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Caltex Vortex98..it it any good?

OZR32GTR

By OZR32GTR,
in Australian Capital Territory

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tridentt150v Grand Master

tridentt150v

Posted
Posted

old but interesting reading:

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/199...0/2000cib11.htm

And for a list of refineries:

http://www.chemlink.com.au/refineries.htm

makes me wonder if the brand you buy at the service stn is made at their refinery.

It'd take some logistics to get some brands to their outlets [and I reckon it doesn't happen, they buy in from another refinery].

This doesn't mean you are buying shell at a mobil bowser, but it may have been shell before it went to their blending facility????

LTSJayce Veteran

LTSJayce

Posted
Posted

I've been avoiding posting on this link,but I can't help myself...

From all my delving into the dark underside of high-density fuels(and it's a long story I'll not put you through),it came to light that Vortex IS Optimax(or that Optimax IS Vortex;I can't remember-note to self:check notes!LOL).One is rebadged as the other. At my work,we've had extensive problems with most of the high-density fuels causing poor starting,fouling plugs and leaving deposits on upper engine components. Now,one thing to mention is that I deal with motorbikes. So what? Well,it seems that although it's still an internal combustion engine,there seem to be a few factors why bikes have prob's with these fuels moreso than cars;they're built to rev harder,produce more power-to-weight(read:higher demands place on engines),therefore seem to be more likely to get affected by "the little things". As we've not had a bike come in using Ultimate 98 experiencing the same symptons as those affected by Optimax/Vortex(and don't even think about running Woolworths fuel...),we've speculated three possible scenarios:1. Everyone is scared of the price of Ultimate?Ummm,no-it's lineball with everything else. 2.No one is putting Ultimate into their rides? Nup: population wise,law of averages says that there's gotta be BP's finest in bikes or 3. We just don't work on enough bikes to see the possible troubles with Ultimate? Nah,we do s**tloads of bikes every month-averaging about 250 a month!

So...I've done some tallying up,and Ultimate 98 gets the nod from the "seat of the pants-o-meter" (ie:working around all these propellants). All this bike talk just means that they're an early warning device on what works on high performance engines and what doesn't. I've had many a discussion with some of Shell's labcoats,and the one thing that really stood out was they said that Optimax(they wouldn't speak for any other brand,naturally)DOES require a change in spark plug temperature range,a change of jetting/fuel mapping and it may still produce difficult starting in colder temperatures regardless... This from a Shell petro-chemist. I asked who was going to pay for all this work to be carried out just to use their pump fuel straight from the bowser with no difficulty,to be met with a grunt of indifference...There's been many an anecdotal recording of problems with most of these fuels in various workshops,cars and bikes,all around Australia. Note that the particular "blend" of Optimax/Vortex type fuel has been taken off the market in other countries in the world(under whatever brand name they were being sold)for various reasons.

The worst thing is,as fuels are constantly changing due to batch production irregularities and changes to additives etc.,this can vary re:the quality of fuel you get at the bowser.

So,not so much to answer OZR32GTR's question,but to at least stir you into thinking about exactly what it is you're pumping into your pride and joy next time you fuel up.Me? I've done my homework enough to placate me into being happy with Ultimate 98...for now!

Rant over!!

LTSJayce Veteran

LTSJayce

Posted
Posted
old but interesting reading:

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/199...0/2000cib11.htm

And for a list of refineries:

http://www.chemlink.com.au/refineries.htm

makes me wonder if the brand you buy at the service stn is made at their refinery.

It'd take some logistics to get some brands to their outlets [and I reckon it doesn't happen, they buy in from another refinery].

This doesn't mean you are buying shell at a mobil bowser, but it may have been shell before it went to their blending facility????

P.S. Trident:good research stuff,BTW!

whytry Collaborator

whytry

Posted
Posted

ok from my experiance it honestly doesn't matter what you use, it all comes down to when you get you're car tuned (prob when you get a 'chip' or aftermarket ecu installed and tuned) then you use the petrol that you get you're car tuned to.

but for people with no aftermarket tuning ecu/chip i'll stay with ultimate.

i use (try not to laugh) 91 RON unleaded why...cause it's been tuned to run that fuel, and gtr loooves it, when i use either ultimate or/optimax or/bottle of octane booster or /98 RON fuel gtr caughs and splutters and doesn't like it. yes i know if i decide to use the 'other' fuels in it, i'd have to get it retuned to suit that particular fuel, and get a few more kw here and there, but with petrol prices on the rise myself and gtr and more than happy using plain 91 unleaded.

race_snooze Grand Master

race_snooze

Posted
Posted

bp only in my baby, I dont have an aftermaket ecu (to speak of remapped ecu) I can really notice the diff between optshit to ultimate once of couse i have been running both in the car for a couple of tanks.

OneNonly Apprentice

OneNonly

Posted
Posted

I was talking with the guys at Mobil Golburn after the wakefield event last week. Seems like Mobil are saying no to releasing Synergy in "country" areas. The guy at the Mobil said - never mind, we're looking at sourcing it from America directly - with wakefield here, we need the stuff to survive. Wonder what this means for Canberra, are we really country hicks?? Might have to talk to the Erindale Mobil guys - as my closet servo I'd love to get Synergy 8000 there :S

LTSJayce Veteran

LTSJayce

Posted
Posted
I was talking with the guys at Mobil Golburn after the wakefield event last week.  Seems like Mobil are saying no to releasing Synergy in "country" areas.  The guy at the Mobil said - never mind, we're looking at sourcing it from America directly - with wakefield here, we need the stuff to survive.  Wonder what this means for Canberra, are we really country hicks??   Might have to talk to the Erindale Mobil guys - as my closet servo I'd love to get Synergy 8000 there :S

Good luck! Don't get your hopes up,though: Hill & Co.(the Mobil distributors locally)have been telling me fo 4 years that there's no "light at the end of the tunnel" re:Synergy. We've got an account with 'em ,and I pester them about one every 6 months or so...

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