Mini Cooper Forum banner

Can you feel the difference?

5203 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Koryak
between 89 and 93 Octane Gas. I can not. I switch between a tank of 89 and 93 Octane. I know the computer will automatically adjust but honestly I have as much black carbon on/in the tail pipe no matter if I use 89 or 93 Octane. I even put one of the 100+ Octane Boosters snake oil bottles in the tank no difference. Pick up and idle is the same. So what is you reason to spend the extra cents per gallon at the pump?
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
between 89 and 93 Octane Gas. I can not. I switch between a tank of 89 and 93 Octane. I know the computer will automatically adjust but honestly I have as much black carbon on/in the tail pipe no matter if I use 89 or 93 Octane. I even put one of the 100+ Octane Boosters snake oil bottles in the tank no difference. Pick up and idle is the same. So what is you reason to spend the extra cents per gallon at the pump?
Absolutely no reason to. Marketing ploy as far as I'm concerned. There have been tests carried out that show make no difference. Don't ask me where as it was a while ago. Likely a Google search would throw something up.

Save your cash!
  • Like
Reactions: 1
No reason you should feel any difference. Your engine doesn't tune itself to the fuel you buy, it doesn't know. It runs normal until a problem such as knock\detonation occurs then detunes itself as much as needed to run safely. If your car is going to knock on any type of fuel, it will probably happen around peak power, the top of your RPM range which most of us don't use much in daily driving. Knock is not guaranteed to happen with low octane fuel, nor is it guaranteed not to happen with high octane fuel.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I use 93 octane Shell or BP generally and I am very pleased with the cars' (both of them) performance and I have not experienced any carbon build up on the exhaust tips. They refine Marathon, formerly Ashland Oil, in Eastern KY. and I can tell the difference when we use it as there is a slight hesitation before hard acceleration. It is only available in 87, 89, or 91 octane. The difference is more pronounced after a couple of tanks of the lower octane. I am willing to pay the difference.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
between 89 and 93 Octane Gas. I can not. I switch between a tank of 89 and 93 Octane. I know the computer will automatically adjust but honestly I have as much black carbon on/in the tail pipe no matter if I use 89 or 93 Octane. I even put one of the 100+ Octane Boosters snake oil bottles in the tank no difference. Pick up and idle is the same. So what is you reason to spend the extra cents per gallon at the pump?
Makes a difference that you have the 1.5 liter vs 2.0.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
When we pay an extra 17cents per litre betwen 91 ron to 98 ron and i actually don't notice any difference in power or economy in normal driving, you do question why?
There was a test performed recently using the same car, same quantity of fuel but different octane blends and it worked out that using the cheaper 91ron is more economical than using the highest 98.
I think its just propoganda by the oil companies to get us to pay more.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Totally agree. It's a way to empty your wallet quicker. Even if there was a difference in performance it would be so slight I'd find it hard to believe anyone would notice the difference. Placebo effect perhaps.

It's just not worth paying the extra. Your car is made to run on the lower octane.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
In italy only 95.
But when I use the 100 (a few times) on my fireblade...the difference is sensible, expecially under 4000rpm....it's smoother.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
We're talking of a very highly tuned bike engine though.I agree use the stuff in my ktm But really can't feel or tell in the mini. I always use cheapest supermarket fuel! My mr2 did 160,000 miles on asda petrol std Ron and was as sweet as sweet when i sold it.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
I have tweaked, tuned, and modified the engine performance of my JCW, and the difference is noticeable particularly under hard power which I apply frequently. I love the little beastie when it roars!
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Interestingly, I just watched an old episode of Fifth Gear and they were testing the best fuels against Asda to see what difference there was. They were using a 2012 Golf GTI on the dyno for the test.

There was difference in performance but nothing major. Results below:

Asda - 235.8 bhp
BP unleaded - 236.1 bhp
BP Ultimate - 236.7
Esso Supreme - 240.5
Shell V-power - 240.9.

So 5 bhp more between top and bottom. They test drove the car around a track and said there was a very slight difference but for everyday driving you wouldn't really notice it. At the time of testing it was £4 more per tank.

Is it worth it?
See less See more
Firstly 95% of people won't ever use more than about 70% (if that) of the power the engine is capable of...(no idea if these figures are right as I made them up by observation over many years)

A JCW with top speed of 150mph, when will that ever be used? Even through the gears I bet not many get anywhere near the red line!

On my last R55 JCW when if was having issues and I decided to sell I used regular unleaded and to be honest never noticed any difference, mpg same, running around same,maybe a slight hesitation when flooring it!

By doing this I gained a few pound a week in my pocket.

So yes I think it is a waste of money...
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Firstly 95% of people won't ever use more than about 70% (if that) of the power the engine is capable of...(no idea if these figures are right as I made them up by observation over many years)

A JCW with top speed of 150mph, when will that ever be used? Even through the gears I bet not many get anywhere near the red line!

On my last R55 JCW when if was having issues and I decided to sell I used regular unleaded and to be honest never noticed any difference, mpg same, running around same,maybe a slight hesitation when flooring it!

By doing this I gained a few pound a week in my pocket.

So yes I think it is a waste of money...
My thoughts exactly!
  • Like
Reactions: 1
between 89 and 93 Octane Gas. I can not. I switch between a tank of 89 and 93 Octane. I know the computer will automatically adjust but honestly I have as much black carbon on/in the tail pipe no matter if I use 89 or 93 Octane. I even put one of the 100+ Octane Boosters snake oil bottles in the tank no difference. Pick up and idle is the same. So what is you reason to spend the extra cents per gallon at the pump?
I wouldn't expect any difference between your choices. The problem in the US is what additives a Top Tier gas retailer really uses. If I ever see a pump advertising the fuel contains additives for direct injection I'd buy their product. Good injector cleanliness will keep the tailpipe soot down, fuel economy and power up more than high octane :D
  • Like
Reactions: 1
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top