Good fuel?

[timbar32]

Just looking for feedback on the quality of various fuels in canberra. I have had running problems with some fill-ups, and have so far found that kambah caltex (vortex gold) seems to be pretty good, and charnwood shell (optimax) has caused some running probs (mostly in mates cars). Any good or bad experiences??

[GT-Rmgedon]

As far as top quality 98 RON.... You can't go past BP ULTIMATE. Most of my mates use this as it is apparently the only constant 98 RON fuel. However, not all BP's in Canberra stock it. Some carry Premium Unleaded only, don't be fooled this isn't the same as ULTIMATE.

Shell OPTIMAX and BP ULTIMATE are the only 2 98 RON fuels. The others for example, Mobil SYNERGY or Caltex VORTEX, are only 96 RON - They are just Premium unleaded's.

98 RON's are what you should be using considering all japanese turbo cars are detuned to run on are crappy fuel. Although i think Premium unleaded fuels can be ok from time to time if you are really stuck. It also depends on car to car. ULTIMATE 98 is consitently good whilst OPTIMAX tends to go through bad batches sometimes (according to mates) but i've never had probs with either.

Hope this helps.

[Terminal]

I read somewhere that Optimax was no longer 98, but had gone down to 96, and that Synergy was actually 98. can't remember where, maybe somewhere on PF

[SupaFly Skyline]

Vortex is also 98 apparently, also they run a detergent thru ultimate so its cleaner fuel, would recommend not using optimax, ive heard too many stories of motorbike engines being destroyed after using optimax

[timbar32]

I'll definately stop buying optimax now.

[Guest RedLineGTR]

some peoples cars react to diff fuels...but i use personally only bp ultimate.

[Shell]

I only use BP 98...either from Kingston or Phillip...never had any probs, and I think the car runs better than on Optimax.

Terminal, Optimax is 98 ...someone might have been spinning a bit of you-know-what if they posted that it'd gone down to 96 i think! Unless they have insider info and we're all being bullshitted hehe

[Terminal]

This is where i got it from, i dunno if he's a fuel engineer or what...

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...&threadid=20165

[Ozzy]

According to the Mobil website, Mobil 'SYNERGY' actually covers five types of fuel. Gas, Diesel, LRP, Unleaded and High Octane unleaded. The high octane is called SYNERGY 8000, and is the third type of 98 RON fuel available in Australia. Don't confuse this with the Mobil Premium (apparently not in the SYNERGY range), which is only 95 RON.

As you all may be aware, we live in the National Capital of Australia, which translates as the seat of Government.....only!. The PM doesn't even want to live here, why would oil companies be interested if us import junkies get decent fuel or not.

The nearest place that I know of that sells the SYNERGY 8000 is the MOBIL half way between Sydney and Mittagong. Maybe we should lobby MOBIL to provide 8000 in Canberra???

[Shell]

Originally posted by Terminal

This is where i got it from, i dunno if he's a fuel engineer or what...

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/sh...&threadid=20165

hehe no Carlo is not a fuel engineer, but he does seem to know what he's talking about. Maybe that's why ppl are starting to say that optimax is making their cars run like crap - if it only takes that amount of time for the octane rating to drop it can't be good ??

but regardless...they still advertise optimax as a 98 rated fuel..even if it drops by the time we get it in our tanks

[Terminal]

I just filled up with Vortex after using optimax for ages, and it crapped out, had a massive flat spot for some reason. maybe i just got a dirty batch. im going back to optimax, nuf said

[FunkBrother]

I used Optimax when I first got the car but now am running BP Ultimate, I get more ks out of a tank even though a give it a bit more.

I have heard nothing but bad things about Optimax. There a few guys at work who had high performace cars, a heavily modded Silvia and an EvoII, and they both said there cars ping and run like crap with Optimax.

I forgot to mention that I asked the Caltex technician what RON the Vortex stuff is and he said it was 96 RON, what's the point?!

[Terminal]

i think i might give ultimate a go, where are the places in canberra that have it? i know the one in Braddon doesnt, its the closest to me

[SupaFly Skyline]

Originally posted by Terminal

i think i might give ultimate a go, where are the places in canberra that have it? i know the one in Braddon doesnt, its the closest to me

Kingston and Phillip i think

[CanberraR33]

yep Phillip BP has Ultimate 98 for sure.

I have been told that Optimax is actually 96 RON with an additive to bring it up to 98. Apparently if you don't go through it quick enough the RON will drop back to 96.

Personaly I use Ultimate and Optimax, which ever servo is closer!

I might seriously make an effort to only use Ultimate and see how that goes.

[timbar32]

only been using ultimate for the last couple of fills - cars running great!! we should talk to BP and get some SA discount cards!

[Ozzy]

people, people, people.....listen to me, I'm old and wise, and more importantly, I've done my research on petrols.

There are only three 98RON fuels available for street legal road going cars in Australia (with the exception of some independents in Sydney which is probably half ethanol anyway), they are.....

Mobil SYNERGY 8000

Shell Optimax

and

BP Ultimate

.....THAT'S IT....don't take everything you read as gospel...check it out. The internet is full of good information....if you check the right places....folks, check out the petroleum company websites.

Caltex (or Ampol) VORTEX is 95RON, but may be 96 in some outlets. Don't put this crap in your turbo import!

My advice is don't use crap fuel and a bottle of dodgy octane booster either...they foul your plugs. If you can't afford the good stuff, then maybe you can't afford the car!

The answer to timbar32's original question is.....if the Charnwood Shell is the nearest, go for the Optimax, or otherwise go to either Kingston or Phillip BP and get ULTIMATE (not premium, but ULTIMATE). I've used both Optimax and Ultimate, and have found no discernible difference at all!

just my advice, don't bite my head off

cheers Ozzy

[33Sedan]

Just giving an update, there is now caltex Vortex 98 octance. as in there is unleaded, vortex(95/96) and vortex 98(98).

I use vortex 98, havnt had any probs. Would prefer to fill up with BP but too far away.

[oscar32]

Hey guys,

You are correct, I've run back to back dyno sessions with Ultimate and Optimax about 3 years ago, and found we could lean on my old RB20 much harder on the BP feul. I'm not sure of what the difference was overall power wise - its wasn't like heaps - but it appeared that the quality of the BP feul was higher, and consistantly higher

[a20089]

Fuels and my experience

ultimate = 98

"Vortex 98" = 98

Vortex = 95

Optimax or Vpower = 98

Vpower racing = 100 5% ethhol

"Synergy 8000" = 98

"Synergy 6000" = 95

"Synergy 2000" = 91

generic Preiums =95

Notes:

Mobil does not quote octane ratings on their web site

Optimax has not been sold for some time now

Caltex does not seem to even talk about their normal fuels

Yes fuel can go off in the tanks, this is not dependant on manufacturer. Some fuels may be more prone than others but I've yet to see any scientific evidence between different types.

Personal experience:

Ultimate provides me with 400 to 450km for 50 litres

V power provides me with 360 to 400km for 50 litres (still testing)

Vortex 98 provides me with 300 to 360 for 50 litres

Conclusion:

As most people have said BP ultimate seems to run better in Skylines.