Optimax Extreme

[scathing]

I drove past a Shell in Neutral Bay, NSW, yesterday and I noticed that they were advertising their new "Optimax Extreme" at 100RON.

I use BP Ultimate, but I might have to give this Optimax a go to see what its like.

But, if its a nicer, cleaner fuel...it might be time to bump up the compression / boost / advance

Edited November 16, 2005 by scathing

[scathing]

And for the Victorians, one of the guys from another forum I'm on got this announcement from Coles Myer:

Coles Express, in conjunction with Shell, today launched a new super-high premium fuel, with a minimum octane rating of 100, the highest currentlyavailable at any Australian service station.

Called Optimax Extreme, this fuel has been formulated for use in most

modern, high performance cars and is designed to deliver a higher level of engine responsiveness, sharper acceleration and enhanced power, when you need it. I have been fortunate enough to trial this fuel in my car over the past couple of days and I can assure you its lives up to this promise!

Optimax Extreme is made with 5% ethanol and as such is the first

ethanol-based premium fuel to be sold at Coles Express. Ethanol is a

cleaner burning, renewable fuel, which can help to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions. It is also an important component of Optimax Extreme that has helped the fuel reach a minimum 100 octane rating.

I believe the premium quality of Optimax Extreme will excite customers withits performance characteristics and in doing so help to demonstrate the potential of ethanol-based fuels to our customers.

As Australia's number one fuel and convenience retailer, Coles Express is uniquely positioned to play a lead role in improving consumer perceptions regarding ethanol-based fuels. We are also the only fuel retailer able to offer an ethanol-based fuel in conjunction with the Coles Myer fuel discount scheme.

Shell Optimax Extreme will be available exclusively through selected Coles Express service stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Geelong and the Gold Coast. Over the coming weeks we will monitor the customer response to Optimax Extreme and if needed will look to expand its availability.

and list of locations

F010 - COLES EXPRESS BURWOOD VIC 16-Nov

F321 - COLES EXPRESS ASHBURTON VIC 15-Nov

F488 - COLES EXPRESS RICHMOND VIC 15-Nov

F537 - COLES EXPRESS CHELTENHAM VIC 15-Nov

G304 - COLES EXPRESS ST ALBANS VIC 15-Nov

G687 - COLES EXPRESS FERNTREE GULLY VIC 15-Nov

G791 - COLES EXPRESS VERMONT SOUTH VIC 15-Nov

[ToF]

That all sounded good until they said 5% ethanol. But that's only because I don't understand the effects of ethanol yet.

[Redback]

they reckon theres no problem with it...... nothing actually proven... kinda like that myth that mobile phones blow up petrol stations... braniac proved taht wrong. lmao

[sewid]

Well if you read the recent HPI in highly tuned cars ethanol in the fuel can cause significant problems. The fact is that your car will run leaner with a fuel/ethanol mix. On top of that ethanol can absorb water which will impact on it's combustion properties.

If you want to run a highly tuned car on an ethanol blend you can but you may have to retune for that petrol or risk running lean. On a standard ECU it would probably be great due to those cars running rich from factory.

Anyway im excited that someone is offereing 100RON in Australia and the fact that i can finally use those Coles vouchers would be handy too!

[Redback]

its only common knowlage it you had a prgameable ecu you would retune it..... of course it will cause problems if you dont....

[someonestolecc]

I'll wait till a few thousand SAU'ers use this petrol. Then I may switch....

[xRHETTx]

Well, got that info a day or two late didnt we...

In HPI they picked up 22kW just changing to 10% ethanol fuel, with revised tuning of course.

As long as this extreme petrol is the same price (or within 1c) as optimax/ultimate/any other 98 octane petrol, ill use it.

[LO_R33]

I will be using it or atleast trailing it, can't hurt to give it a chance, just will be careful if i hear pinging etc.

100ron, pretty exciting to finally hear someone offering 100ron in australia off the pumps:D lets hope BP up's there ron levels now too:D

Dayne

[Tommyk]

I am considering running this fuel in my car before it gets retuned. Not sure if its the best idea in the world though. It will probably run rich as if i run it again on normal optimax.

Whats the price of this stuff anyway, compared to optimax ?

