BP Ultimate

[Mick1988]

Well I bought my VX as a repairable writeoff and slowly fixed it up. It's all been licensed now. When I first drove it after a year of barely being moved it ran perfect. It still felt tightish like a new car and it was very responsive.

After I got it licensed, I put a few tanks of Shell Premium Unleaded in it and it was running like a dream. I never had any issues at all.

Lately since fuel is down I decided to switch to BP Ultimate since it's supposed to clean your system out and the car had spend a year just sitting there. I had done about 1500kms on Shell Premium. Now I've done about 2000kms on BP Ultimate and I'm noticing that sometimes the car shudders for half a second when I start it and today I got a bit of a shudder as though the engine didn't like the fuel I had for about a second at a set of lights.

Now I'm wondering if the car just doesn't like the fuel (maybe she's used to regular) OR if BP is telling the truth and it is cleaning my engine and the occasional shudder is just some crap in the line being dislodged and sent through. The car still drives and feels the same otherwise.

Cheers for your help, and I supposed I should probably tell you my engine is an Ecotec V6.

[danja]

How old are your battery and starter motor? Worn out starters can struggle to turn the engine over.

[STEALTHY™]

I only use Ultimate. Never had the issues you mentioned.


I tried vortex, optimax etc, and none came close to ultimate, so i stick with that for both cars now.

[Vt_vic]

i always use ultimate too the first time i changed fuels there was a bit of a shudder but after ran fine

[v8_stato]

i use ultimate and vortex,u get more k's out or vortex tho.

[Mick1988]

Cheers for the posts, guys. I'm wondering if I should wait until my tank is fairly empty before fuelling up again. I always fuel up when I have 1/4 left but I've probably still got some old fuel sitting in there.

How old are your battery and starter motor? Worn out starters can struggle to turn the engine over.

Battery I'm not really sure. It doesn't look like the original battery but it was with the car when I got it. Starter motor would be the original I assume, 72,000 country K's. Starter motor seems to be fine because it's only when I first start the car. It's not that big a deal, just one out of 10 starts is a little rougher than the rest. Might do plugs on her when I change the oil shortly (still asking for 70,000 service >_>

[sway9]

i only use ulltimate in mine and mines bin tweaked to the teeth. wen i first put ultimate in i only found better throttle response better milage and abit better performance. maybe if you used to use regular your O2 sensor went abit dodge run through another tank n see what happens i say but hey thats me just thought i should give some advise

[doobs]

I sometimes use 98 octane in my VX V6, once every few tanks, or when its cheap.
It definetly gives me better mileage, and slightly better response, but no shuddering, has this only started since the higher octane fuel?

[STEALTHY™]

I sometimes use 98 octane in my VX V6, once every few tanks, or when its cheap.
It definetly gives me better mileage, and slightly better response, but no shuddering, has this only started since the higher octane fuel?

if it gives you better mileage wouldn't it cover the increased cost?

[Cobez]

It would be nice to continue using Ultimate, but NONE OF THE ****ING BP'S FROM FERNTREE GULLY TO GLEN IRIS HAVE 98!!!

Second time in a week and a bit that they have been out of 98. ****ing rediculous.

[doobs]

You would think that... but its only really worth it when I drive longer trips, not around town...

[Mick1988]

i only use ulltimate in mine and mines bin tweaked to the teeth. wen i first put ultimate in i only found better throttle response better milage and abit better performance. maybe if you used to use regular your O2 sensor went abit dodge run through another tank n see what happens i say but hey thats me just thought i should give some advise

Yeah, I might try to get it closer to empty then fill it up and see how she goes.

I sometimes use 98 octane in my VX V6, once every few tanks, or when its cheap.
It definetly gives me better mileage, and slightly better response, but no shuddering, has this only started since the higher octane fuel?

It's not really a shudder but it's hard to explain. It's just not as smooth a start as usual but nothing I'd really be worried about. I've never had it with normal unleaded but I didn't use alot of regular in it to tell. The shudder I've felt in cars other than mine before. My dad's brand new HSV Clubsport did it sometimes at lights too when he had it I was just wondering why it never happend before I used ultimate.. Then again it's only happened to me twice.

[sway9]

u also said its a repairable write off. maybe check through what you changed and post it up we may be able to help more. just a thought mate

[Full Spectrum]

I only use Ultimate both VT and VP... First couple of tanks i had a large kick miss early in driving. Only once like a weird surge then perfect. Been through plenty of tanks now no issues.

[jas98]

It would be nice to continue using Ultimate, but NONE OF THE ****ING BP'S FROM FERNTREE GULLY TO GLEN IRIS HAVE 98!!!

