Anyone using high octane petrol and notice any benefits?

Gobsh

Anyone using high octane petrol and notice any benefits?

My Citroen is still in warentee and service centre is recommending fuel Additives???

I worked for Halfords in the 70s and we used to sell Redex fuel Additives but usually directed toward older engines. 

Makes me wonder about using high octane petrol?

forgotmyname

Only when running 18psi of boost, stops the engine pinking on hard acceleration.

MattMattMattUK

Gobsh said:

Anyone using high octane petrol and notice any benefits?

My Citroen is still in warentee and service centre is recommending fuel Additives???

I worked for Halfords in the 70s and we used to sell Redex fuel Additives but usually directed toward older engines. 

Makes me wonder about using high octane petrol?

Both additives and high octane fuel are largely a con unless you are using a finely turned high performance engine on the edge of it's limits. On a track or drag strip you would struggle to differentiate between fuel and run to run variance, you might not even be able to tell on averaged runs on a dyno. 

Ayr_Rage

Don't fall for the additives con, modern engines run fine on normal 95 octane fuel.

Higher octane fuels MAY contain some better additives than bog standard fuel.

Higher octane fuels are more stable and less hygroscopic as they only contain 5% ethanol so degrade less in the tank which is useful if you do a very low mileage.

The engine management system cannot take advantage of higher octane ratings unless the engine is designed to use that fuel.

However, for vehicles that are designed for 95 you will not see any benefits of using higher octane fuel, it'll just make a larger dent in your wallet.

There will now be a deluge of "my car runs better on 98/99" , "my mpg is better" but if you can be bothered to read articles not promoted by fuel companies you'll find the truth.

Car_54

Gobsh said:

My Citroen is still in warentee and service centre is recommending fuel Additives???

Does the service centre happen to sell the recommended additives?

BTW it's "warranty".

WellKnownSid

Car_54 said:

Gobsh said:

My Citroen is still in warentee and service centre is recommending fuel Additives???

Does the service centre happen to sell the recommended additives?

“Completely by chance, as luck would have it, we just so happen to have one extra large bottle in stock… which we can sell to you at the old price before prices go up on Monday…”

fatbelly

I do occasionally add Redex.

I think there is some evidence of benefit and so at £2.50 a shot, I give it a go.

https://youtu.be/03nL8Z0dRkI

oldagetraveller1

I do use it in my 60+ years old Classic. Only because of the 5% Ethanol content. With the car being that old, the ignition timing may be set/adjusted for the higher Octane rating.

leosayer

If the manufacturer recommends using super unleaded for your car/engine then do that.

Otherwise you'll be wasting money.

What reason did the Citroen service centre give for recommending additives? If you don't do this then will it impact your warranty? Is this part of the manufacturer's service schedule. If not then I really wouldn't.

facade

I only ever use e5.

As Ayr_Rage says, the lower ethanol content is better for storage as I don't do many miles on petrol.

It does very slightly better to the gallon, as petrol has a higher calorific value than ethanol, and likely runs on the most advanced timing map available because of less knock.

I doubt if the increased MPG offsets the increased cost though, but less ethanol is A Good Thing, and I don't drive enough miles to really notice the increased cost. (Plus petrol prices yo-yo up and down so much I never have any real way to compare a saving- one visit I pay less for e5 than they advertise e10 for the next.)

Bottom line- Would I use e10 over e5?

Absolutely if it were a lease car or on PCP and going back.

Never if it is a keeper like my current car.

(My car was actually recalled for a new fuel pump, as they likely accidentally fitted JDM spec. ones which swell up in e10 and seize- luckily it had never had even a drop of e10 in it from new)

e5 supposedly has posher additives than e10 too, like better detergents, which might make a difference on a direct injection engine and clog it up with carbon slightly later.

born_again

Gobsh said:

Anyone using high octane petrol and notice any benefits?

My Citroen is still in warentee and service centre is recommending fuel Additives???

I worked for Halfords in the 70s and we used to sell Redex fuel Additives but usually directed toward older engines. 

Makes me wonder about using high octane petrol?

Which service center?
How old & what mileage is the car?