[Abo Bob]

I thought that it runs leaner so with a leanish PFC tune you should be very careful. With stock ECU's and mods that make it run naturally rich it might be good but may have to increase the base timing to get the full effect.

[LO_R33]

What does ethanol actually do? I heard it did something to the fuel lines, and they only recommended it on newer cars. Is there anywhere we can find out facts other then myths? Other then that, what will the extra 2 RON do? will it make the car run richer? if we do only have a stock ecu, though advanced timing should we be careful? Does the car give any signs that its running lean? What can we listen for?

Dayne

[Amaru]

The RON is resistance to pre-ignition (detonation). The higher the RON, the more boost/ignition timing you can run in the car, and the more the fuel can cope with higher combustion temperatures.

Have heard problems with some S13 and S14's not liking this fuel very much and running very erratically on stock ecu, same with pre MY01 WRX's. I dont think I would chance it unless I had a lambda meter shoved up the exhaust to see how exactly the car is running, and if you are running aftermarket management id fill it up, drive it very gently to the tuners and get it retuned.

[OBES]

I use a 10% ethonol mix in my lod corral, though i cant remember the name of the servo that sells it. Works a treat for me, even if it is in my old car, get better fuel economy per tank also.

Correct me if im wrong, but ethonol has a high oxygen content, so when added to your fuel it increases the oxygen in your fuel...thats how they get the extra couple of RON i think.

Like xRHETTx said, got good reviews in HPI provided you re-tuned your computer to compensate for it running pretty lean.

Will definately try it out once the gtr's back on the road.

By the looks ok Scathing's quote, its should be available on tuesday, has anyone tried it yet??

Cheers.

[RB30-POWER]

FYI, Nissan don't recommend any ethanol blend fuel in Nissan cars made before 2004.

Nissan vehicles manufactured from 1 January 2004 onwards are capable of operation on ethanol-blended fuels up to E10 (10% ethanol), providing that blending of the ethanol component to the petroleum component of the fuel has been properly made at the fuel refinery (ie there is no "splash-blending" of the fuel).

For Nissan vehicles manufactured prior to 1 January 2004, Nissan Australia does not recommend the use of E10 because of drivability concerns and/or material compatibility issues.

[Big Rizza]

100 octane fuel - that's awesome! Finally we get the good stuff! Anyone know how long before it will be available in WA? Not sure there will be enough market here for speedy distrobution . Even now I can only find 98 octane at BP's - no shell, caltex or mobil in my area sell higher than 95.

[Keeper]

haha funny, I work in the fuel industry and we get reports all the time of people starting fires through stupid reasons, answering cell calls, jump starting cars on forecourts, take there car that is on fire to the service station for assistance, static build up etc. etc.

the chances of a mobile starting a fire are slim, but the guy who was trying to pull his mobile out of his jeans and his croutch got 3rd degree burns probably aint laughing...

[Keeper]

FYI, Nissan don't recommend any ethanol blend fuel in Nissan cars made before 2004.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

note is doesn't recommend using the %10 blend in that quote, this fuel is %5 blend, i wonder if nissan australia have a say on this???

98 octane is available in NZ, but not refined here, shell and all the fuel majors offer

AGO

91

95

98 (BP & Mobil only)

there is talk of the octance going up, or Shell & Caltex offering a high octance fuel option as well, as the entire high performance market has almost completely turned to BP/Mobil from what I know

Edited November 17, 2005 by Keeper

[Keeper]

haha funny, I work in the fuel industry and we get reports all the time of people starting fires through stupid reasons, answering cell calls, jump starting cars on forecourts, take there car that is on fire to the service station for assistance, static build up etc. etc.

the chances of a mobile starting a fire are slim, but the guy who was trying to pull his mobile out of his jeans and his croutch got 3rd degree burns probably aint laughing...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

for the record...

the chances of you starting a fire through cell phone use on a forecourt is about the same as a jumbo jet crashing into your house

i think most of it has too do with people humping doors etc in the countries where the nozzles dont need to be held on to pump (stay on until full)

[Spook33]

Hi all,

does anyone know what the go with this new 5% ethenol 100 RON fuel is??

what would it do to a skyline ??