Optimax Debate - Ultimate answer

[mickadams]

I had a Seat Cupra R before my Brabus Roadster, the Seat ran
a lot better on BP Ultimate over Shell Optimax, but on the Brabus it seems
the other way round. Optimax gets my vote

Mick.

[norbert]

Interesting debate, personally I use BP Ultimate in my smart but they sometimes run out, so then I put Esso super in.

Imo the car runs marginally better on the BP, although it may be psychological. Bizarrely Shrewsbury (fairly large county town) has no Shell filling station. Will try Optimax next time I see a Shell on my travels.

As an aside, my mechanic (old fella, been working on engines for 50 years) has always insisted that supermarket petrol, which is supplied by the lesser-known petrol companies, is inferior to the big names. Putting a tankful of 95 octane safeway or asda in my F*rd Fiesta makes it splutter periodically.
Also I once owned a 120000 mile Renault 4, which pinked like hell on cheap petrol, I had to use octane booster.

[Alsmart]

No sign of Optimax here, recently Shell have taken to calling their premium stuff V-Power, & no mention of Optimax on Shell USA website, but interestingly "optimax" is part of the following link (see full address in address bar, third from the end):

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?...roduction.html

Incidentally I paid $2.299 for a short (USA) gallon; at £1=$1.90 (commercial rate) & 1 gallon UK= 1.2 gallon USA this is equivalent to £1.45 a British gallon or 32p a litre & they are all whinging about it!

PS to the above:
I emailed Shell USA asking: Why can't I find Optimax, is it similar to V-Power?
They answered : Thank you for your time in contacting Shell Solution Center. The answer to your question is they are they same.
If you have any other questions please contact us back at www.shell.com or (1 888-467-4355)

So it's just marketing nonsense then.

[S2Digger]

I've been using Optimax for around three years now:-

I've use it in my tuned two stoke scooter, my Buell, and my Smart.

Reason's:-

The scooter is in a quite high state of tune, and needs all the help it can get to stop it from "pinking". If I cannot get Optimax, I'll use BP Ultima.

The Buell is air cooled "V" twin, once again "pinking" is high on the list for using Optimax. Mixture & fuel quality play a big part in keeping an air cooled engine at the right temp.

In the Smart I'am looking to keep the valves clean, as these little engines get a few miles on them it looks like there maybe carbon build up problem, leading to head strip downs to remove the build up. Optimax as been independently proven (EVO Magazine) to remove deposits and keep the valve's clean.

Both Optimax & Ultima are quality fuels.

If I cannot get one I'll use the other, however I'll purchase Optimax before Ultima, they were first to market.

Regards John B.

[Alsmart]

Used V-Power today

Absolutely no detectable difference from bog-standard supermarket cheapest

[Mark F]

If I cannot get one I'll use the other, however I'll purchase Optimax before Ultima, they were first to market.

Regards John B.

also optimax is as you say independantly proven (ive seen the article) but so far as im aware, ultimate hasnt been tested independantly yet...

[S2Digger]

Hi Peeps...

In the independent test done by EVO magazine in the UK it took around 1000 miles to clean up valves in the engine.

Performance readings were taken before the 1000 miles on bog standard fuel, and after with Optimax.

They tried various car's and engines types:- screamers & thumpers.

All had cleaner valves (Micro cameras down the ports, with before and after photo's) & 95% had performance increases. (dyno, & 0-60 times).

Unless your engine is almost new, I would just give it a few miles.....

Regards John B.

Used V-Power today

Absolutely no detectable difference from bog-standard supermarket cheapest

[Alsmart]

Used V-Power today

Absolutely no detectable difference from bog-standard supermarket cheapest

OK, I confess, didn't check for valve cleanliness .....

[S2Digger]

OK, I confess, didn't check for valve cleanliness .....

I don't think many people would !

I think that there are two things here:-

Possible "instant" power increase due to quality:- which may or may not be noticeable due to several factors, quality of fuel that you are already using, condition of your engine, how your ECU adjusts to the take benefit of the Optimax fuel.

Then longer term:- The cleaning of your valves, better flow, and the fact that after using the fuel longer the ECU does adjust correctly.

You could say that putting "Redex" or other additives to you "normal" petrol could achive the same result, but then that's not cheap either, and this is already done for you.

I have not done the maths to look at how much per liter "normal" fuel doctored with "Redex" would cost, I'm not that bothered.

Regards John B.

[jusgr8]

I know theres not a huge difference in price between optimax and the cheaper regular unleaded...but it breaks my heart every time i go to the pertol station. I may aswell be stuffing my wallet into the fuel tank rather than petrol...im sure id get more mpg from a wad of 20's.


Its so frustrating...but i understand the benefits it will give the engine in the long run. I think we should start a poll and place bets on when it will top £1 a litre. ****'s!

[Bat-Man]

Shell 4 star was 33p per gallon back in 1971!

[roadstersmart]

Forget Optimax and the rest

hey guys and girls, get yourself down to your local motor racing circuit and pull upto there pumps and put a tank full of super race fuel in, it can be upto twice the price but boy you get some fun!

go on have a go!

[Bunggle]

Damn, didn't get to vote before the poll was closed. I put 98 into my roadster and it loves it (as it's only the 61bhp one, Smart only recommend 95). And living in France, I don't want to upset anyone, but at the moment I'm paying 98.1 for it... That's Euro cents, so about 64p a litre

[decoy7]

2pence worth,

when we picked up our new forTwo cabrio it had a full tank, salesman said we could put regular unleaded in it no problem....i wanted him to say no, stick the best in...anyway, we put in BP super first, then Shell Optimax, then BP again....my wife noticed the difference when we reverted back to BP and we've stuck with Optimax since then.

fuel economy wasnt an issue til i discovered the kickdown feature a few weeks back....hours of fun.....now we're monitoring and seeing what the fuel economy is in real figures.

cars not been mapped but we can definitely feel the difference between petrols and Optimax gets my vote even though poll is over.

[aubin]

price of OPtimax

we should regularly keep an eye on optimax prices - it really varies a lot. I've found a garage in derby (on the A6 signed to Matlock, just outside the A38 Ring) where it's 83.9p /L. At another, and one in Sheffield, it's 89.9p
if they know we're monitoring, it might exert downward pressure on prices
cheers
ppl