Chip

The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to assume it will
run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power and mpg?

The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular unleaded
fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded. If regular unleaded really
isn't possible in an S4 then this could be a big problem for me.

Thanks,

Chip.

Doug Ramage

"Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to assume it will
> run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power and mpg?
>
> The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular unleaded
> fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded. If regular unleaded really
> isn't possible in an S4 then this could be a big problem for me.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chip.
>
>

What does the Owners Manual state?

My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK but with
reduced performance.

AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has been 97 RON
for several years.

Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.
--
Doug Ramage

Doug Ramage

"Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to assume it will
> run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power and mpg?
>
> The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular unleaded
> fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded. If regular unleaded really
> isn't possible in an S4 then this could be a big problem for me.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chip.
>
>

What does the Owners Manual state?

My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK but with
reduced performance.

AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has been 97 RON
for several years.

Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.
--
Doug Ramage

Hairy One Kenobi

"Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote in message
news:bjs1e0$mmrhl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
> news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to assume it
will
> > run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power and mpg?
> >
> > The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular unleaded
> > fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded. If regular unleaded
really
> > isn't possible in an S4 then this could be a big problem for me.
>
> What does the Owners Manual state?
>
> My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK but
with
> reduced performance.
>
> AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has been 97
RON
> for several years.
>
> Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.

<pedant>
Higher-octane unleaded (I hesitate to call it "Super", 'cos that's the name
of 95RON in most of Europe) in 97 simply because that's what 4-star was)

Optimax is 99RON, I believe equivalent to the old 5-star (just a dim memory
for me ;o)
</pedant>

As Doug says, there should be a specific entry in the manual to reassure
you.

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!

Doug Ramage

"Hairy One Kenobi" <abuse@[127.0.0.1]> wrote in message
news:I%g8b.541$WI3.6312@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> "Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote in message
> news:bjs1e0$mmrhl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > "Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
> > news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to assume it
> will
> > > run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power and mpg?
> > >
> > > The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular
unleaded
> > > fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded. If regular unleaded
> really
> > > isn't possible in an S4 then this could be a big problem for me.
> >
> > What does the Owners Manual state?
> >
> > My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK but
> with
> > reduced performance.
> >
> > AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has been 97
> RON
> > for several years.
> >
> > Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.
>
> <pedant>
> Higher-octane unleaded (I hesitate to call it "Super", 'cos that's the
name
> of 95RON in most of Europe) in 97 simply because that's what 4-star was)
>
> Optimax is 99RON, I believe equivalent to the old 5-star (just a dim
memory
> for me ;o)
> </pedant>
>
> As Doug says, there should be a specific entry in the manual to reassure
> you.
>
> --
>
> Hairy One Kenobi
>

H1K,

IIRC, Optimax, in the UK, was/is supposed to be around 98.6 RON (Shell only
claim that it's "greater than 98 RON"). However, some test(s) seem to
indicate it was nearer to 98.3 RON.

I seem to recall that elsewhere (Germany, Australia?) than the RON could be
99?
--
Doug Ramage

Peter Bell

In message <I%g8b.541$WI3.6312@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net>
"Hairy One Kenobi" <abuse@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

> "Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote in message
> news:bjs1e0$mmrhl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > "Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
> > news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to
> > > assume it will run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power
> > > and mpg?
> > >
> > > The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular unleaded
> > > fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded.

I presume that this is going to be a company-owned car - would they
rather pay for a new engine when it breaks?

> > > If regular unleaded really isn't possible in an S4 then this could
> > > be a big problem for me.
> >
> > What does the Owners Manual state?
> >
> > My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK
> > but with reduced performance.
> >
> > AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has
> > been 97 RON for several years.
> >
> > Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.
>
> <pedant>
> Higher-octane unleaded (I hesitate to call it "Super", 'cos that's the name
> of 95RON in most of Europe) in 97 simply because that's what 4-star was)
>
> Optimax is 99RON, I believe equivalent to the old 5-star (just a dim memory
> for me ;o)
> </pedant>
>
> As Doug says, there should be a specific entry in the manual to reassure
> you.

I don't know about the S4, but the owner's manual for the RS6 warns
against using full throttle when running with 95 RON, and also says to
fill up with Super Plus ASAP. It also instructs you to 'only use
moderate engine speeds and a light throttle'.

So I think that one would be ill-advised to run 95 RON on the RS6 for
an extended period. I have concluded that nothing less than Optimax is
good enough for my beast (and this from someone who has maintained a
prejudice against Shell - I hadn't used a drop of Shell petrol since
the dabacle in the late 80s when Shell 'New formula' wrote off many
brand new engines, particularly Audis).

If you do find that the S4 would be better off with higher than 95 RON,
your best bet might be to add some Millers (octane booster) with each
tank full of 95.

--
Peter Bell - peter@bellfamily.org.uk

Chip

"Peter Bell" <peter@bellfamily.org.uk> wrote in message
news:56ffbf304c.peter@iyonix.earley.fourcom.com...
> In message <I%g8b.541$WI3.6312@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net>
> "Hairy One Kenobi" <abuse@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:
>
> > "Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote in message
> > news:bjs1e0$mmrhl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > >
> > > "Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
> > > news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > > The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to
> > > > assume it will run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power
> > > > and mpg?
> > > >
> > > > The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular
unleaded
> > > > fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded.
>
> I presume that this is going to be a company-owned car - would they
> rather pay for a new engine when it breaks?

You presume incorrectly: its my car. The company pays (not unreasonably)
for business miles done in my car. Unreasonably, they have recently
introduced a new rule stating that they won't pay for Super Unleaded (which
I guess they figure is just a waste of money).

