Normal unleaded vs premium unleaded

[harvey94]

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked before but I just wondered if there was any benefit of using premium unleaded rather than normal unleaded. Please understand this is not for performance gain just more for is it better for the engine and also more mpg would be nice .

I have read the manual of my mini one and it does say it can accept 2 types of fuel , so at the pump there is normal 95 unleaded and premium 97


Thanks for the time!

[Angib]

Which? magazine did some pretty thorough testing on this and found that forced induction engines (so Cooper S and JCW) benefit from super unleaded, for either power or economy, but that it did not do anything for naturally aspirated engines (First, One, Cooper).

So for you One, don't bother. I put ten tanks of super through my justa Cooper and didn't measure any mpg benefit. Whether the engine feels stronger is, I think, largely a matter of your beliefs - if you think super fuel is going to be better, you'll convince yourself that it is, and vice versa. I don't think many of us can detect anything less than a 10% power increase just by seat-of-pants measurement.

Which? also tested super diesel, though in just one car, and found it performed worse than regular diesel!

[harvey94]

Quote: Originally Posted by Angib (original)

Which? magazine did some pretty thorough testing on this and found that forced induction engines (so Cooper S and JCW) benefit from super unleaded, for either power or economy, but that it did not do anything for naturally aspirated engines (First, One, Cooper).

So for you One, don't bother. I put ten tanks of super through my justa Cooper and didn't measure any mpg benefit. Whether the engine feels stronger is, I think, largely a matter of your beliefs - if you think super fuel is going to be better, you'll convince yourself that it is, and vice versa. I don't think many of us can detect anything less than a 10% power increase just by seat-of-pants measurement.

Which? also tested super diesel, though in just one car, and found it performed worse than regular diesel!

Hi,

Many thanks for the reply! regular will do just fine for me then!

[gaznav]

There is another benefit to so called "super fuels". They have detergents and injector cleaners in them as well. However, it is cheaper to buy Redex or other injector cleaners than constantly fill with the super stuff.

[harvey94]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaznav (original)

There is another benefit to so called "super fuels". They have detergents and injector cleaners in them as well. However, it is cheaper to buy Redex or other injector cleaners than constantly fill with the super stuff.

I have heard about the likes of injector cleaners but never actually used any, is it a good idea to use them from time to time? i hear mixed opinions and some say can do more damage than good?

Thanks

[gaznav]

I use a bottle (2 fill ups) of REDEX every time I do a service - I very much doubt it would do more harm than good. What can happen though is, if you're a cheapskate like me using Tesco fuel, that some of the gunk that put in cheaper fuel can gum up your injectors - so I sport £3.99 every 12,000ish to keep things ship-shape.

I suspect the horror stories come from those that put it in every fill up expecting to get some "wonder power gain" - that said people who look for and expect such gains normally thrash their cars within an inch of their life anyway!

Gaz

[harvey94]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaznav (original)

I use a bottle (2 fill ups) of REDEX every time I do a service - I very much doubt it would do more harm than good. What can happen though is, if you're a cheapskate like me using Tesco fuel, that some of the gunk that put in cheaper fuel can gum up your injectors - so I sport £3.99 every 12,000ish to keep things ship-shape.

I suspect the horror stories come from those that put it in every fill up expecting to get some "wonder power gain" - that said people who look for and expect such gains normally thrash their cars within an inch of their life anyway!

Gaz

Hi,

What would you sudjest for me? Our mini is a late 2002 52 plate with 80.000 on the clock, I always look after my cars with regular service and general maintenance, obviously I can't do anything about previous owners. Unfortunately although the car has every service stamp the last couple were not done at a reputable garage and with some checking was obvious that simple air filters and such had not been changed! Well I have now done everything from spark plugs to gearbox oil and she runs lovely! Just wondered if I add this could it by chance do more harm than good to a car that has never had it and will just assume has always had cheap fuel!

Thanks!

[gaznav]

Harvey

If it was me then I'd run some REDEX through with 2 tanks of gas and then not worry about it again until next oil service. She might be running lovely but your Engine Control Unit "adapts" to any components running slightly worse than best (ie. a slightly blocked injector). Run 2 tanks worth of gas with REDEX (or another reputable injector cleaner) through and that should clean any gunk off of them (if indeed there is any) and you're likely to get some more miles without issue; it's better to do preventative maintenance than wait for the failure (which normally will cost lots more time and money).

But hey, that's just my opinion - the decision is yours...

All the best

Gaz

[harvey94]

Quote: Originally Posted by gaznav (original)

Harvey

If it was me then I'd run some REDEX through with 2 tanks of gas and then not worry about it again until next oil service. She might be running lovely but your Engine Control Unit "adapts" to any components running slightly worse than best (ie. a slightly blocked injector). Run 2 tanks worth of gas with REDEX (or another reputable injector cleaner) through and that should clean any gunk off of them (if indeed there is any) and you're likely to get some more miles without issue; it's better to do preventative maintenance than wait for the failure (which normally will cost lots more time and money).

But hey, that's just my opinion - the decision is yours...

All the best

Gaz

Thanks! i will give it a go , is it best to add it before filling then fill or other way around? or does it not really matter , i am just under half a tank and normally dont let it get under a 1/4

Thanks!

[gaznav]

I normally put enough in for a full tank and then top it up - that way you ensure you mix it. That said, normal driving would soon mix it!

[harvey94]

Superb! Many thanks!