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Ryzz
13-12-2005, 11:28 AM
V8 Supercars Australia today announced it had secured a world first 100 octane fuel for the 2006 V8 Supercar Series.

Shell Optimax Extreme, Shell’s new flagship 100 octane fuel successfully formulated with 5% ethanol, has been successfully tested by leading V8 Supercar teams Stone Brothers Racing, Dick Johnson Racing and the Holden Racing Team, with all reporting improved performance and cleaner burn.

Scientifically formulated in Australia, the breakthrough fuel formulation uses 5% ethanol as an octane-boosting, cleaner burning component and is designed specifically to deliver a higher level of engine responsiveness, sharper acceleration and enhanced power in many modern and high performance cars.

“Significant improvements in performance were reported by all teams which tested the Shell Optimax Extreme with a much cleaner burn that is good news for the environment and all of our V8 Supercar teams,” said Wayne Cattach, Chief Executive Officer V8 Supercars Australia.

“The fuel ran more smoothly in terms of power and torque. Our cars are expected to reap significant benefits from using Shell Optimax Extreme as the official fuel of V8 Supercars.” said Mr Cattach.

“As a sport that involves car racing we are ever vigilant about the environment and maintaining community standards. To this end we have worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency with regard to noise levels and emissions while we also play a very active part in the general community.”

Dick Johnson also believes the introduction of the fuel is a great coup for the sport. With his Ford Falcon BA race engine on the dyno at his DJR Queensland headquarters, Johnson completed tests using the current V8 Supercar Series official fuel, Shell Optimax as compared with new Shell Optimax Extreme.

“Our tests were conducted with limited tuning done to the engine to allow for the higher octane,” Dick Johnson said. “But even with straight comparisons between the fuels, we noticed significant improvements in performance with Shell Optimax Extreme.

"It's a higher octane petrol that will give V8 Supercars more power and more torque. Our data also suggests that Shell Optimax Extreme can also offer better fuel economy, which improves performance and is kinder on the environment.

“We also found that when taking up to 8% of the fuel out of the engine, and adjusting the timing to suit, it actually delivered better power, which to me, demonstrates Shell Optimax Extreme will deliver better fuel economy. I truly believe that the V8 Supercars will love Shell Optimax Extreme."

The Shell Optimax Extreme 100 octane fuel will be introduced at the Clipsal 500 next March.

Shell Retail General Manager, Johannes Risseeuw said, “Shell has had a long and proud history supporting motor racing so we are thrilled to be renewing our contract with AVESCO for the next two years.”

“We are also extremely excited that following positive testing, V8 Supercars Australia has chosen Shell Optimax Extreme, which is a world first “super-premium” fuel with 5% ethanol, as the official fuel of the 2006 series. But more importantly, the fuel used by the V8 racing cars next year will be the same fuel available at the service station pump for customers who drive modern and high performance vehicles,” he said.

The revolutionary 100 octane fuel will be manufactured at Shell’s Geelong refinery and is the first significant advancement in unleaded fuel technology since the introduction of Shell Optimax in 1999.

macca33
13-12-2005, 11:56 AM
Sounds alright for the Supercar teams who have money to burn on fuel systems etc... but has anyone categorically stated that this fuel will be Ok for our LSx engines/fuel systems etc.

I've heard to keep away from ethanol, am I just being paranoid???

Is 5% in the mix going to effect my car, or not???

Can anyone provide clarification?


:confused:

Regards,
Macca

V8R
13-12-2005, 06:23 PM
Yes, all the major australian manuf.'s have catagoricaly stated that e10 fuels are safe to use in their cars.. obviously, e10 has 10% eth.
the announcment was made a month or maore back (as was that post on the V8Supercar site) ;)

2_SeeK_U
13-12-2005, 06:36 PM
Anyone reckon that petrol of octane 100 and higher would grace our petrol stations sometime soon?

Back on topic, l think its inevitable to have a mixture of ethanol in our petrol tanks sooner or later...

EDIT: would using this fuel be much of a difference to say optimax? I mean l notice the difference between normal unleaded and optimax but l can't see there being much of a difference.

pah
13-12-2005, 06:48 PM
Yep,

I've seen the new fuel available at the Shell serov on Kissing Point Rd Dundas.

As stated above, Holden's web site has a blurb on the use of E10 in Holden products.

I've spoken in favour of ethanol in the past. The trouble with the fuel appears to be that it takes more energy to make than it gives back as ethanol. At least it keeps a few sugar farmers employed.

If there are cars that are tuned to run with just enough safety margin on 98 octane, I would imagine that using 100 RON would provide increased safety margin and that sounds nice. I'd be a bit concerned about tuning my car to run only on 100 RON because its availability is not good enough (although it seems to be more available than BP 98 RON in Sydney at the moment). If the ULP spark table in the Gen III PCM remains set for 91 RON ULP, I wonder if it would be safe to tune for 100 RON? The down-side of doing this (I suspect) might be that the car might detonate on 95 - 98 RON causing the PCM to drop back to the 91 RON spark map. This would cause a loss of power and economy.




PAH

Stocky
13-12-2005, 10:00 PM
Go to the Shell website - they have a listing of the sites that sell Extreme 100. I have purchased this fuel at Wicks Road North Ryde & so far appears better than Caltex 98 - less pinging at very low revs when new but by two weeks in tank in hot weather, about the same.

As an alternative, United Petroleum have a 98 RON fuel Boost 98 but is not available in Ryde area. Also a good fuel to use. Again check the United Petroleum website for their Boost98 sites.

Stocky

VTV857
14-12-2005, 08:58 AM
"Where can I purchase Optimax Extreme? (http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=au-en&FC2=/au-en/html/iwgen/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/au-en/tailored/shell_for_motorists/fuels/extreme/purchasing_extreme.html)"

OLS108
14-12-2005, 11:06 AM
ive tried it and it works Pretty well ! Hard to tell how much better cause my 02 sensors a PHUCKED:( .
On a Side Note the Boys from larkam Motorsport were using the Fuel out at Willowbank on Monday;)

daza
14-12-2005, 02:51 PM
100 octane fuel available at the pump is great, I worry about its long term use though.
This link may have been posted before but it makes good food for thought
http://www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/fuelquality/publications/testing-passenger-fleet/
It is for 20% blend but I believe that it indicates long term affects