[cichlid]

Whats the big deal?

When I picked up my 929 the first thing the dealer told me was "Dont run it on Optimax".

I have been using Mobil & BP 98 octane fuel and had no problems. I just dont understand how Optimax 98 octane fuel can be so different

I can understand in a carburettor n/a engine the jet sizes, spark plugs, air/fuel mixtures, ignition timing etc.. may all have to be changed or adjusted to compensate the higher octane.

My understanding is the computer management in fuel injected engines will adjust timing etc to match the fuel it has been given.

Does anyone have some proven advice or experiences with Shell Optimax ??

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by cichlid

Whats the big deal?

When I picked up my 929 the first thing the dealer told me was "Dont run it on Optimax".

I have been using Mobil & BP 98 octane fuel and had no problems. I just dont understand how Optimax 98 octane fuel can be so different

I can understand in a carburettor n/a engine the jet sizes, spark plugs, air/fuel mixtures, ignition timing etc.. may all have to be changed or adjusted to compensate the higher octane.

My understanding is the computer management in fuel injected engines will adjust timing etc to match the fuel it has been given.

Does anyone have some proven advice or experiences with Shell Optimax ??

I've used it occasionally without ill effect. But one mechanic at the local Honda dealership says they have quite a few bikes come in with fouled plugs as a result of using one of the high density 98 octane fuels rather than just ordinary PULP. The fuels he advise against using are Optimax, BP Ulimate, Vortex etc. I usually use Mobil PULP.

[Will]

As I understand it optimax is primarily developed for high performance car engines and that with a different compression ratio of the bike this can foul thing up, but yea always been told not to run it, run mobil or BP seems to go great.

[Athens954]

That sounds like the same fuel we have here. Only it's called V-Power and V-Power Racing.
V-Power

I've been using V-Power for around two years and have had no problems. Although, I tend to find lower octain fuels make the bike respond better(?) eg. If I fill up with plain BP Unleaded but it could be just my imagination.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by Athens954

Although, I tend to find lower octain fuels make the bike respond better(?) eg. If I fill up with plain BP Unleaded but it could be just my imagination.

I think what ull find is when running on low octane fuels ur bike loses a bit off the top end, hence making it feel like you have more down low.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by cichlid

When I picked up my 929 the first thing the dealer told me was "Dont run it on Optimax".

I can understand in a carburettor n/a engine the jet sizes, spark plugs, air/fuel mixtures, ignition timing etc.. may all have to be changed or adjusted to compensate the higher octane.

My understanding is the computer management in fuel injected engines will adjust timing etc to match the fuel it has been given.

Does anyone have some proven advice or experiences with Shell Optimax ??

There may have been a couple of reasons for poo-poo'ing optimax. The first being the density. I know from experience my bike coughs and splutters down low when it has optimax in it. Runs great once im pulling a few revs tho. Its too dense for our applications.

The other reason may be the nature of our engines, and oils that we use. Optimax is very very high in detergents that are designed to help keep a motor clean. What this can also do to very thin oils, such as hi-po bike oil, is actually wash it off the bore, big and small ends etc which can lead to premature wearing of your motor. I know, also from experience, that 2 stroke + good, fully synthetic oil eg. castrol TTS + optimax = 10000 ks between rebuilds/seizures (which ever comes first )

That might be why.

[gman80]

Originally Posted by cichlid

Whats the big deal?

When I picked up my 929 the first thing the dealer told me was "Dont run it on Optimax".

I have been using Mobil & BP 98 octane fuel and had no problems. I just dont understand how Optimax 98 octane fuel can be so different

I can understand in a carburettor n/a engine the jet sizes, spark plugs, air/fuel mixtures, ignition timing etc.. may all have to be changed or adjusted to compensate the higher octane.

My understanding is the computer management in fuel injected engines will adjust timing etc to match the fuel it has been given.

Does anyone have some proven advice or experiences with Shell Optimax ??

all i know is they're more suited for cars.

[matt232]

I was told go for BP then Mobil premium unleaded but NEVER EVER Shell!

Just waiting for one of the supermarkets to start doing 4 cents per litre off at BP or Mobil. Cost me 118cents per litre to fill up on Saturday night, insanity, thats almosts as expensive as bottle water!!!!!!!

[sp1]

Good thing I don't own a V8.

[The Sook]

Yep, I have a mate who's mate works at Shell, and he said don't use it in bikes, so I'll take that as gospel. BUT I ran it in my 76 Charger last week and it seems to run alot better.

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by matt232

I was told go for BP then Mobil premium unleaded but NEVER EVER Shell!

