Shell Optimax Extreme - 100 Octane

[adznight]

There is a bit of talk about this around but for those of you who don't leav the Vic section Shell have release a 100 RON fuel, the first in Aus. Only issue here is they have added 5% Ethanol. I'm not sure what issues if any this can cause for us skyline drivers but I'd be interested to hear what people have to say

Also keen to know price of it compared to say standard unleaded...

Cut from Shells website -

"Shell Optimax Extreme is a new super-high octane fuel with a minimum octane rating of 100, the highest currently available at any Australian service station. Shell Optimax Extreme is formulated with 5% ethanol.

Shell Optimax Extreme is formulated to deliver more engine responsiveness, sharper acceleration and enhanced power in many modern and high performance vehicles compared to other Shell premium fuels.

Ethanol is a renewable non-fossil fuel produced in Australia. When used in fuel it’s a cleaner burning, renewable component that helps to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, through the formulation with ethanol, Shell Optimax Extreme has a substantially lower sulphur and benzene content than the maximum levels set under the Federal Government’s fuel quality standards. Ethanol is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel component that helps to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions."

Shell Optimax Extreme will initially be available at selected Coles Express sites in the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

Link - http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId...ut_extreme.html

Link regarding compatibility for "local" cars - http://www.fcai.com.au/ethanol.php/2005/11/00000005.html

Interesting read - http://autorepair.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/aa102100a.htm

[SteveL]

From Nissan Oz website:

"For Nissan vehicles manufactured prior to 1 January 2004, Although capable of operation on ethanol-blended ULP, Nissan does NOT recommend the use of ethanol-blended fuel in these vehicles."

[NateR31]

tried 10L of it, didnt do a thing

(series2 rb25det)

[dezz]

i think they mean it ruins the engine with prolonged use....not 1 tank

[NateR31]

i think they mean it ruins the engine with prolonged use....not 1 tank

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

and i mean, 100octance didnt make a difference in performace

[dezz]

oh i c.

maybe it needs to be tuned on 100RON to notice a difference...i heard it makes the car run lean otherwise...

[IOWNU]

Theres a massive thread on this somewhere......

But yeah, mixed results, some ppl reckon the car pings etc, but when the car is tuned, better results.

Ofcourse Nissan wouldn't endorse it, why would they risk it and open themselves up to potential lawsuits.....

[inark]

i didnt think higher RON increased performance. The RON of the fuel from my understanding does not increase power alone.. i thought it just meant u can tune the car for more power. I thought it was the way the fuel burns. ie. how well it burns etc.

but its been out for a while and i remember some mates who did testing at their uni on petrols which had ethanol and depending on the %'s added was clean and ran fine.

we've been using 10% blended fuels lately cause theyre upto 10c+ cheaper then normal... but the risk of issues coming up are a little greater but then again it once again depends on how much is blended. Mind u for skylines and turbo cars i wouldnt use it... the 100 shell i would... cause its just 98ron with a 5% blend which is stuff all.

[TracidTrax]

there was an article about the ethanol in petrol, they said to keep away from it if your car manufacture says to. I was gonna give this optimax extreme a go but not any more, ill stick with BP

[Emre]

Refer here, for effects of using ethanol blends.

Nissan Aust. doesn't recommend the use of this fuel in pre 04 vehicles, but they do not state why. It would be nice if they just outlined the problem areas.

[heartbrkr]

woop.

i put some in tonight. thought i had been using it, but started wondering why the sign said extreme.

so blue = normal, white = new/extreme.

i just assumed it was replacing the old.

[Patto-]

Refer here, for effects of using ethanol blends.

Nissan Aust. doesn't recommend the use of this fuel in pre 04 vehicles, but they do not state why. It would be nice if they just outlined the problem areas.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That just outlines problems with a 20% blend. Also I believe Nissan discourages the use of 10% blend.

Optimax Extreme is a 5% blend, which as far as I know is quite safe to use in just about any car.

Edited November 29, 2005 by shyster

[Emre]

You are correct, but it still outlines the effects of ethanol blends.

Would a %5 blend have less effects or no effects at all...?

[inark]

far less if not none...

im pretty sure some racing fuels use ethanol.

here... like i was trying to say it just lessens the risk of knocking (higher RON) so that means u can tune your engine more to gain more power BUT higher octane fuels wont give u more power alone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

A common myth amongst petrol consumers is that adding a higher octane fuel to a vehicle's engine will increase its performance and/or lessen its fuel consumption; this is mostly false—engines perform best when using fuel with the octane rating they were designed for and any increase in performance by using a fuel with a different octant rating is minimal.

so unless your car is tuned for 100RON your wasting your time buying it based on "performance gains", however if your car is tuned for 98 then this will mean you will be quite safe from knocking.

[Mean_R34]

For the ppl who have tried it... how oes the price compare to Optimax price. I would imagine it may be a couple of cents dearer?

[inark]

if anything it should be the same as 98 or cheaper because of the ethanol.

[rs73]

In regards to corrosive effect on metal fuel parts, this is from the Shell's website FAQ...

I have heard reported in the media issues with ethanol and engine corrosion and its effect on metal parts. What steps are you taking to protect my engine and its components?

The issues you have heard about relate to a situation in 2003 when some retailers were selling fuel products with more than 20% ethanol blend without sufficient disclosure to customers.  Shell was not involved in this practice and took active steps at the time to promote that our fuel did not contain ethanol.  It has now been shown through extensive testing and research that a maximum 10% ethanol content is suitable for many cars which is why the Federal Government has set a maximum 10% ethanol content in Australian fuel.  Shell has determined that a formulation of 5% ethanol optimises Shell Optimax Extreme (the same level that Governments in Europe are encouraging in their specification).  All ethanol used in Shell fuel contains a suitable corrosion inhibitor.

Now if the Optimax Extreme may not sound too bad for metal parts, in regards to rubber fuel parts shrinkage issue, perhaps changing all your fuel lines, basicaly anything that is made from rubber, to braided steel lines. Of course it's recommended to use ADR approved ones, e.g. made by Maltech in Geelong, whom some of us has organised a group buy with.

[IOWNU]

It's more expensive than normal optimax....wth?

I thought the whole point of blending ethanol was to reduce the overall cost of the petrol....i think Shell may just be targeting the performance market....

Also, check out this guys dyno results after a tune, hell if I could get those results just after a "tune" I'm all for it.......

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=95349

[dezz]

i thought it would be obvious that nissan is going to say dont use it...

compare it to the "this product may contain traces of peanuts" thing

when half the stuff that says it would never have a peanut anywhere near it....they say that to cover their ass in the worst case scenario etc...

[adznight]

Interesting so far