98 down to 96

[kornstar]

with the recent price of 98 almost up to $1.60 im probly going to go down to 96 to save a bit of cash, now this should be alrite for the car although not ideal right?

just wait until empty and reset ecu buy disconecting batery terminals?

Cheers.

[KiwiTT]

I am sticking to my 98. The difference of a few cents is minmal. Probably $2-3 a tankful. One less coffee a week (not really worth it.)

[bradc]

I like my 98 too, I figure it will help a little when I get it on a dyno

[jaimz]

This is quite an important topic isn't it...? In lieu of petrol prices?
I mean, running too lean because of crappy octane can be quite dangerous can't it?
A mate of mine blew up his R33 GTR because (he said) it was tuned to run 100 octane in Japan, and our 98 just didn't cut it...

I 've been running mine on 96 too because of the price, and the fact that my neigbourhood is surrounded by Shell stations (they don't do 98). I have used both but never really noticed the difference... :embarasse

What's the general consensus..?

[i3ooyah]

round work they only do 98 and round home they only do 98 so i use 98 :P

+ i have to since my car is tuned for it

[maori_by_nature]

well i'm broke so i'm fill'n mine with 91 which is still good enough 2 keep up with a R34 godzilla on the moterway yesterday...

[zentac]

if the car is untuned then you should be ok on 96, but as soon as you start upping the boost I wouldnt run on anything other than 98.

[Pescha]

Well in the last 2 years I have put 98 into my VR4 about 5 times. I run 96 but I wouldn't put 91 into her as the worst senario that could happen would be a melted piston, and I don't want to go there!

Pescha!

[bradc]

m_b_n, as Pescha said you probably shouldn't run 91 at all on these cars. I'd run 96 as a minimum, or even consider running half/half 91 and 96.

[Spirit]

Also be aware that if you run a lower grade the ECU will try and protect the engine and will reduce power......estimates are around 60-70bhp. Over here we have 98/97ron and 95 ron. I would only use 95 ron in an emergency (i.e. no 97/98 available), but would refill with 98 asap and of course reset the ECU.

97/98 ron is currently over $2.50 a litre in the UK :embarasse

[SGHOM]

if you run a lower grade the ECU will try and protect the engine and will reduce power......estimates are around 60-70bhp.

mmm ?? /Hmmm not convinced by that ?
12.55 at the pod in june......... beating my previous best by 3 tenths + ....... on Tesco's 95 ron, & no cool blue ! /yes

[Kieran]

Interesting point by Derek......

Ariadne gave me another clue as to why she is somewhat more sprightly than a standard VR-4 without any apparent mods tonight....

Inside my fuel flap is the sticker pictured. As far as I can tell, it's regarding the grade of fuel to use. However.... Note that my sticker has the '100' mark crossed out in biro, and there's some handwritten Kanji on the bottom of the sticker. Is it possible that some of these cars are re-mapped in Japan, so some will run happily on lower octane fuel with no decrease in performance? :inquisiti

[dickytim]

there is a third option, I run mine on gull 96 which is almost as good as 98, it runs fine, alot of the motor sport guys run gull 96 and it seems better than regular 96.

91 should never be run in our cars, or any turbo or high performance car really.

the GTR would only have blown the engine because of using 98 fuel if it was modified from standard, most likely running more boost.

[bradc]

Kieran, I'll get someone to translate that stuff for you on monday, I'm interested to see what it means.

[Kieran]

Kieran, I'll get someone to translate that stuff for you on monday, I'm interested to see what it means.

Thankyou! :2thumbsup

[jaimz]

91...? Jeeez :undecided I'd be really careful about running mine on that!

I think that any label inside the filler cap is a pretty good indication of what the car is 'expecting'. Of course, it'll be in japanese, but nothing the interweb can't fix I guess.
I can read katakana, which is used to write english words phonetically in japanese. The label inside my filler cap says "hai oku", which I took to mean "high octane", so 91's right out I reckon!

There seems to be a pretty strong feeling that the ecu should be reset. Shouldn't the car adapt even if you don't reset..? Are there any particular advantages in doing so (it means I'll lose all my preset radio stations!! ;-))

[maori_by_nature]

yeah i no i shouldnt but with the amount of things gone wrong over the past couple of months i have 2 try source the money from somewhere plus the car is under warrenty, theres no sticker say'n wat fule u should use (even though i do no) so if sum thin dose go wrong i'll just play dumb.... and if any1 noes a good (CHEEP!!!) panel better give me a yell....

[jaimz]

Good on you getting a warranty brother. Very smart :smug:

By the way, did you buy your VR-4 from Drivetown in Panmure..? I saw your Avatar picture, and I think the publicity shot for my car was taken in EXACTLY the same place!

[bluey]

I like my 98 too, I figure it will help a little when I get it on a dyno


hehehe - av gas in kumeu, 110 octane - WAHOO!!!! On the left entering Kumeu. Probably need to take out a second mortgage to fill the car!!!!

