goes if your vehicle engine management system is equipped with knock sensors it will adjust the ignition timing accordingly for optimum performance. The knock sensors will tell the engine management that it can r****d the ignition further than with lower octane ratings because the fuel/air mix is more resilient to pre-combustion.

So in short, its working more efficiently and at optimum levels. More efficient is more power, more power it more BHP/Torque.

 

[ant]

thought you didnt like these threads?

 

[girl182]

spoke to 3 professional mechanics last night, they all pretty much laughed in my face when I told them that optimax increased the BHP. One of my mates has an Meng and works for Triumph working on specifically on engines and he said NO it doesnt, my other mate has a Jap Scooby import and runs his own garage (mixes his own petrol by the way), and he says it dont either. I also txt to one of those 'question' numbers that have experts and they said "reviews indicate Optimax will improve miles per gallon and make your car more responsive over a period of a year but do not indicate a gain in BHP". I think I will stick with what my Meng mate has said. Oh and the question asked at the beginning of the thread was, "what is your opinion?" everyone has a different opinion dont they.

 

[Laura]

makes f**k all dirrerence to my 1.2

 

[Thomss]

Mine used Optimax from birth apart from when the huge fire happend and they sold out for a month never drove much that month...

 

[Englebert]

Can we just clarify the 172 and 182 are meant to be run on 98RON just to get the quoted power output.

I currently have normal Esso fuel in my 172 and the idle is rough and it sounds terrible!

 

[sharkaroo]

Ive just stopped putting it in cos i think its a big con! ive found no differences. I think that if there are cleaning elements in it, and makes the car idle better it doesnt really make it go any quicker. The factory additives in the fuel make fuels better for the car BP, Shell make good fuels, Tesco make crap fuel. Optimax just makes you feel better and your pocket lighter.

 

[The Hoff]

spoke to 3 professional mechanics last night, they all pretty much laughed in my face when I told them that optimax increased the BHP. One of my mates has an Meng and works for Triumph working on specifically on engines and he said NO it doesnt, my other mate has a Jap Scooby import and runs his own garage (mixes his own petrol by the way), and he says it dont either. I also txt to one of those 'question' numbers that have experts and they said "reviews indicate Optimax will improve miles per gallon and make your car more responsive over a period of a year but do not indicate a gain in BHP". I think I will stick with what my Meng mate has said. Oh and the question asked at the beginning of the thread was, "what is your opinion?" everyone has a different opinion dont they.

Then i suggest you pull your friends heads out of their arses and get them to read this article:

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=601&featureid=143&pageid=272

Perhaps, your friend running the Scooby has some sort of defective sccoby, but as i said - if you took the time to read around the subject then you'd see that particularly Scooby imports benefit massively from higher RON fuels due to them being mapped to Jap fuel (typically 100RON), go do a search on Scoobynet.

The Clio RS (or any Clio) doesn't have a knock sensor on the engine, therfore it doesn't benefit performance wise (significantly) like many imports/turbo's do. However higher RON fuel can prevent pinking and pre-combustion, and can help with smoother running.

Not wishing to argue about the subject as theres really nothing to dispute, if your car has a knock sensor and particularly if its an import, you WILL gain BHP.

Show your 'friends' the article and go and laugh in their faces.

 

[girl182]

Then i suggest you pull your friends heads out of their arses and get them to read this article:

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=601&featureid=143&pageid=272

Perhaps, your friend running the Scooby has some sort of defective sccoby, but as i said - if you took the time to read around the subject then you'd see that particularly Scooby imports benefit massively from higher RON fuels due to them being mapped to Jap fuel (typically 100RON), go do a search on Scoobynet.

HE MIXES HIS OWN PETROL TO OBTAIN 100RON! PLUS I DONT GIVE A F*CK ABOUT SCOOBIES COS I DONT DRIVE ONE!

However higher RON fuel can prevent pinking and pre-combustion, and can help with smoother running.

THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT I SAID EARLIER

Not wishing to argue about the subject as theres really nothing to dispute, if your car has a knock sensor and particularly if its an import, you WILL gain BHP.

BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLIOS ARNT WE? THIS IS CLIOSPORT.NET NOT SCOOBYNET

cheers james!

 

[Neil G]

He was using the Subaru as an example to explain the relevance of knock sensors to fuel grade/RON which I thought was a good way to illustrate the point.

Mixing petrol....do you mean using octane booster?

 

[girl182]

i dont know how he mixes it.
the only reason i got the arse is because of the rudeness and abruptness of certain people. like i said earlier, the question at the being on the thread was whats your opinion. i gave my opinion so whats wrong with that?

 

[tidyclio]

not sure on all clio but iv got a 1.2 an i can tell you ozzy one hundred percent sure its got a knock sensor.as for optimax etc,i've tried most of them over time.i've never noticed any difference.if anything to first time you put it in for a while it feels a bit sharper but with the difference been so small its hard to tell if it really is improved or just in the mind!

 

[The Hoff]

No Clio has a knock sensor, its that simple tidyclio.

What is it with some people, you try and educate them and they just throw it back in your face. Jesus christ!

Another reason why i hate these petrol threads, everybody is an expert!