Subaru Impreza Forum

Stig · 27 Mar 2006, 08:40 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm going to be going on a rather long journey round some remote parts of Scotland in the impreza... I've had a look at the shell and bp websites and there will be no optimax/ultimate or any high grade petrol available for the full journey!

I'm not sure whether to fill a few plastic petrol containers with optimax and take them with me (might need quite a few) or to get some kind of octane booster and use regular fuel with it. I've never tried these octane boosters before so I've no idea what there like..

What's my best option ?

Tricia · 27 Mar 2006, 08:53 PM

Think personally I would just buy some booster, much safer option too, wouldnt want to be driving around with a boot full of fuel....

Curtiz · 27 Mar 2006, 08:54 PM

^^ thats a very gd point. i would agree there

have fun to!!

skylight · 28 Mar 2006, 12:49 PM

take some octane - millers octane boost is a recommended one.

skylight · 28 Mar 2006, 01:13 PM

BUT i should add. When i spoke to subaru about something similar --- Subaru would prefer you put standard 95RON fuel in the car (uk car wouldnt do any damange) you would notice a dip in performance - just fill up with (*RON whenever possible.... Subaru dont recommend the use of Octane Boost. (CVC Cardiff).

Hope that helps.

bob · 28 Mar 2006, 02:18 PM

I have put a tenners worth of 95 ron in mine at times to get me to a shell to fill up and thats an import....

I just drive off boost untill I can fill with the higher octane stuff. Funny I find the car performs much better on 95 ron, well up to about 1 bar never been higher than this with 95 ron...

Stig · 28 Mar 2006, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the input guys.
I'm still swithering on what to do.
1. Using 95ron fuel - I really don't want to do this. As I understand, the Engine Management System detects lower RON fuels by detecting the onset of knocking, retards the engine timing to suit. It will then run on these lower settings until such time that the ecu is reset. If you then put higher RON fuel back in, performance will gradually get better, but unless the ecu is wiped, it would take an infinite number of re-sampling cycles for the effect on the average to be overcome.
I've read versions of the above on various websites...

2. octane boost - I've just read today on another website that almost all octane boosters contain lead, to some extent - which can damage the catalytic converter.

3. carrying a couple of extra cans of fuel will put extra weight in the car + *might* be dangerous.

Not sure which way to go but options 2 and 3 are looking less attractive every time i think about it.
Is it worrying I'm putting safety below 'car damage' on my list of concerns ;o)

skylight · 28 Mar 2006, 07:24 PM

95 RON will be read by the ecu yes, BUT once running back to normal 98 RON thinkgs will get back to normal (my opinion). I would run with 95Ron until such time you can get the real stuff... It wont do any harm ! your car (if it uk) is mapped to accept the lower fuel every now and then...

good luck with the decision

i know what id do...

bob · 28 Mar 2006, 07:33 PM

If you run 95 ron and do not give the car full boost the ECU will not pick up any knock and not retard the ignition... Just take it easy with the 95 ron.

Curtiz · 28 Mar 2006, 07:38 PM

^^ i think that is ur best bet! forget my first post :p lol

imho i think u would be best doing that ^^

although im no expert

Phill-type-R · 29 Mar 2006, 06:21 PM

Only ever used 95ron once and that was on an emtpy tank and I put a £5 in to get the car to the Esso in Bideford

It was when I first had the car. Filled it up with super ever since..

Stig · 05 Apr 2006, 05:06 PM

Just got back from my weekend away.
Managed to find an small Esso station - just one pump in the middle of nowhere which had deisel, and esso 'supreme'/super/whatever they call it - so i used that to fill up.
I must say though, i did feel a difference between that and my usual shell optimax in terms of performance. The car felt slightly less powerful (but only when i really pushed it) with the esso stuff.

Glad I'm back to civilisation where i can get optimax again!

Phill-type-R · 05 Apr 2006, 07:04 PM

Your lucky to get Optimax!! The nearest for me is about a 90 mile round trip!!

trashcanman · 05 Apr 2006, 09:06 PM

I've run scoobs for the last 6 years and always used 95 ron, is it only the STI's where you need to use the 98 or have I been barking up the wrong tree all this time?

Stig · 05 Apr 2006, 09:14 PM

All the info about impreza's i read-up on prior to buying my car all stated that you should run it on a high octane rating fuel.

Also, inside the petrol cap it states "use unleaded 98RON fuel ONLY".