Second time in a week and a bit that they have been out of 98. ****ing rediculous.

yeh most of teh fuel stations around here (Mobil, caltex, united,and another one im not sure on name) don't and haven't had 98 octane in about 2 weeks now....WTF! lol

[DARK SIDE]

Think a tanker got delayed or something, probably why high octane 98 is out at a few places round the country. I normally use vortex 95 and get about 15L per 100. But when I have used normal bp fuel 91 I get like 11L per hundred. I proffer the higher octane fuel but I don’t think the mileage is that great with the higher octane well at least not the vortex anyway. How many L per hundred you normally get with the ultimate?

Cheers

[greenfoam]

I've had idling problems with Ultimate before, it comes and goes sometimes there's just dodgy batches, last time I used it, it was fine. But a year or so ago the car was very shakey on it, only to be magically cured 10 seconds (fuel lines worth) after a stop at the local Caltex for some cheap fuel : ). I've never run a PB time at the track on Ultimate, ever........ so it's a bit overrated, unless you have a very high compression engine I wouldn't think it's any good for anything

[minux]

I've had idling problems with Ultimate before, it comes and goes sometimes there's just dodgy batches, last time I used it, it was fine. But a year or so ago the car was very shakey on it, only to be magically cured 10 seconds (fuel lines worth) after a stop at the local Caltex for some cheap fuel : ). I've never run a PB time at the track on Ultimate, ever........ so it's a bit overrated, unless you have a very high compression engine I wouldn't think it's any good for anything

Funny you say that, I only ever used Ultimate, that was until it seemed very inconsistent in my car, would run really well one batch and be dead the next. After a few changes were made to V-Power(Optimax) I decided to switch over to shell, haven't changed since and car is running well. Unfortunately, i cant run cheap stuff, my car carries on like a ho with aids.

[greenfoam]

Yeah I dunno, I just think if you have a stock 5 litre and it struggles to idle on a fuel, yet comes perfect by the time you enter the road when putting a different brand in and does that consistantly for weeks you really have to wonder well you don't have to wonder because you allready proved it. I've been taking notice and quite a few people have had the same issues with it from time to time.

Luke's done quite a bit of testing with his car on the original motor and could get alot more timing out of some fuels than others so hes the best one to ask about whats the best fuel when you actually need a good high octane fuel as there was a big difference between them

[Mick1988]

u also said its a repairable write off. maybe check through what you changed and post it up we may be able to help more. just a thought mate

All I had to change under the bonnet was the plenum box cooler header tank and air intake snorkel.

Funny how the general consensus is BP Ultimate is a bit dodgy some tanks and great the next, because that's what I've noticed. Some tanks I have no issue. This last one I've had for 2 weeks or so now is the one that has been the worst. I've had others that were slightly dodgy.

I honestly think my car was running better when I was using Shell Premium Unleaded (95 Octane). I'm doing my oil, filter and plugs this weekend and I think I'm just gonna use this tank of Ultimate first and give her a tank of Shell Premium and see if my problems go away.

[sway9]

also look at the other electrics. i know its expensive but whenever i change my plugs i change my leads and this time round im changin my coil packs. u said it shuddered maybe it could be a slight misfire or the ignition box cud of taken a hit or ur coil packs or sumthing. best probly find a mechanic that can do a tech 2 and find if anything is wrong. its alot of money i no but its worht it in the end.


the only other thing i can think of is your oil maybe too thick or thin so try something common. i found most commodore drivers use 10w40w oil just a few thoughts mate.


Happy Driving

[fitz_vt]

so how much extra does bp ultimate give you, for example i get 550km out of a tank, would it increase? and by how much do you think??

[Full Spectrum]

My old car gets 450km before on vortex about 420. 91oct about 380-390km.. With the VT i have only ran ultimate.. Get about 420km in 55 litre then fill up.


A study of sometype was done - Seen this years ago.. The only true 98 octane fuel in this test was BP ultimate. Across the many stations they tested some like vortex 98 gold was 96-97 oct

[VR38]

After I got it licensed, I put a few tanks of Shell Premium Unleaded in it and it was running like a dream. I never had any issues at all.

Lately since fuel is down I decided to switch to BP Ultimate since it's supposed to clean your system out and the car had spend a year just sitting there. I had done about 1500kms on Shell Premium. .......

Now I'm wondering if the car just doesn't like the fuel (maybe she's used to regular) OR if BP is telling the truth and it is cleaning my engine and the occasional shudder is just some crap in the line being dislodged and sent through. The car still drives and feels the same otherwise.

Haha, don't know about WA but here in NSW all the tankers for those two come out of the same refinery.

[fitz_vt]

alrighty i might try BP Ultimate next time i fill up
will post results