Premium fuel vs Regular fuel

[Elmura]

I don't think there has been an VW vehicle in the past 15 years that has had a factory fuel recommendation of less than 95 ron.

United E10 has 95 Octane. There's nothing really wrong with Ethanol - it's simply an alternative fuel source that can be grown rather than mined. It raises octane a few points but has less energy density. Modern engines (last 10 years) are completely capable of handling the fuel's differences as long as it meets the minimum octane requirement.

I don't use it because I'm performance focused. I find even 95 Octane Petrol in my Honda Euro (it's specified requirement) not as good a performer as 98 so whilst fuel consumption improves slightly with 98, throttle response is better and that matters to me. This means either the ECU is really tuned to work with higher octane but given a minimum rating it can work acceptably with; or my pistons & head are coated with years of carbon build up (considering I have new plugs and fuel cleaners run twice a year)

[sports racer]

I wouldn't use Ethanol/petrol mix if you paid me. It's corrosive, that's why it's limited to only 10% of the fuel. Modern cars are built with this in mind but eventually something is going to give.

Some months ago SBS ran a show on the benefits of each grade of petrol and advised 91 octane was suitable for nearly all the cars on Aust roads. The only exception was anyone running a high performance car that could only run on 98. They had access to Govt testing and independent labs and even the commentators were surprised with the results.

However, the recommendations were cost based and none of the testing was done by enthusiasts who don't mind paying more for better performance.

[Hillbilly]

I wouldn't use Ethanol/petrol mix if you paid me. It's corrosive, that's why it's limited to only 10% of the fuel. Modern cars are built with this in mind but eventually something is going to give.

Some months ago SBS ran a show on the benefits of each grade of petrol and advised 91 octane was suitable for nearly all the cars on Aust roads. The only exception was anyone running a high performance car that could only run on 98. They had access to Govt testing and independent labs and even the commentators were surprised with the results.

However, the recommendations were cost based and none of the testing was done by enthusiasts who don't mind paying more for better performance.

The emphasis is on "Nearly all"

If the handbook says "Use 95" Use it. If your motor blows and VW do a fuel test and its 91 it will be "thanks but no thanks. See you"

Believing a TV show is nearly as bad as believing whats on the Internet.