IN RESPONSE TO AN EMAIL CIRCULATING VIC AND TAS...
29 March 2007
IN RESPONSE TO AN EMAIL CIRCULATING VIC AND TAS, POSTED 22 MARCH 2007...
...After lots of chasing I got a response off Shell in regards to their V-power fuel. The reason for this is because I was trying to asimiliate my knowledge of octane rating (the US way) with the Australian Octane ratings.
In the Us Octane can only be calculated by adding the RON & the MON together for a total, then dividing by 2 and that gives you the Octane rating.
NOTE: We are not in the US, by this methodology Avgas would give a rating of 120, sounds good regardless of the fact that Avgas has a very slow burn rate and is deigned for aircraft (low RMP, high atmosphere).
NOTE: All of Elf products are advertised with the RON and MON as separate figures (see drum labels and www.racefuels.com.au).
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In the US pump octane can be 93 for PULP, and sometimes 94 (Sunoco is about the only place that sells this). But as low as 88 Octane depending where you are. Ironically, some fuel (petrol) stations have no higher than 91 (West Coast).
In australia, a petrol station/Fuel seller, like shell, BP etc., can say their fuel is 98 Octane, but this is only based on the RON factor, which can be quite misleading for hi-HP engines. Or worse, turbo engines. So I knuckled down to get to the bottom of shell's fuel, and what their octane rating is by US standards. NB: octane sold here as 95 can be as low as 89-90 Octane (US calculations or lower.
Now you know that a 93 Octane fuel in the Us is equivelant to 98 Octane here. Maybe. On a good day.
NOTE: Agreed, hence the market in Australia for Elf racing fuels.
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I use to fill my sporty cars (my M3 and Evos and stis) up at a Mobil fuel station on the highway where i Lived in CT, on the east caoast that had an Ocatne pump of 104 unleaded. given the Australian calculation this is about equal to 125 Octane Australian.
NOTE: These high RON/MON fuels are not available in Australia, if they were available it is highly unlikely that they would meet CAMS / FIA / Australian Government standards.
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Naturally I can say the cars I used this in had a pretty nice idle after a while. And I was paying a whole 4;99 A GALLON for it. Bitching the whole way about how expensive it was.
NOTE: The US has difference pricing and tax regulations to Australia.
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So in short, this acclaimed shell V-power 98 is equal to american 93, and shell power racing 100 pump fuel is equal to 94 US. Nothing special really.
NOTE: agreed.
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So when your at an event and wish to get good fuel in your car, take your calculator, and make sure you add the RON and the MON numbers together, to make sure you not about to pay 4-5dollars a litre for plain old pump fuel.
NOTE: BP ultimate was $2.50 per litre at Mount Buller delivered into customer cars. $2.50 is the standard price of pump fuel at national cuircuit racing and rally events.
NOTE: also take your rule book to events as CAMS events run to a limit of commercially available fuels or racing fuels as per the FIA schedule.
NOTE: the author fails to mention the oxygen content. This is the key to more power and what seperates standard fuel to racing Elf fuel.
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A good fuel should come out to a minimum of 93-94 Octane using the US method. Just using the RON factor as they do here in OZ could lead to a very dissapointing performance, or worse, as a few of us suffered at Mt buller with Elf fuel, a blown engine.
NOTE: Elf WRF and Turbomax: (RON+MON)/2 (102+90)/2 = 96 "US" octane. A good fuel figure based on the authors recommendations above.
NOTE: As the appointed fuel supplier to the Mt Buller Sprint, Race Fuels Pty Ltd supplies quality packaged brand name fuels such as Elf WRF and BP Ultimate.
NOTE: The author of this email did not buy fuel from Race Fuels Pty Ltd at Mount Buller, the author does have our contact details and was sent a fuel order form.
NOTE: There are no sales records of the author buying Elf fuel within six months of the Mount Buller Sprint.
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The Elf fuel claimed around 100-102 Octane using only the RON number.
NOTE: All Elf labeling used in Australia discloses: 102 RON, 90 MON, 2.6% oxygen. See also www.racefuels.com.au
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Finally calculating it, it came out to barely 92-93 'true' octane. Not worth $7.00 a Litre.
NOTE: As stated Elf WRF and Turbomax have a (RON+MON)/2 = 96 ‘true’ octane. A good fuel figure based on the authors recommendations above.
NOTE: Elf WRF was sold at Mount Buller at $5.90 per litre, delivered to customer cars at the base of Mount Buller. The following competitors did not blow engines at Mount Buller, in fact their results are reasonably impressive:
1st White / White - Lamborghini Gallardo - Elf Atmo Rallye
2nd Crocker / Atkinson - LWR Subaru STi - Elf Turbomax
3rd Rooklyn / Long - Ralliart Evo 9 - Elf W.R.F.
Please forward any further queries to:
Mark Tierney phone: 0419 511 518 or mtierney@racefuels.com.au |
