[sugster]

I've just filled my car up with super unleaded for the first time - until now I've always used ordinary unleaded.

I think that there is an improvement in performance but I'm not really sure if its real or just in my head. (It could be because I'm £2 lighter than I would have been if I stuck to regular!)
My handbook says that I can use super unleaded for a slight increase in performance but since everything Mini have written about fuel consumption is garbage I thought I'd check with you guys?

I've read a few web sites (all american) they seem to say that it doesn't make any difference- but perhaps thats true for gas guzzling behemoths that only do 10mpg.

Does it make a difference? Anyone else use super unleaded?

[oRb]

I've used only Optimax since getting my One, so I have no basis for comparison. But I'm happy with the car's performance and I don't notice the extra cost because my old car could hold twice as much petrol but still only cover the same miles per tank!

Rob

[ianB]

I'm still waiting for my Cooper, so can't comment on their fuel performance. However, I have used super unleaded in previous vehicles and most recently in a BMW 325. In that vehicle the only brand that showed an improvement was Shell Optimax.

With Shell Optimax I found that the top end performance was improved and the engine felt smoother and quieter overall.

As for the fuel consumption, with regular unleaded it was around 30 and with Optimax around 32. Optimax though did seem more dependendant on driving style than regular unleaded. Thus with enthusiastic driving its consumption was hardly any better than regular unleaded.

I would say that I prefer Optimax but it depends on the pricing. Whilst petrol stations seem to battle it out with regular unleaded prices they don't seem to do the same with super unleaded, I once (stupidly) paid an extra 12p per litre. After that, if I could get Optimax within 3p per litre of regular unleaded I would buy it in preference, but as there aren't many Shell stations down here in the countryside I wouldn't go out of the way to get it.

[timlowden771]

The last time I filled my ONE up I put Shell Optimax in it (Due to the fact that the unleaded was broken and I had just q'd for 10min to get there!!) I have found no improvment in performance as yet. I don't know weather it takes a few tanks to make a difference or not?? But if there is no difference when I fill up again I think I will go back onto bog standard unleaded.

[KenL]

I haven't noticed any difference. I usually fill up at the shell station and put Optimax in about one fill up in three. My car always runs beautifully so not surprised I haven't noticed anything

[sean rennie]

hi,i used regular for about two days,but with the exitement of getting my car,i forgot to fill up with what i used in my old car,which gave me much better throttle response,so i now use nothing else but shell optimax,it gave me a good increase,i certainly felt the difference in my mini,dont worry about consumption,it will only differ by 10/15 mile on a tank,depending on your right foot,the 02 sensors take care of the rest,have fun guys

[Mini Cruiser]

I use Optimax, i tryed normal poo but it was crap!

Optimax all the way!

Oh and How many mpg do BMW say the ONE does? Cause mines about 25mpg

[KenL]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mini Cruiser
I use Optimax, i tryed normal poo but it was crap!

Optimax all the way!

Oh and How many mpg do BMW say the ONE does? Cause mines about 25mpg

Bl**dy hell ! Do you sit for about an hour a day stationary in traffic? Or, since you can do 70mph in 2nd are you never in 3rd, 4th or 5th

With mixed town/m'way driving I'm averaging ~33-35mpg

[sean rennie]

bmw reckon 32.5mpg in urban cycle,54.3 extra urban and 43.5 combined,to be honest,i havent checked mine,but i normally get about 320 miles on a tank and its mostly traffic,but the times i am on m/way i dont hang about.

[Mini Cruiser]

must only be mine then!

I usually get 25.5mpg outta mine!

yes 70 in 2nd 100 in 3rd why did they bother with 4th n 5th?

Mines crap

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[NickG]

My week old S, has only had optimax so far. When Evo magazine did a test on the petrol the recorded (in some cases modest) increases in performance. The engine components were also cleaner after an extended period. But hey maybe Shell just slipped EVO some free petrol or cash.

The on board computer says 27.8 mpg at the moment, with an average speed of 30.5 mph. That is trafic, a roads b roads c roads and motorway.

EDIT just realise I clicked on the one forum and not the general, sorry peeps, I'll get my coat...

[tip]

My Cooper requires Super Unleaded it has it on a sticker on the inside of the fuel cap door. I can't imagine that cars will differ from europe to north america on their fuel requirements. I have used Optimax and other super unleaded brands and can't notice that much difference from brand to brand. Maybe because the car is fairly new.

Charles.

[oldnell]

The following is from the USA version of the Cooper/Cooper S manual. Of course, they don't have the MINI One in the States, but since the One and the Cooper share the same engine, I doubt the advice would be any different.

I don't have my MINI One yet, so I don't know what the UK manual says.

Quote:

For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10% ethanol or other oxygenates with up
to 2.8% oxygen by weight (i.e. 15% MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent amount
of co-solvent) will not void the applicable
warranties with respect to defects in materials
or workmanship. Field experience has
indicated significant differences in fuel
quality (volatility, composition, additives,
others) among gasolines offered for sale in
the United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in driveability,
starting and stalling problems especially
under certain environmental conditions,
such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability problems
which you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may result in unscheduled maintenance.
Obey pertinent safety rules when you are
handling gasoline.

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

Quote:

FUEL SPECIFICATIONS ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.
Required fuel:
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI.
AKI = Anti Knock Index.
Do not use leaded fuels. The use of
leaded fuels will cause permanent
damage to the emissions-control system's
oxygen sensor and the catalytic
converter.

[stellablade]

This may sound like a silly question, but how do I go about filling my car with super unleaded. Do I wait until my current unleaded fuel has completely run out, or do I just add super unleaded to the unleaded? Confused.

[tip]

Just keep adding super unleaded. Eventually the regular unleaded will burn off.


Charles

[sugster]

I waited until my fuel indicator light had come on, drove for another 10 miles and then filled up on the super unleaded. There's probably not much point filling up with super unleaded until your tank is nearly empty otherwise you are just diluting super unleaded with ordinary.

Hopefully next time my car will be running on 100% super unleaded rather than approx 90-95% superunleaded as it is now.

I have noticed that my car runs alot smoother though. Haven't noticed that fuel consumption has changed either.

I think that from now on I'm only going to use super unleaded.

[Ginger]

I've tried both in my ONE, but I think Optimax is best. It seems a bit more sprightly, and has far better fuel consumption.

[stellablade]

Cheers all. I'll give it a try next time I fill up.

[M3Sid]

There was a test review of Shell Optimax in Evo magazine several months ago...they said it was great and kept the engine parts clean. It has a high octane rating of 98 or so. Although it costs more (79.9p a litre in UK) I do find that it gives me 2 to 4 mpg more in my bmw.

Shell stations are a bit sparse in this country so if you get desperate then the next best thing is probably BP 97 RON.

[Andy_Aj]

I tried Optimax for the first time ever with this car after around four tanks of normal unleaded.

I didn't see a difference in consumption but it does feel smoother compared to those first few tanks. Plus there's the common opinion that it keeps the engine cleaner - so as we intend to keep it for quite some time, it can't do any harm.

Although it's more expensive per litre, the it's still about half the price it was to fill the Celica so I'm happy

Andy