European Octane Ratings
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,312
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From: Ridgeland MS
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
European Octane Ratings
Are there any fuel experts out there? I was recently in Europe and found their octane ratings (posted on the pumps) much higher than what we have here in the US. Premium was usually 100 or 99 and regular was usually 95. (Cost was also much higher but recently since Katrina, we are getting closer.) Do they use the same rating scale as we use here in the US? I ran the premium while others in our group ran the regular. Both seemed to run great. Just wondering.
Thanks
Bill
Thanks
Bill
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15
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Bill,
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
Originally Posted by dollarbill
Are there any fuel experts out there? I was recently in Europe and found their octane ratings (posted on the pumps) much higher than what we have here in the US. Premium was usually 100 or 99 and regular was usually 95. (Cost was also much higher but recently since Katrina, we are getting closer.) Do they use the same rating scale as we use here in the US? I ran the premium while others in our group ran the regular. Both seemed to run great. Just wondering.
Thanks
Bill
Thanks
Bill
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 82
From: Ridgeland MS
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Yes, I hit 173 MPH on a German Autobond and still had a bit of room left on my '05 Z71. The car was stable and performed beyond my expectation. My personal top speed previously was 170 MPH but that was in a race car on a track. The C6 is an awesome car.
Bill
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
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FYI Vette owners in Europe:
Shell has a high performance quality fuel called "V-power" ("Optimax" in the UK). It is usually 99 or 100 octane. But as always quality costs...
This is crosspost from a another forum:
This is an article from the English car mag "Evo" (May 2002 issue) which has tested the fuel on three cars
"Post-Optimax inspection
The inlet valves of the honda were a lot cleaner after 1500 miles on Optimax. There are a few very light deposits but the additives had got rid of most of them. It was the same story with the Jaguar,which had done about 3000 miles on the Shell fuel,with only minor deposits on a couple of valves. There wasn't much point in looking inside the BMW's engine-it couldn't have been cleaner if it had just been built.
Our objective performance tests revealed improvements in all three cars. The Honda showed the most dramatic and conclusive gains, especially in fifth and sixth gears. Pre-Optimax, it had been drinking regular unleaded remember, where the other two had been supping a fair bit of super. Across each of the 20mph increments in fifth, the honda was about a second faster, the best improvementbeing the reduction in the 60-80mph time of 1.19sec,from 7.8 to 6.61. The average incremental improvement in sixth was two thirds of a second: in third and it was more marginal at just 0.25sec or so.
The Jaguar was a little less conclusive, gaining just a couple of tenths over the increments up to 80mph, rising to just under half a second for the 80-100mph stretch. I had expected more , given that subjectively it seemed sharper-responding and smoother running.
The perfomance of Meaden's M-Coupe was improved by a similar margin to the Jaguar. There wasn't much gain in third gear but in fourth it was as much as half a second more rapid over each of the increments. And thats just through the higher octane rating of Optimax-there was no cleaning up to be done.
CONCLUSION
Our tests showed that Optimax does what Shell claims. It cleaned up the dirty valves of the Honda and the Jaguar and improved their measured perfomance. It also made the BMW quicker.
Subjectivley it works too, improving the smoothness, response and driveability of all three cars in opinion of their keepers.These are all modern cars with knock sensors, though;older cars without them may need to have their timing adjusted, as they would if they were to take advantage of any super unleaded fuel.
What is also suggested by our tests is that, just as there is no such thing as a cheap tyre, there is no such thing as cheap fuel. You get what you pay for. With most unbranded(i.e.supermarket) fuels that means fewer additves and the build up of more performance sapping deposits."
/
Shell has a high performance quality fuel called "V-power" ("Optimax" in the UK). It is usually 99 or 100 octane. But as always quality costs...
This is crosspost from a another forum:
This is an article from the English car mag "Evo" (May 2002 issue) which has tested the fuel on three cars
"Post-Optimax inspection
The inlet valves of the honda were a lot cleaner after 1500 miles on Optimax. There are a few very light deposits but the additives had got rid of most of them. It was the same story with the Jaguar,which had done about 3000 miles on the Shell fuel,with only minor deposits on a couple of valves. There wasn't much point in looking inside the BMW's engine-it couldn't have been cleaner if it had just been built.
Our objective performance tests revealed improvements in all three cars. The Honda showed the most dramatic and conclusive gains, especially in fifth and sixth gears. Pre-Optimax, it had been drinking regular unleaded remember, where the other two had been supping a fair bit of super. Across each of the 20mph increments in fifth, the honda was about a second faster, the best improvementbeing the reduction in the 60-80mph time of 1.19sec,from 7.8 to 6.61. The average incremental improvement in sixth was two thirds of a second: in third and it was more marginal at just 0.25sec or so.