27 Mar 2006, 08:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stig Cool Scooby Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 327	Long journey Hi Guys, I'm going to be going on a rather long journey round some remote parts of Scotland in the impreza... I've had a look at the shell and bp websites and there will be no optimax/ultimate or any high grade petrol available for the full journey! I'm not sure whether to fill a few plastic petrol containers with optimax and take them with me (might need quite a few) or to get some kind of octane booster and use regular fuel with it. I've never tried these octane boosters before so I've no idea what there like.. What's my best option ? __________________ Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that all his legs are hydraulic...
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27 Mar 2006, 08:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tricia Obsessed Scooby Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Hampshire, UK Posts: 8,711	Think personally I would just buy some booster, much safer option too, wouldnt want to be driving around with a boot full of fuel.... __________________ Never Drive Faster Than Your Guardian Angel Can Fly....!!!! We Girlies Rule...!!!
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27 Mar 2006, 08:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Curtiz Veteran Scooby Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Belfast Posts: 2,988	^^ thats a very gd point. i would agree there have fun to!!
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28 Mar 2006, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
skylight Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Here and S.Wales Posts: 13,155	take some octane - millers octane boost is a recommended one.
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28 Mar 2006, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
skylight Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Here and S.Wales Posts: 13,155	BUT i should add. When i spoke to subaru about something similar --- Subaru would prefer you put standard 95RON fuel in the car (uk car wouldnt do any damange) you would notice a dip in performance - just fill up with (*RON whenever possible.... Subaru dont recommend the use of Octane Boost. (CVC Cardiff). Hope that helps.
Offline

28 Mar 2006, 02:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
bob Senior Scooby Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,547	I have put a tenners worth of 95 ron in mine at times to get me to a shell to fill up and thats an import.... I just drive off boost untill I can fill with the higher octane stuff. Funny I find the car performs much better on 95 ron, well up to about 1 bar never been higher than this with 95 ron...
Offline

28 Mar 2006, 05:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Stig Cool Scooby Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 327	Thanks for the input guys. I'm still swithering on what to do. 1. Using 95ron fuel - I really don't want to do this. As I understand, the Engine Management System detects lower RON fuels by detecting the onset of knocking, retards the engine timing to suit. It will then run on these lower settings until such time that the ecu is reset. If you then put higher RON fuel back in, performance will gradually get better, but unless the ecu is wiped, it would take an infinite number of re-sampling cycles for the effect on the average to be overcome. I've read versions of the above on various websites... 2. octane boost - I've just read today on another website that almost all octane boosters contain lead, to some extent - which can damage the catalytic converter. 3. carrying a couple of extra cans of fuel will put extra weight in the car + might be dangerous. Not sure which way to go but options 2 and 3 are looking less attractive every time i think about it. Is it worrying I'm putting safety below 'car damage' on my list of concerns ;o) __________________ Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that all his legs are hydraulic...
Offline

28 Mar 2006, 07:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
skylight Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Here and S.Wales Posts: 13,155	95 RON will be read by the ecu yes, BUT once running back to normal 98 RON thinkgs will get back to normal (my opinion). I would run with 95Ron until such time you can get the real stuff... It wont do any harm ! your car (if it uk) is mapped to accept the lower fuel every now and then... good luck with the decision i know what id do...
Offline

28 Mar 2006, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
bob Senior Scooby Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,547	If you run 95 ron and do not give the car full boost the ECU will not pick up any knock and not retard the ignition... Just take it easy with the 95 ron.
Offline

28 Mar 2006, 07:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Curtiz Veteran Scooby Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Belfast Posts: 2,988	^^ i think that is ur best bet! forget my first post :p lol imho i think u would be best doing that ^^ although im no expert
Offline

29 Mar 2006, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Phill-type-R Obsessed Scooby Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bideford or Coven Posts: 12,994	Only ever used 95ron once and that was on an emtpy tank and I put a £5 in to get the car to the Esso in Bideford It was when I first had the car. Filled it up with super ever since..
Offline

05 Apr 2006, 05:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Stig Cool Scooby Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 327	Just got back from my weekend away. Managed to find an small Esso station - just one pump in the middle of nowhere which had deisel, and esso 'supreme'/super/whatever they call it - so i used that to fill up. I must say though, i did feel a difference between that and my usual shell optimax in terms of performance. The car felt slightly less powerful (but only when i really pushed it) with the esso stuff. Glad I'm back to civilisation where i can get optimax again! __________________ Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that all his legs are hydraulic...
Offline

05 Apr 2006, 07:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
Phill-type-R Obsessed Scooby Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bideford or Coven Posts: 12,994	Your lucky to get Optimax!! The nearest for me is about a 90 mile round trip!!
Offline

05 Apr 2006, 09:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
trashcanman Fresh Scooby Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	I've run scoobs for the last 6 years and always used 95 ron, is it only the STI's where you need to use the 98 or have I been barking up the wrong tree all this time?
Offline

05 Apr 2006, 09:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
Stig Cool Scooby Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 327	All the info about impreza's i read-up on prior to buying my car all stated that you should run it on a high octane rating fuel. Also, inside the petrol cap it states "use unleaded 98RON fuel ONLY". __________________ Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that all his legs are hydraulic...
Offline

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