> > > > If regular unleaded really isn't possible in an S4 then this could
> > > > be a big problem for me.
> > >
> > > What does the Owners Manual state?

Well I now have the owner's manual. When I asked the question, the car
hadn't arrived yet - just got it a couple of days ago.

> > >
> > > My TT225 manual (and my previous S3) says 98 RON, but 95 RON is OK
> > > but with reduced performance.

Mine says the same.

> > > AFAIK, only Shell Optimax is 98 RON in the UK. Superunleaded has
> > > been 97 RON for several years.
> > >
> > > Personally, I use Optimax with Octane booster.
> >
> > <pedant>
> > Higher-octane unleaded (I hesitate to call it "Super", 'cos that's the
name
> > of 95RON in most of Europe) in 97 simply because that's what 4-star was)
> >
> > Optimax is 99RON, I believe equivalent to the old 5-star (just a dim
memory
> > for me ;o)
> > </pedant>
> >
> > As Doug says, there should be a specific entry in the manual to reassure
> > you.
>
> I don't know about the S4, but the owner's manual for the RS6 warns
> against using full throttle when running with 95 RON, and also says to
> fill up with Super Plus ASAP. It also instructs you to 'only use
> moderate engine speeds and a light throttle'.
>
> So I think that one would be ill-advised to run 95 RON on the RS6 for
> an extended period. I have concluded that nothing less than Optimax is
> good enough for my beast (and this from someone who has maintained a
> prejudice against Shell - I hadn't used a drop of Shell petrol since
> the dabacle in the late 80s when Shell 'New formula' wrote off many
> brand new engines, particularly Audis).
>
> If you do find that the S4 would be better off with higher than 95 RON,
> your best bet might be to add some Millers (octane booster) with each
> tank full of 95.

Thanks for all the help guys. I think beating up our <ahem> "cost
conscious" finance director sounds like the best course of action! And
failing that, Millers.

Chip.

Doug Ramage

"Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:bjsc5a$lvk1n$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> "Peter Bell" <peter@bellfamily.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:56ffbf304c.peter@iyonix.earley.fourcom.com...
> > In message <I%g8b.541$WI3.6312@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net>
> > "Hairy One Kenobi" <abuse@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:
> >
> > > "Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote in message
> > > news:bjs1e0$mmrhl$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > >
> > > > "Chip" <AnneOnymouse@virgin.net> wrote in message
> > > > news:bj6qtt$ftgvi$1@ID-185713.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > > > > The specs for the S4's 4.2 V8 all say 98 Ron. Am I safe to
> > > > > assume it will run ok on 95 - albeit perhaps with reduced power
> > > > > and mpg?
> > > > >
> > > > > The reason I ask is that my employers will only pay for Regular
> unleaded
> > > > > fuel. They refuse to pay for Super Unleaded.
> >
> > I presume that this is going to be a company-owned car - would they
> > rather pay for a new engine when it breaks?
>
> You presume incorrectly: its my car. The company pays (not unreasonably)
> for business miles done in my car. Unreasonably, they have recently
> introduced a new rule stating that they won't pay for Super Unleaded
(which
> I guess they figure is just a waste of money).

<snip>

> Thanks for all the help guys. I think beating up our <ahem> "cost
> conscious" finance director sounds like the best course of action! And
> failing that, Millers.
>
> Chip.
>
>

I assume you are UK based? If so, the new mileage regime for business use
(w.e.f. from 6 April 2002) is limited to 2 rates only - 40p for first 10,000
miles and 25p thereafter, irrespective of engine size, cost etc. If the
rate(s) paid are less, then you can claim the difference from the IR. If
higher, you will have to pay income tax on the excess. The old option of
being reimbursed action cost (or a percentage thereof) is no longer
available. Nor will you be able to claim depreciation (Capital Allowance)
nor the interest charge to finance the vehicle's acquisition.

Therefore, the cost of the fuel is irrelevant to the employer. In fact, for
VAT purposes, the employer would be better off if you bought
superunleaded/Optimax, as the VAT element *increases* with cost.
--
Doug Ramage

Peter Bell

In message <bjspln$ml9ja$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de>
"Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote:

> I assume you are UK based? If so, the new mileage regime for business use
> (w.e.f. from 6 April 2002) is limited to 2 rates only - 40p for first 10,000
> miles and 25p thereafter, irrespective of engine size, cost etc.

Yep. And how many cars can be run at a cost of under 40p per mile?
The old 63p/mile limit under FPCS was bad enough. I haven't worked out
figures for my RS6 yet, but I would imagine that it's somewhere around
150p/mile (depending on depreciation).

--
Peter Bell - peter@bellfamily.org.uk

Doug Ramage

"Peter Bell" <peter@bellfamily.org.uk> wrote in message
news:59bbdb304c.peter@iyonix.earley.fourcom.com...
> In message <bjspln$ml9ja$1@ID-34015.news.uni-berlin.de>
> "Doug Ramage" <doug-ramage@lineone.net> wrote:
>
> > I assume you are UK based? If so, the new mileage regime for business
use
> > (w.e.f. from 6 April 2002) is limited to 2 rates only - 40p for first
10,000
> > miles and 25p thereafter, irrespective of engine size, cost etc.
>
> Yep. And how many cars can be run at a cost of under 40p per mile?
> The old 63p/mile limit under FPCS was bad enough. I haven't worked out
> figures for my RS6 yet, but I would imagine that it's somewhere around
> 150p/mile (depending on depreciation).
>
> --
> Peter Bell - peter@bellfamily.org.uk

Usually only small cars with diesel engines.
--
Doug Ramage