[maori_by_nature]

Good on you getting a warranty brother. Very smart :smug:

By the way, did you buy your VR-4 from Drivetown in Panmure..? I saw your Avatar picture, and I think the publicity shot for my car was taken in EXACTLY the same place!
i got mine from greenwell motergroup in Panmure, Drivetown i think might b next store my avatar was done in lloyd elsmore accross from the hockey grounds ref: members pix and u'll c it in the background....

[dreamer]

There seems to be a pretty strong feeling that the ecu should be reset. Shouldn't the car adapt even if you don't reset..? Are there any particular advantages in doing so (it means I'll lose all my preset radio stations!! ;-))

I've got the same thought, I always run mine on 98 even though I drive 200 -300kms daily. When i bought the car, the caryard used 96 as all the petrol stations near their yard only have 96. Will resetting the ECU help me now that I've done 6000Kms? I don't want to loose my Radio stations! It's lazy I know.

[dickytim]

hehehe - av gas in kumeu, 110 octane - WAHOO!!!! On the left entering Kumeu. Probably need to take out a second mortgage to fill the car!!!!

1, avgas will clog up your cat

2, avgas will feck your 02 sensor

3, it is highly illegal

4, the amount if lead in avgas is amazing

5, I can get it for about $1.20 a litre, we use it for the drag cars and on the farm hacks due to being so much cheaper that pump gas.

BTW good avgas is closer to 116 octane.

It loses its rating when it has been sitting for a while, the stuff you get from ardmore is always fresh so higher rated.

basically there is 4 really good reasons not to use it.

[bradc]

Kieran, the circle to the right of the 100 is 'red'

the hand written characters are something about a preferred company and a location. It definately has nothing to do with your car being modified to run on something different to 100.

[Pescha]

1, avgas will clog up your cat

2, avgas will feck your 02 sensor

3, it is highly illegal

4, the amount if lead in avgas is amazing

5, I can get it for about $1.20 a litre, we use it for the drag cars and on the farm hacks due to being so much cheaper that pump gas.

BTW good avgas is closer to 116 octane.

It loses its rating when it has been sitting for a while, the stuff you get from ardmore is always fresh so higher rated.

basically there is 4 really good reasons not to use it.

I can get avgas for a $1 a litre directly from an airport (I wont say which one) it's not what you know it's who you know lol.... And I agree with you Richard, it's not good for our VR4's but brilliant for Terry's (hubby's) 1972 R/T Charger lol....

Pescha!

[bradc]

so if one were to remove the cat, how long would the car last for if one was to run on say 50/50 avgas and normal petrol?

[dickytim]

you still have the o2 sensor which you will feck badly, they are not cheap to replace either.

Pescha, we probably sorce it from the same place, we borrow a pilots fuel card, it is a lot higher than $1-00 lately.

[jaimz]

Hey guys,
Looks like 96 will soon be 95 anyway!! /yes

http://www.consumer.org.nz/newsitem.asp?docid=2358&category=News

[kornstar]

hmm my 88 toyota diesel may be up for a new fuel pump then...

[AllBeItMine]

Remember guys that your Fuel economy will be better with higher octane fuel so although the price per litre of 98 is more, it balances out because a litre of 98 will get you further than a litre of 96.

just sayin...

[bluey]

1, avgas will clog up your cat

2, avgas will feck your 02 sensor

3, it is highly illegal

4, the amount if lead in avgas is amazing

5, I can get it for about $1.20 a litre, we use it for the drag cars and on the farm hacks due to being so much cheaper that pump gas.

BTW good avgas is closer to 116 octane.

It loses its rating when it has been sitting for a while, the stuff you get from ardmore is always fresh so higher rated.

basically there is 4 really good reasons not to use it.

shet just joking - i'd never use the stuff

[dickytim]

Bluey, I wasn't having a crack at you, just stating some facts about Avgas :)

[maori_by_nature]

ok now i have taken every1's advise and stoped filling with 91 and gone bak 2 96.... question do i have 2 reset the ECU? i didnt in the first place so would i now....?

[KiwiTT]

Yes reset the ECU.

[jaimz]

Sorry for my ignorance KiwiTT... :embarasse

Is resetting the ECU really necessary? Shouldn't it learn on its own?
What are the dangers of not doing so..?

I ask becasue I've flicked between 96 and 98 pretty much at random, and have never reset the ECU. Never noticed any change to the feel of the car...

[KiwiTT]

The Car is designed to run on 100 octane. If it does not get the right octane it goes into safe mode with the consequent significant loss of power.

The difference between 96 and 98 is probably too small for the ECU to notice, however from 91 to 96/98 is much larger and it should be done.

[jaimz]

Cool,
So as long as you don't jolt the car into safe mode, it copes by itself.

Thanks dude.

[bradc]

I always run my car on 98 octane, and if I filled up with a tank of 96 once then I would definately reset it. I doubt it matters much though.