The Jaguar was a little less conclusive, gaining just a couple of tenths over the increments up to 80mph, rising to just under half a second for the 80-100mph stretch. I had expected more , given that subjectively it seemed sharper-responding and smoother running.
The perfomance of Meaden's M-Coupe was improved by a similar margin to the Jaguar. There wasn't much gain in third gear but in fourth it was as much as half a second more rapid over each of the increments. And thats just through the higher octane rating of Optimax-there was no cleaning up to be done.
CONCLUSION
Our tests showed that Optimax does what Shell claims. It cleaned up the dirty valves of the Honda and the Jaguar and improved their measured perfomance. It also made the BMW quicker.
Subjectivley it works too, improving the smoothness, response and driveability of all three cars in opinion of their keepers.These are all modern cars with knock sensors, though;older cars without them may need to have their timing adjusted, as they would if they were to take advantage of any super unleaded fuel.
What is also suggested by our tests is that, just as there is no such thing as a cheap tyre, there is no such thing as cheap fuel. You get what you pay for. With most unbranded(i.e.supermarket) fuels that means fewer additves and the build up of more performance sapping deposits."
/
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,039
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From: Stuttgart
Originally Posted by ZR1Post
Bill,
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Steve Germany
That is not correct... (in the old days it may of been). The rating system is different - the rating is two to three octane higher, approx. 93 is the max we can buy without going to the airport. The engines in the the euro models are the same as the US models these days, although in the US the selection is greatly reduced. There are MINIMAL differences between the US and European cars these days. The biggest barrier between the two are the legal concerns - EPA, lighting, and roll over protection. Even bumper height problems have been sorted out.
(There is also a bastard fuel called "96 octane", but the "96" is achieved by blending 95 and 98.)
Advanced
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 61
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From: Ettlingen
US and Europe octane are not the same!!!
In Europe, the Research Octane Number (RON) standard is used, whereas the US uses an average of MON and RON, the Anti-Knock Index (AKI). In comparison, AKI 91 octane in the US is the equivalent of RON 95 octane in Europe.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by Bernd
In Europe, the Research Octane Number (RON) standard is used, whereas the US uses an average of MON and RON, the Anti-Knock Index (AKI). In comparison, AKI 91 octane in the US is the equivalent of RON 95 octane in Europe.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
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Originally Posted by Bernd
In Europe, the Research Octane Number (RON) standard is used, whereas the US uses an average of MON and RON, the Anti-Knock Index (AKI). In comparison, AKI 91 octane in the US is the equivalent of RON 95 octane in Europe.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 13
Originally Posted by Bernd
Ok, I understand.
I just wanted to make it clear that the octane numbers in Europe are different than the US numbers, usually higher.
Our premium 100 octane is 1.55€/L, btw.(Germany)
I just wanted to make it clear that the octane numbers in Europe are different than the US numbers, usually higher.
Our premium 100 octane is 1.55€/L, btw.(Germany)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Originally Posted by ZR1Post
Bill,
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
The octane rating is the same. The Europeans run typcially higher compression engines and utilze the higher octane. Fuel is much more expensive in Europe due to the fact that 72% of the cost, at least in Germany is all tax. It nice though to have the option of purchasing 98 RON unleaded though at any station.
Average thickness of the Autobahn = 27 inches (some sections are 36 inches thick)
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,039
Likes: 0
From: Stuttgart
Originally Posted by LJD51
High taxes on fuel = Premier highways
Average thickness of the Autobahn = 27 inches (some sections are 36 inches thick)
Average thickness of the Autobahn = 27 inches (some sections are 36 inches thick)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Originally Posted by Steve Germany
Snip...
The latest government has extended the speed restrictions all over the country. Even still, this is the best driver's country in the world... The secondary roads are the true fun here - not beat up and there are no traffic police (essentially). Speed cameras do pop up every once in a while but with photo blocker on the inside and outside of a glass plate holder there is little to worry about.
The latest government has extended the speed restrictions all over the country. Even still, this is the best driver's country in the world... The secondary roads are the true fun here - not beat up and there are no traffic police (essentially). Speed cameras do pop up every once in a while but with photo blocker on the inside and outside of a glass plate holder there is little to worry about.
What is this world coming to???I guess the days of driving from Bremerhaven to Heidelberg in 3 hours are gone, huh??
I wish I had Vette when I lived there in the '70s and '80s but my BMW Bavaria got the job done just fine.
Enjoy your tour and thanks for all you do
.
