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MG MGF Technical - Unleaded Vs Super Unleaded


As a habit from my previous cars I've been filling up the MGF with Super Unleaded ... this morning I paid 102p so I'm wondering is there any benefit in using super unleaded.

didn't realy notice the price before as I worked from home and filled the tank once or twice a month, but now its once a week now that I have to commute to the office.
N McNamara

There isn't a performance benefit in using 98RON fuel Neal - the K-series is designed to run on 95RON. Some people claim fractionally better fuel economy with the likes of Shell Optimax, but I personally have never noticed the difference.

In short, not worth the money.
Rob Bell

I'm sure I read sometime ago, and more than once, that the MGF ECU (particularly pre-2000) is not very sophisticated and doesn't adjust for higher octane fuels. If this is true then you seem to have been spending money that would have been better spent on something else.

An ECU guru will probably be along soon and prove me wrong.
John Ponting

On a standard F the only people who will see any benefit in you buying Super Unleaded will be the shareholders of the petrol company!

PA Beet


Haha ... no more super unleaded for me ... it definately gave better perfromance on my previous cars especially the Boxster (MGF is more fun btw! and you don't get the same abuse when driving with the top down) .. but wifey who is a petrochemical expert of sorts claimed it was all in my head and I was just being a poseur for buying the more expensive petrol.

One famous quote was "if Ralph Lauren branded a petrol and charged a 5quid a litre you'd probably drink it aswell"

Cheers, Neal
N McNamara

The main reason higher octane fuel is favoured, or certainly amongst the track-day regulars, is the reduced chance of detonation leading to melted pistons. Agreed there needs to be something wrong with the timing/fuelling for this to be a possibility, but many feel it's worth the extra money for the peace of mind.
Mike Hankin

Used to run pure ethanol in my VF 750 F for drag racing, but normal fuel for street riding, the F just gets the cheap stuff and does OK with it.
Nkosi_Ecosse

Neil, this is a very good topic.!
The recommended fuel as printed on the fuel filler area, for the F's in Australia, is Premium Unleaded as is in the owners manual.
Will I damage my engine if I switch to normal unleaded fuel?

Neil, Sorry to hijack this thread, but who in Australia actually uses normal unleaded fuel without a problem?

Cheers,
Branko
Branko

Branko, The F's over here needed to run on Premium as our standard was a lesser octane rating than avaiable in the U.K.. We now have via some out lets a mid range rating fuel and as long as it is over 95ron we should be ok. I have gone off Optimax and am using the equivilent BP product.
Andrew Regens

While were on the subject of fuel. Has anyone else had the email thats going round to try and combat the escalating fuel prices. (watford btw seems the cheapest for miles) It suggests that if we all stop using the Big two of Shell and BP they will be forced to reduce their prices and as a result all will follow as they tend to dictate the market. I am anyhow!!

Martin
Martin

This mail comes round every year. After telling people why is was total ar*e I found this site:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/gasout.asp

which destorys it in a more step by step manner.
Will Munns

Petrol is dirt cheap as it still costs less than bottled French water (Perrier). In real terms it is very much cheaper than it was in the 70s and 80s.

If your consumption is so high that you are feeling financial pain then either reduce the amount you use (walk occasionally?) or earn more – simple really!

Whatever you do, don’t waste effort whinging about things over which you have no control!
PA Beet

This thread was discussed between 13/09/2005 and 16/09/2005

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