Trying to make a fresh start on CIAO. Go meet my buddies ~Onwards and Upwards~♥♥
Trying to make a fresh start on CIAO. Go meet my buddies ~Onwards and Upwards~♥♥
Member since:12.11.2004
Reviews:18
Members who trust:23
INTRODUCTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I had always been curious to see if this stuff could make me drive like Michael Schumacher and I read a review on Shells Optimax Petrol and was so convinced that I decided to take the challenge (I can hear the formula 1 music in the background). I have tested it over the last few weeks and have now decided to share my experience with YOU.
Just so you know I drive a Vauxhall Astra, 1.6 LS and it is 3 years old. I use the car for travelling to work every day and this involves a 25mile round trip along the Edinburgh City Bypass. I am usually travelling at around 50 - 70mph. We also use the car for shopping, visiting close relatives etc at the weekends. Very typical family activities and have not went on any long journeys since doing the trial.
RED, AMBER, GREEN>>>>>>>>>>
BACKGROUND ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now Shell Optimax has been around for a couple of years and you
probably remember the strange advert with the yellow fish swimming about at 100mph (do fish use petrol?). Shell claim that the fuel has the "highest octane rating of ANY petrol available in the UK". Shell also claim that it is "specially designed to deliver better responsiveness by cleaning your engine as you drive". Finally Shell say that as Optimax cleans the engine and it is known that cleaner engines give better efficiency of fuel economy that by using Optimax your fuel economy SHOULD improve.
The fuel was tested and used (I believe) with both the Ferrari and the Ducati race teams. Which is a pretty big endorsement from the racing World (for both bikes and cars).
COST ~~~~~~ Optimax is more expensive to buy than standard fuel (approx £0.04 - £0.05 per litre) which you would probably expect given the additional benefits that you are meant to get and the amount of R&D etc that has went into designing the fuel. Oh and not to mention the massive sponsorship deals and TV advertising that Shell have done !!!!!
PERFORMANCE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They say the longer you use it the better it should get. Obviously there is a point were it will hit the optimum performance (see those people at Shell marketing don't get paid thousands for nothing you know). I have heard that this should be 3-4 weeks of continual use (maybe slightly longer for older cars). I have used it for this time and haven't really noticed much difference (if any) on either the fuel consumption or the responsiveness of the car (acceleration and top speed). I was hoping to get at least a few more miles to for my money and a sharper response to the acceleration.
It is obviously hard to tell if my engine has been cleaned by using Optimax and I normally use Redex with my standard fuel to try and keep deposits etc off my engine anyway so it could be that my car is already at its peak !!!!
VALUE FOR MONEY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Given the amount of money Shell have spent developing Optimax then £0.04 - £0.05 extra for a litre is probably a reasonable price to pay. However given what I have said above for the performance and cost then I would say that you are taken a chance. Some people seem to get a benefit and others don't. So if you do then it is probably worth paying the higher cost. If not then it is clearly not good value.
HOW TO GET IT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It can be bought at pretty much every Shell garage in the UK. If you don't know where the nearest one to you is then you can have a look at the Shell website and they have a garage locator.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shell have a good website that has a lot of information and a FAQ section all to do with Optimax fuel. They also have a section for Ducati and bikes as well as the F1 Ferrari section and details of how Ferrari helped Shell design the fuel etc. Worth a wee look even if you don't fancy using the fuel.
SUMMARY ~~~~~~~~~~ Well I must admit that I have been a little disappointed. I was looking forward to being Michael so much that I bought a Ferrari baseball cap to wear in the car when driving. No I really did !!!
The fuel hasn't done for me what Shell said it could and as a result I am a bit lighter in the wallet for taking the challenge. I am glad it did take the challenge as I now know that Optimax is not for me and I can finally hang my baseball cap up in the garage.
I would say that if you are interested in Optimax fuel and the potential that it could give your car then go ahead and take the challenge (I will even send you the cap). Otherwise just keep filling up on your normal fuel.
Thanks for reading.
Leeroy ~Onwards and Upwards~
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Hey. Great review, but yeah, as a poor student, I'd rather just put the normal fuel in my car. Can't afford afew more pennies! Keep smiling, Alastair :o)
marylou2u 04.11.2005 14:52
An extra 4-5p? Sounds a rip-off to me!
thomlafferty 24.09.2005 17:39
Petrol is definitely a difficult thing to review but you did it well. :)
Advantages: Increased performance(esp mid range) and economy, quieter and smoother idling Disadvantages: Cost 89.9p per litre eye-wateringly expensive (at time of writing) availability-not too many Shell stations around these days,may need a couple of tankfulls to be effective, benefits only for those with performance cars/modded engines
peterkinxl5 07.04.2005 (08.04.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Shell Optimax Petrol
Jul 28th, 2005
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