Octane Ratings from around the world

[brendonm]

The octane rating is a measure of a fuel's resistance to knocking. Knock, also known as `pinking', occurs during combustion when the fuel-air mixture explodes ahead of the flame front rather than burning smoothly, causing a knocking noise.

Using a method established in 1929, petrol is rated on a scale of 0 - 100, and given a research octane number (RON).

In the 1920's petrol has an octane rating of around 50 to 60.

Here in New Zealand our two most common fuel types are both unleaded with RON's (Octance Ratings) of either 91 or 96. Now we are seeing 98 come into the country and many of us (car enthusiasts) are preffering to use it for a number reasons. I prefer it most probably due to a psychological belief that it is bigger so it must be better. I believe that it has better pickup.

My question is to those outside of NZ (although Kiwi's are invited to discuss our fuel types further)

What RON ratings are used to seeing at your local service station?
What do you use?
Why?

[TINDUCK RACING]

Hi bren....
.....here in the UK we have LRP(lead replacement petrol- the substitute for leaded fuel), super unleaded(95RON) and super plus unleaded(97RON).......and we are just seeing the new Shell Optimax(98RON).

LRP is only for older vehicles without hardened valve seats, but it is generally considered to be a pile of shit.

Super unleaded is the standard fuel for most cars.

Super Plus is more expensive, and used for high performance engines....it's not available everywhere, but I've always used it in my vehicles.

Optimax, which I gather you have down there, is pretty new around these parts, and is being plugged relentlessly on TV. Shell has had a bit of a bad name over here lately, with problems resulting in engine and fuel line rebuilds, but this seems to be down to the delivery method used by the road tankers causing an ingress of moisture into the fuel, rather than the fuel itself.

I've always used Esso 97RON, but have filled up this week with the new Optimax to give it a try.......and it actually seems to make a difference....time will tell.

take care,

Jon.


COME BACK SDU !!!!!!

[Matt_HR30]

Here in Aus we have.....

LRP (not sure of RON rating, guessin bout 95)

Regular Unleaded (91RON)

Premium Unleaded (96RON)

And the 98RON Unleaded Fuels, which I think might be phasing out Premium Unleaded, although not all stations have them. These ones include: Shell Optimax
Mobile Synergy
BP Ultimate

[NEEDGTR34]

In the USA...
We got....
87 Regular
89 Plus
93 Premium...

Now, Sunoco is the only one that offers a 94...

But now, here comes the quality of the gas.
Amoco's Premium is about equivelant to Sunoco's 94.
There was a test given to the these gas stations and they simply poured it in a glass and checked for foreign materials, substances, clearness.

TEST OUTCOME: On a scale 1 to 10. 1 being very poor and 10 being very good.

AMOCO: 9.5
SUNOCO: 7.0

PS..All the above gas numbers mention above are Lead-Free.

[brendonm]

Wow,
I am suprised to see the fuel in NJ is ranges from 87 up to 94.

Does anybody know why the octance rating is set as low?
Is it the same measurement?
Is NJ short for New Jersey?

[moondog]

Different countries may report a fuel's octane differently; some display the RON (research octane number), some display the MON (I think - buggered if I can remember what it stands for) and sometimes the average of those two. That said, I think the US use the RON, same as we do.

[NEEDGTR34]

Is NJ short for New Jersey?

NJ is for New Jersey...

The ONLY gas I would advise a fellow driver would be Amoco Ulitmate 93. By far it's the most cleanest and efficient gas out of all of them.
Car has great power, and none of that BS...

By far that gas is the BEST...
Sunoco would come in second...

The rest, well....:bathroom:

[Matt_HR30]

So the use of Octane Boosters is high over in the states?

[NEEDGTR34]

Not really...

Octane boosters are here but people dont' see to take advantage of them. Most of the time if you use it make sure the car will be in good condition. I myself have used them on a few occasions and can say that you get what you pay for...

However, I do suggest to USE GOOD grade gas, over an octane booster.
They seem to cause some problems for people with lower-end cars.

Pete

[R33]

Hi everyone, in Malaysia we have leaded petrol at 92 RON and unleaded petrol at 97 RON. We also have Shell V-Power which was developed by them using their F1 technology - apprently it was tested by Schui in a Ferrari F1 car and he found not much of a different compared to racing fuel! The V- Power is quoted at " at least 97 RON" and is more expensive than normal fuel. On my car, the engine is a bit rougher on V Power but consumption becomes less! In addition, ESSO has recently introduced their F1 Synergy fuel which is also quoted at "at least 97 RON". This is what I am using right now. The car runs very smooth and response is great. But funny enough, consumption is more!

[Gonthrax]

Here in kentucky we have the same 3 octane ratings as in NJ, also, one quick stop here in Bowling Green has a 98 RON pump that you have to go inside and get a key for but thats the highest RON pumpgas i've seen around here.

[NiteskyR]

another 2p worth

RB series of engines are designed to run on 100 RON
any less and u lose power. OPTIMAX "new here" is 98 ron
u still need octane boost!!

[-Joel-]

Here in Adelaide (South Australia) the fuel we have is

LRP (Super with No Lead) Not sure on the Octane Exactly (Over 90 but)
Unleaded (Octane 92)
BP, Mobil, Shell Premium is 98 Octane.
Caltex Premium (Vortex) is 95 Octane But apparently with a mild injector cleaner in it.

I find that the BP Fuel is a bit shitty but the Shell and Especially the Mobile always makes a noticible difference over the other fuels.

Funny thing is I noticed that some of you ppls are only starting to see 98 octane fuel.. We have had it in Adelaide for at least 5 years that I can remember.

[adamandsonja]

actually joel you are wrong, we have had 98 for only a short time, prior to about 1 year ago we only had like shell premium at 95 octane (which to my knowledge it still is) the shell fuel at 98 octane is called optimax.
adam

[-Joel-]

Well I am now 22 and When I had my first car which was a Cortina 4.1 I put premium in it to see if it would fix a pinging problem.
That was when I was 17-18... That makes it around 4 years ago..

I put petrol in at the THEN New Mobil Petrol Station that is situated at Seaford right near Moana Beach..

Its the beach that you can drive on..
I do remember that a lot of the older petrol stations did not have premium..

Then I had the Vl Commodore after the Cortina I also occasionally put Premium in it..

What has been introduced in the last year is the LRP petrol..