[jazzaj2003]

I fill up at shell and at the moment their Vortex 98 is not around due to the refinery issue.

Anyway, my cooper manual says it can fill up on minimum of 91 octane (regular unleaded) but best is premium unleaded (which 95 and is now being phased out.)

Shell told me, than the new ethanol blend fuel E10 is a MINIMUM of 94 octane which is the closest octane rating to the old premium they have, (it's a minimum of 94, so generally slightly above it.)

It's also considerably cheaper even than regular unleaded.

I was told it is safe for cars that are designed to run 95 as it's the octane rating that's closest.

Opinions anyone?

Yes I know probably 98 vortex fuels or even the new 100 fuel that Shell is rolling out for racing is better but for general inner city driving I'm talking about here...without the burnouts.

[steve11]

Why not just fill up with BP 'Ultimate', it's 98 octane, Or 'Synergy 98' from Mobil.

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by jazzaj2003 (original)

I fill up at shell and at the moment their Vortex 98 is not around due to the refinery issue...

That's probably because Vortex98 is a Caltex brand.

[swamos]

E10 might be a higher octane, but ethanol has less energy that petrol. So, whatever you save when you fill you'll probably end up paying because you'll probably be using more to travel a given distance.


Keep records and let us know how you go.

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf (original)

That's probably because Vortex98 is a Caltex brand.

[jazzaj2003]

that was my bad..it's shell i'm talking about not caltex.
i got vortex mixed up with shells v-power, they change their names on a weekly basis i think, not long ago it was optimax.
v-power is out off production at the moment and i can only fill up at shell with my card.
so the next one down is 94 octane on the ethanol blend so i think i'll try that. was just wondering opinions on it.
what do u guys mostly put in ur mini? premium 95, unleaded 91 or high octane 98, or the new race power 100?

[minigolf]

Haha, that's okay.

I generally use Vortex98 or BP Ultimate.

[rellik666]

I want to try BP, but there are not many around in easily accessable places, i.e. not on my drive to work!

I use V-power, v-power racing causes problems starting so I won't use it any more.

Where abouts are you, as I have no trouble getting V-power or 95?

[minigolf]

Sydney is my guess. They've been having supply issues recently.

[Nil Time]

Greetings - I have been using either Mobil 6000 (95 RON) or Mobil 8000 (98 RON) in my Mini - and both of them seem to work OK, with noticeably better consumption when using the higher octane petrol.

If I cannot get Mobil, then I try to look around for BP - but as Ruth pointed out above, they are fairly thin on the ground up our neck of the woods!

Cheers,

[Minipnut]

ethanol eats away at your fuel pump no ?

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Minipnut (original)

ethanol eats away at your fuel pump no ?

I think you're safe in the small % they are using.

[rellik666]

I don't know about that but, I have problems starting from Cold with the Ethonol Blended V-power racing!

[jazzaj2003]

Well i filled up just over 24 hours ago with Shell E10 ethanol (minimum 94 octane.)

i can say, that the mini likes it better than standard unleaded which is 91.

The engine is quieter, i notice a huge difference when i put in the 91, it's awful it makes my engine sort of...purr louder when idling.

So yeah basically it doesn't use as much as with a 91, but is not quite as good as a 98.

but seems to be fine. would i buy it again? i think so, i'll stick with it for now.
It's 14 cents per liter cheaper than 98 and is quite good on it's consumption.

[jazzaj2003]

Just an update on my use of shell E10 94+ octane in my mini...
It's going well, it uses a lot LESS e10 than it does unleaded believe it or not.
When i have the 91 octane unleaded in it, it was running a bit rough (more noisy engine) and really drank the petrol.
With E10, it's not only cheaper than unleaded but it goes further...so go figure...
I read though that if you take off quickly and accelerate a lot then it's fuel consumption will actually be more than unleaded 91 but I'm guessing there are a lot of variables.
So yeah I won't be switching back to V-power 98, I think I'll save my 15cents per litre and get the more environmentally friendly option.
It runs very similiar to just the old fashioned shell 95 premium, that they phased out.

A friend told me that in the USA they highest they have is 91 !

[rellik666]

Thanks for the update, sounds like a great solution, you have a cooper or an S?

[2bob]

Was told tonight that V power is back in production and will be in stock over the next 2 weeks

[dsakko]

Just a note the early Minis won't run on fuel with any quantity of ethanol (even the BP Ultimate here in SA has given me heaps of trouble recently and I'm suspecting a slight ethanol blend).

I have not heard of any problems with the engine parts (rumor has it the engine in the non-R56 Minis can handle 100% ethanol) but the oxygen sensors in the exhaust are set up for petrol and ON MY MINI ANY AMOUNT OF ETHANOL CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL REGULARLY.

It happens below 2,000 rpm and all of a sudden when you put your foot down the engine light comes on and a second later it stalls.