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[Sal_2013]

Hi

Can i use normal Unleaded in my Brabus or it has to be the shell optiplex?

Thanks

[funkydoodycool]

V-power (previously optimax) is essential in the brabus. If you use 95 Ron you'll end up with the engine knocking, loss of power, and ultimately it can end up damaging the engine.  The extra RON controls the burn, allowing the engine to run to its maximum output.

There are other options - tesco momentum is their premium fuel at 90RON, but there are concerns over its suitability.  BP ultimate and Total Excellium (few totals are left as they were sold last year) are 97RON and people have had no trouble running them, so use those if no shells are close to you.

I'd stick with shell v power personally. I've used it in all my cars, and at the end of the day you're talking about £2 extra per tank. You can't go running a brabus then cheap out on it.

[Alex]

It says on the petrol filler cap, use only 98RON fuel. 95RON is for emergency use only, and will reduce power and MPG.

[Problemchild]

on the fuel cap it tells you to use 98 RON fuel (super unleaded)

i use shell v-power

its a bot more expensive (although it doesn't seem to fluctuate as much as unleaded/diesel) yet i find it returns better mpg

plus you will never realise the full bhp if you don't

but to answer your question - yes you can and i have used it but i would recommend v-power as the choice of fuel to use.

JJ

[Sal_2013]

Guys thanks for the quick response again.... awesome dudes..

So 2 weeks normal petrol then next 2 weeks  V-power. is that OK?

[Problemchild]

i think its a false economy

try it but i think you will find you will have reduced range on the standard fuel and like funky says, its only a few pounds more per tank.

plus you get shell points so get vouchers for money off.

JJ

[Sal_2013]

Problemchild thanks again for the TIP and quick reply.

Can someone tell me the best overall car lube to use if i want spray on my door cables, metal on metal, electrical terminals or hinges i.e. WD40, PTFE85 or Halfrauds own brand etc.

[Alex]

At the very least combine v power with normal unleaded. Don't run on just unleaded if you have a choice. If you didn't want to pay extra for premium gasoline, than you shouldn't have bought a hot hatch, you should have got the 109bhp engine.

[CrazyG]

....Can someone tell me the best overall car lube to use if i want spray on my door cables, metal on metal, electrical terminals or hinges i.e. WD40, PTFE85 or Halfrauds own brand etc.

For the door cables (and indeed anything else) avoid WD40 like the plague !
For door cables use the 3-In-One with PTFE....
For electrical terminals and hinges/catches use 3-In-One Professional White Lithium Grease.
Both can be obtained from your local Halfrauds.

[funkydoodycool]

At the very least combine v power with normal unleaded. Don't run on just unleaded if you have a choice. If you didn't want to pay extra for premium gasoline, than you shouldn't have bought a hot hatch, you should have got the 109bhp engine.

My sentiment exactly.  Use 98RON - they know what they're doing when they put it in the fuel filler flap.

[Brabs]

I beg to differ here. A while back Fifth Gear did a test about this very issue and came to the conclusion that unless you insist on utilising the maximum power from a high compression engine then it wasn't worth the extra cost. As to the engine 'knocking and damaging itself' I don't believe that to be true. The ECU will adjust the ignition timing to prevent any pre-ignition. Ok so you may lose out on a few bhp if you insist on running your engine at the max but I believe that in normal day to day running, which I'm guessing most of us do you won't notice the difference. Regular quality petrol such as Shell is good stuff. IMHO of course!

http://youtu.be/WTaBngvsPrc

 

[Problemchild]

haha - that vid completely backs up what we said

shell v-power gives 5bhp over asda

on the road VBH says she could feel the extra grunt of the shell over the asda petrol

what they don't show is the MPG of the fuels and i personally think the v-power gives me more miles per tank.

what VBH says is that during every day driving where you don't have a back to back test, you won't notice!!

HOWEVER, there have been BRAB owners with cracked manifolds not achieving full boost who have not known they are 20bhp down

AND, my old manky 6yr old battery was replaced with instant performance increase that i didn't realise i didn't have!

JJ

[mozilla]

Tesco 99 used to give me problems - when cold a dead spot when you press the throttle and nothing happens for a couple of seconds. Otherwise I found sainsbury 97 a good compromise. Engine wont blow up or knock on normal 95- the car will feel slow and economy might be down a touch but the anti-knock sensor will keep things safe (if the cars standard that is).

On my route to work whilst taking it easy (but includes at least 1 overtake, full throttle moment) I used to get:

44mpg with V-power and sainsbury 97
40mpg with any 95 and tesco 99

[Problemchild]

Does your trip comp read ok? Mine is always about 8mpg below actual

JJ

[funkydoodycool]

Jeesh. I drive like an old man today, kep revs below 2000 and at 2500 (60mph) on the motorway and still only got 37.1mpg over 12 miles, and I was amazed I'd got anything like that!

But yeah, tesco99 definitely have me same symptom - flat spots, slow to pick up, and low mpg. Like 20mpg.