We have a 2010 RCZ that was bought for Mrs _randomandy_ that has the 1.6 petrol engine. Mrs _randomandy_ has joined an RCZ owners group on Facebook and there are many people commenting that running them on standard unleaded kills the engines and that they should be run on super unleaded.
Is there any merit to that argument or should regular unleaded be fine if it is serviced regularly?
-Andy.
Regular or super unleaded?
-
CitroJim
- A very naughty boy
- Posts: 54897
- Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
- x 8263
Re: Regular or super unleaded?
What does the vehicle handbook recommend? I'd expect it to state that Standard 95 is satisfactory.
It's hard to see, objectively, how standard 95 E10 can 'kill' a modern engine in a modern car. Even if detonation does set in under some driving conditions then the engine ECU should retard the ignition timing to prevent damage. Morden engine management systems are very good at adjusting to suit prevailing conditions.
Facebook User Groups are, in my experience, not the most factually accurate and contain a lot of personal/popular opinion and heresay that's often not backed up by rock solid fact.
This view may be based on the fact that using Super 98 may allow the ignition timing to advance a little under certain engine running conditions and releasing a little more power/torque than might be seen when running Standard 95.
As for killing the engine, no...
It's hard to see, objectively, how standard 95 E10 can 'kill' a modern engine in a modern car. Even if detonation does set in under some driving conditions then the engine ECU should retard the ignition timing to prevent damage. Morden engine management systems are very good at adjusting to suit prevailing conditions.
Facebook User Groups are, in my experience, not the most factually accurate and contain a lot of personal/popular opinion and heresay that's often not backed up by rock solid fact.
This view may be based on the fact that using Super 98 may allow the ignition timing to advance a little under certain engine running conditions and releasing a little more power/torque than might be seen when running Standard 95.
As for killing the engine, no...
Jim
A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
-
xantia_v6
- Forum Admin Team
- Posts: 10902
- Joined: 09 Nov 2005, 22:03
- x 1438
Re: Regular or super unleaded?
The THP engines are temperamental. We live on a hill on the edge of a plain, and when running 95 octane* the engine would often have a fit of loud audible knocking, accompanied by knock and super-knock error codes while ascending the hill.
We now only fill the car with 100 octane and do not get any knocking.
I don't recall seeing any reports of engine damage that would be attributable to low octane fuel, most failures are due to carbon in the intake ports or failure of ancillary components.
* 95 octane is actually super grade here in NZ, regular is 91 octane. 98 or 100 is only available at about 5% of petrol retailers
We now only fill the car with 100 octane and do not get any knocking.
I don't recall seeing any reports of engine damage that would be attributable to low octane fuel, most failures are due to carbon in the intake ports or failure of ancillary components.
* 95 octane is actually super grade here in NZ, regular is 91 octane. 98 or 100 is only available at about 5% of petrol retailers
-
randomandy
- (Donor 2023)
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 26 Apr 2017, 14:51
- x 2
Re: Regular or super unleaded?
The owners manual helpfully just says "Unleaded" but doesn't appear to be any more specific than that!
As most of the fuel is used on work travel and expensed at 45p per mile then it is going to more than pay for itself if it is filled with the super unleaded.
-Andy.
As most of the fuel is used on work travel and expensed at 45p per mile then it is going to more than pay for itself if it is filled with the super unleaded.
-Andy.
-
Onlinemyglaren
- Forum Admin Team
- Posts: 28614
- Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
- x 5634
Re: Regular or super unleaded?
45p seems a bit stingy. I was getting £1 a mile in 1991.