Volkswagen Drops to 95RON Petrol

[pangy]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/38849/new-volkswagen-engines-revised-for-95-ron-unleaded/

...for most models anyhow.

[team_v]

Hmmm, it could be okay but i wouldn't trust it.
There have been many problems with pinging and other engine faults when people have used lower RON fuels.

Plus, they are apparently phasing out regular unleaded by the end of 2012 so the lowest you could go would be 95RON.
Most people who have a decent car will put premium in it as it runs more efficiently and provides more "power" to the car.

[POLARBEAR666]

Higher octane fuel is also denser (weighs more) and so produces more power due to increased energy per cm2 of fuel. This is in addition to allowing more timing in the engine because of the higher octane preventing detonation.

The two things combined increase range by allowing more efficient use of each cm2 of fuel due to longer strokes, and each unit of fuel producing more power.

[gerhard]

If you are concerned about using 98 fuel, stay away from cars that need it.

If you buy a car that needs it, don't agonise every day about the extra cost, it's too late.

Current VWs specced for 98 can all adapt to 95 anyway, and are OK on it unless you want to race..

[Grover]

The reality is that if you go with 95 RON fuel, your car will not perform to specs. It might save you a few pennies but in the long run it will lessen the user experience.

On a slightly different note... I do wish that Octane ratings for fuel in this country were set at (RON+MON)/2 rather than the focus on RON. The way it is presented in OZ is not a good indicator of Octane. I wish we had the same system as the USA. We would probably have higher quality fuel as a result.

[pologti18t]

There is a move by governments here to E10 unleaded as the base fuel. RON will have to be at least 91.

Higher octane fuel is also denser (weighs more) and so produces more power due to increased energy per cm2 of fuel.

This is untrue. Only some 98-100RON fuels have this attribute.
95RON Premium fuels don't seem to promoted with this attribute.

[gerhard]

There is a move by governments here to E10 unleaded as the base fuel. RON will have to be at least 91.



This is untrue. Only some 98-100RON fuels have this attribute.
95RON Premium fuels don't seem to promoted with this attribute.

Perfect reasons to only use 98, no matter that the cars will run on 95, which in many cases is already E10 and in all other cases is E2 or E3, just as 91 is. The base 91 without ethanol was frequently rumoured to be as bad as 88.

I reckon if 98 fuel price is worrying you, you'd have to be travelling high distances - maybe over 25,000k a year?. In that case, ya shoulda bought a diesel instead .....and got 5l/100 rather than 9l/100.

[pangy]

Perfect reasons to only use 98, no matter that the cars will run on 95, which in many cases is already E10 and in all other cases is E2 or E3, just as 91 is. The base 91 without ethanol was frequently rumoured to be as bad as 88.

I reckon if 98 fuel price is worrying you, you'd have to be travelling high distances - maybe over 25,000k a year?. In that case, ya shoulda bought a diesel instead .....and got 5l/100 rather than 9l/100.

If a Koenigsegg CCXR can run on E85 or E100 why couldn't a Golf Gti, or why couldn't it run on 91RON fuel? Why didn't VW tell everyone earlier about the fuel compatibility? Maybe its in the same basket as Aircon recalls.

[gerhard]

If a Koenigsegg CCXR can run on E85 or E100 why couldn't a Golf Gti, or why couldn't it run on 91RON fuel? Why didn't VW tell everyone earlier about the fuel compatibility? Maybe its in the same basket as Aircon recalls.

That's a stupid comment, - why can't a GTI run on E100? Because in one way it's like 99% of all cars on the road, which also can't run on E100 or E85.

VW has made no secret that the cars need 98, because they have been designed for 98. If they had been designed for 91, then the super high pressure direct fuel injection would have to be tossed out in favour of the far less fuel efficient versions that can use 91 rubbish.

The Koenigsegg has no choice but to design the only car they make on E85, to help them meet their carbon quota - hardly a problem confronting VW, which is the leading manufacturer in the move to small engines with high efficiency.

If you can't afford to run a VW that needs 98, you can always buy the diesel, or stick with Toymota.

[graeme86]

If you run an FSI on 95RON it does not go into stratified mode, so you are negating the benefits of that technology straight away.

The R32's sold in Australia can run on 91RON due to slightly lower compression compared to Euro spec...as if anyone would put that stuff in their car.

[pangy]

That's a stupid comment, - why can't a GTI run on E100? Because in one way it's like 99% of all cars on the road, which also can't run on E100 or E85.

VW has made no secret that the cars need 98, because they have been designed for 98. If they had been designed for 91, then the super high pressure direct fuel injection would have to be tossed out in favour of the far less fuel efficient versions that can use 91 rubbish.

The Koenigsegg has no choice but to design the only car they make on E85, to help them meet their carbon quota - hardly a problem confronting VW, which is the leading manufacturer in the move to small engines with high efficiency.

If you can't afford to run a VW that needs 98, you can always buy the diesel, or stick with Toymota.

I can't afford $1+ for anything (even bottled water)!

The engine in a Golf Gti exists in one form or another in dozens of cars worldwide. I'd be surprised if they didn't already know that in at least some (most) models 98 RON was unnecessary.