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But I can still use super unleaded if I want - it won't cause any harm - will it?

It won't do any harm.

So, I will need to fill up within the next month - do I go for BP Ultimate or Shell V Power nitro +

Or something else....

Either, try Tesco Momentum 99, it's cheaper. I'm happy with it.

Sadly, the nearest Tesco PFS is not near to me...!

Sainsburys? Asda?

Camarillo Brillo wrote:So, I will need to fill up within the next month....

So you don't do many miles - I'd go for the highest octane fuel you can get so it's still usable as you get to the bottom of the tank.

talkingcars wrote:

Camarillo Brillo wrote:So, I will need to fill up within the next month....

So you don't do many miles - I'd go for the highest octane fuel you can get so it's still usable as you get to the bottom of the tank.

Thanks - it's a fine weather/weekend car.

What would you recommend as the 'best' for my needs?

I've used BP and Shell and supermarket 'extra' fuels both petrol and diesel (the latter not in Madge, of course!!!!!!) and whilst the stuff comes out of the same relative holes in the ground I'd expect experts explain that relative oil viscosity, air pressure, locality, etc etc etc all make a difference albeit minuscule for engines designed to work worldwide. BUT for a personally owned car my personal pref is to use BP premium (or whatever they now call it) gives ME better pickup, better MPG (which TBH with low miles per annum are/should we be really 'bothered') with the cost differential making it a nil cost comparison... so my suggestion is trial different fuels to find what works 'best' for your car,,,, it'll take a few tankfuls to average out (now that is a reason to go for extended drives!)

Our eldest son delivers fuel for Hoyer, you may see their tankers all over Europe. Their contract is for Esso, BP and Shell.

The premium fuels are all different, they don't all come out of the same pipe at the refinery (Purfleet in Essex).

As far as diesel is concerned he tells me Esso is the clearest.

But, as it's been said, try a few and see what you think.

and unleaded Adrian....?

All look the same when he's loading but they come from seperate tanks, they are not all the same as some may believe.

I use super Shell, two reasons the first the petrol station is only 250 Metres from home and our premium is only 94Ron.

Such an old thread, but something has changed or is changing at the moment, which might change the answer on the initial question.
I haven't checked other countries, but Belgium has introduced (or better switched over to) E10 fuel... so fuel with 10% ethanol. Since January 1st 2017 it is the standard and has replaced every RON95 fuel. If you don't want to fill up with E10, you need to use RON98.
Several sites mention that the K-series (and auxiliaries) isn't suited to use E10, so at least in Belgium you'd better fill up with the more expensive RON98.

ErikB wrote:Such an old thread, but something has changed or is changing at the moment, which might change the answer on the initial question.
I haven't checked other countries, but Belgium has introduced (or better switched over to) E10 fuel... so fuel with 10% ethanol. Since January 1st 2017 it is the standard and has replaced every RON95 fuel. If you don't want to fill up with E10, you need to use RON98.
Several sites mention that the K-series (and auxiliaries) isn't suited to use E10, so at least in Belgium you'd better fill up with the more expensive RON98.

Thankyou for the advice and information Erik

Thanks Erik, that has been the case in France for several years so I stick to "super" when your side of the channel, regardless to country.

I haven't noticed any improvement in running or fuel consumption over the several thousand miles we do every year on the wrong side of the road.

My 1995 MGF has been on an E-10 diet (using RON 93 fuel) since June, 2011, which is when I started driving the F here in Canada. In the past 5+ years and around 44,000 miles, I have noticed no issues with driveability or fuel hose failure due to the K-series engine and it's fuel system being exposed to in excess of 1,000 gallons of E-10 petrol.

Normal 95 octane unleaded (SP95) is still available in France, generally at Supermarket outlets - on the motorway networks it's generally only E-10 95 that's available, so use 'super' SP98

Just be aware that normal unleaded in France (SP95) can contain up to 5% ethanol.

ErikB wrote: Several sites mention that the K-series (and auxiliaries) isn't suited to use E10, so at least in Belgium you'd better fill up with the more expensive RON98.

I'm sorry but that's just wrong.

The RON is a marker of the level of Detonation resistance of the fuel. If E10 is RON 95 then it's perfectly fine.

The idea that E10 fuel causes problems comes from the Classic Car sites - E10 is a 10% Ethanol based fuel. Ethanol in fuels can cause problems with seals in older (carburettored) cars and with reactions to the older aluminium alloy fuel lines or aluminium alloy carburettor float chambers.

98 RON fuel is, guess what, a high Ethanol concentration fuel - that's how you get the high Octane Number these days without using Tetra-Ethyl Lead or Benzine.

I've been using Ethanol enhanced 98 RON in the NOSCAR for the last 10 years with no ill effect.

What sort of mileage are you doing in the NOSCAR?

My personal experience over several thousand miles in Europe, mostly France, using 95RON E10, says that the mk1 MGF does not like such fuel, having completed several similar trips since using 98RON E5 suggests the car is happier with this.

James

Debs wrote:

ErikB wrote: Several sites mention that the K-series (and auxiliaries) isn't suited to use E10, so at least in Belgium you'd better fill up with the more expensive RON98.

I'm sorry but that's just wrong.

....The RON is a marker of the level of Detonation resistance of the fuel. If E10 is RON 95 then it's perfectly fine.

The idea that E10 fuel causes problems comes from the Classic Car sites - E10 is a 10% Ethanol based fuel. Ethanol in fuels can cause problems with seals in older (carburettored) cars and with reactions to the older aluminium alloy fuel lines or aluminium alloy carburettor float chambers.

The advise to use regular 98 instead of the 95 (now all E10 95) is not coming from me, but from websites that should know and checked their stuff. MG, rover, Lotus, Land Rover ... some cross checks make sense.

Debs wrote: 98 RON fuel is, guess what, a high Ethanol concentration fuel - that's how you get the high Octane Number these days without using Tetra-Ethyl Lead or Benzine.

Like any other (except E10) it'll be up to 5% ethanol ... not 10% or more. Just like there is a rule that E10 can contain up to 10% (at least valid in Belgium and probably a good part of Europe).