But most of these brands produce an ordinary PULP and a high-density PULP. For example BP make something called Premium Unleaded and something called Ultimate 98. As far as I understand the first is OK in bikes, the second isn't. Mobil are the same. Their high density version is called Mobil 8000 or something. Same deal.

[sp1]

Been using ultimate 98 for ages never had any problems, whats it suppose to do?

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by sp1

Been using ultimate 98 for ages never had any problems, whats it suppose to do?

Well its supposed to have the same evil effect as Optimax although I'm not sure what that is either.

[ratter]

I was out riding with a group yeatser and a husband and wife both had new Ducati's and the dealer told them never to use optimax

I wonder how shell feels about these recommendations

[ratter]

Originally Posted by sp1

Good thing I don't own a V8.

I have a 460 bigblock that runs a holley 1050 dominator and a 3800 stally, I doesn't come out much anymore, i can't afford to feed it

[matt232]

Originally Posted by RPinOZ

But most of these brands produce an ordinary PULP and a high-density PULP. For example BP make something called Premium Unleaded and something called Ultimate 98. As far as I understand the first is OK in bikes, the second isn't. Mobil are the same. Their high density version is called Mobil 8000 or something. Same deal.

Those where to two fuels the Ultimate 98 and Monil 8000 were the recommended ones by my Dealer. All but two tanks have been BP, the second tank was some no name brand and the lastest one was Mobil 8000 and the bike is running a treat.

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by ratter

I have a 460 bigblock that runs a holley 1050 dominator and a 3800 stally, I doesn't come out much anymore, i can't afford to feed it

What have you got that in Ratter? an XB coupe perhaps?? Im intrigued aswell as being a bike mad frootcake, I also love 4 wheels

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by ratter

I was out riding with a group yeatser.....

Oh BTW....where was our invite??

[Cowboy1600]

Man, 2 post in a row....Im learning Hey...this makes 3!!!

[The Sook]

Mobil Synergy is FINE. It isnot a HIGH DENSITY fuel, and neither is the BP Ultimate. ONLY optimax is. The others are supposed to be just high octane. As for how shell feel, like I said, someone I know had been told by a guy AT Shell not touse it. I think they'd rather you NOT use it than deal with complaints about nbikes fouling and running hot etc. That's what I noticed, that my bike ran about 5deg hotter with Optimax, but like I said, my Charger runs great on it.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

What have you got that in Ratter? an XB coupe perhaps?? Im intrigued aswell as being a bike mad frootcake, I also love 4 wheels

It's in a 1970 ZC Fairlane, I had it featured in a few mags a while back and picked up up couple of trophies at a few local car shows

[ratter]

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

Oh BTW....where was our invite??

sorry, it was organised last thing sunday morning

[old1]

When I bought my 98 Blade second hand I ran Optimax. One day it starts up on 3 cylinders nothing cleared it so had to take car to work.

Rang mate at Honda dealer to have him bring home a set of plugs and explained what happened.

He asked what fuel, I tell and he says stay away from Optimax.

Been using other brands of PULP since, bike runs like a dream ( no plugs replaced )

[Jungleboy]

Yeah I have also been told to stay away from optimax, by many people, although I have used it on the odd occasion when a shell was the only service station available with no adverse effects! (just a tank here and there) So when I was at Sydney Dyno I asked Dave Holdsworth(sp) What he thought about it? and he said that shell have changed their formulation since it was first introduced and now doesnt seem to cause the problems it did at first and said it is fine to use now, it is a bit denser and for optimmum performance if you are going to use it all the time you should have your bike tuned on this if thats what you intend to run! Anyway not saying one way or the other just another opinion!

[Baketech]

Originally Posted by ratter

It's in a 1970 ZC Fairlane, I had it featured in a few mags a while back and picked up up couple of trophies at a few local car shows

Nice....

[Cowboy1600]

Originally Posted by ratter

It's in a 1970 ZC Fairlane, I had it featured in a few mags a while back and picked up up couple of trophies at a few local car shows

Very noice....I was playing the game of averages by guessing it was an XB

Glad to see your flying the blue oval badge

[sp1]

Can it juggle the tennis balls?
looks nice

[SouLJahz]

Hi guys,

Been reading quite a bit before i decided to post my first couple of posts.

U should only not run optimax on carbie engines, since it WILL foul your plugs. For FI it should be fine. only difference i can tell between optimax and mobil 8000 is that the bike tends to warm up faster, which i dont think is a bad thing.
Optimax was made for Fuel Injected engines