[TheDoc]

Guys,

I was thinking about getting my GTI chipped soon, probably oetenger, either way i am now thinking about giving it a miss with petrol prices as they are, all the chip conversions i have investigated require super plus unleaded all the time and at pretty much ?1 per leter at the mo i am not doing that, my prevoius car would only run on super, (one of the reasons i got rid) the gti has a 50L tank so could become expensive to run... ?1 per leter, is this a joke ?, because i am not laughing anymore !

 

[shiuming]

The GTI should be run on super unleaded anyway especially if you want the efficiency benefits of its FSI technology. I personally wouldn't chip a car until it's well run in at least, and I'm sure most decent chip tuning mods can be switched on and off as well.

 

[Mark V]

Yes Doc, unfortunately you have s elected to purchase a car designed to run on super unleaded, chipped or not. Maybe you should try to track down some of this new tesco stuff. Alternativley a GT TDI would go a long way towards reducing your fuel costs.

 

[M4XVW]

Mine still returns 40+ on a long run when running Tesco 95 RON (yeah I know, but she ain't worth THAT much [] - tell me have I done a bad thing?)

This FSI thing seems more related to Sulphur content than Octane rating. And us Brits get very dirty petrol (high sulphur) all the time []

Car doesn't seem to go any slower on 95 Ron?

 

[M4XVW]

Reflex Silver Mk V 3-door 2.0 GT TDI with Climate Control, Cruise control, Winter Pack, Storage Pack, Lunch Pack, Luxury Pack 2 and 17" 'Estoril' alloys.
.

Off-Off-Topic:

Mark V - what's a "Lunch Pack"

 

[shiuming]

Mine still returns 40+ on a long run when running Tesco 95 RON (yeah I know, but she ain't worth THAT much [] - tell me have I done a bad thing?)

This FSI thing seems more related to Sulphur content than Octane rating. And us Brits get very dirty petrol (high sulphur) all the time []

Car doesn't seem to go any slower on 95 Ron?

Try Optimax. Sulphur content is 10ppm which meets legislation that won't come into force until 2007. My motor is non-FSI and even I feel the benefits, and at my last MOT the emissions test sulphur reading was well below the limit. That made my day []

 

[M4XVW]

Look - if you're saying my exhaust stinks - go measure your NOx output yo' tree-hugger []

I'd rather save 5p a litre than save the whale []

 

[Sean Grenyer]

Yes Doc, unfortunately you have s elected to purchase a car designed to run on super unleaded, chipped or not. Maybe you should try to track down some of this new tesco stuff. Alternativley a GT TDI would go a long way towards reducing your fuel costs.

Here, here mate! I was debating whether to get a new GTI or TDI for ages and only went for the GTI because I'm lucky enough to have a second car, a Seat Toledo TDi (110), for racking up most of my mileage.

Sean

 

[TheDoc]

The GTI should be run on super unleaded anyway especially if you want the efficiency benefits of its FSI technology. I personally wouldn't chip a car until it's well run in at least, and I'm sure most decent chip tuning mods can be switched on and off as well.

the GTI is only recommded to run on super, if run on super it will acheive the quoted economy and engine power figures, it is not required to run on it by any means. I have looked into this at some length with VW. With the gap getting larger between normal and super it will soon be cheaper, if not already, to run the car on normal. The extra economy you get from running the higher octain fuel for the FSI system is outweighed by the redicoulous cost of the better fuel.

 

[M4XVW]

The GTI brochure actually says:

"Thanks to knock control, unleaded four star (at least 95 RON) can be used instead of unleaded Super plus. [However] In order to achieve maximum fuel consumption benefits on the FSI engine, Ultra Low Sulphur Petrol (ULSP) must be used."

Doesn't relate the RON rating to the FSI function.

Obvioulsy the RON rating broadly indicates energy density available in the fuel. Many cars perform better with 97+RON. However, some cars fuel mapping means NO advantage is made using higher than 95 RON (most K-series engines for example). This doesn't apply to the GTI, but the RON rating doesn't affect the FSI AFAIK.

 

[SteveTDCi]

I'd reccomend you get about 10k on the clock before chipping it, yes fuel is expensive and is still going up. I currently pay anywhere between 97p and ?1 for a litre of Diesel Ultimate. I'm not sure if its the same with petrols but I know with the diesel a chipped car actually improves the MPG providing you drive it sensibly.

 

[TheDoc]

The GTI brochure actually says:

"Thanks to knock control, unleaded four star (at least 95 RON) can be used instead of unleaded Super plus. [However] In order to achieve maximum fuel consumption benefits on the FSI engine, Ultra Low Sulphur Petrol (ULSP) must be used."

Doesn't relate the RON rating to the FSI function.

Obvioulsy the RON rating broadly indicates energy density available in the fuel. Many cars perform better with 97+RON. However, some cars fuel mapping means NO advantage is made using higher than 95 RON (most K-series engines for example). This doesn't apply to the GTI, but the RON rating doesn't affect the FSI AFAIK.

most cars with knock sensors will benefit from the higher octane, basically the ecu will run as much adavce on the ignition timing as it can without knocking, hence with super you can run more advance, the K does not have knock senors.

if the fsi systems is not based on octaine then it maybe pointless putting the stuff in anyway, appart from the extra performance, certainly the mpg isn't a whole lot better

I have run a tank with super and without and reckon you will get about 30 miles per tank more out of super, basing this on the golf having a 50L tank and super being about 8p/L more expensive and taking a average of 30mpg, a rough calculation is that it breaks out cheaper to run on 95 in terms of mpg against cost of fuel (not buy much though). I am running the car on super this tank because it runs better, i reckon, however i like the choice of being able to run both, if the prices continue to rise, which they will, super will be like liquid gold

 

[Sporran]

i run mine on optimax and currently pay 97 p a litre. Though i did once try BP Ultimate 97ron and cant really say if i was persuaded by forum posts but did find it different, still fast, just not as lively. Strange way to describe it as it is lively anyway just seemded more WOW factor on optimax.

But on a good note, i remember the fuel strikes a few years ago, Super hit 110 with us and hardly anyone was buying it, except fo rme he he, just meant plenty of supply

 

[Irish]

Alternativley a GT TDI would go a long way towards reducing your fuel costs.

Couple of things....

You would be MAD to trade a brand new MKV GTI for any GT TDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Secondly, although my car is chipped, I never see more than 380 out of a tank Doc...I'm sure you can get 300 out of your GTI. Not as big a saving as you might think.

 

[thomask1]

I tried regular unleaded in mine for a tank full and noticed the economy dropped by a few miles, I couldn't notice any change in performance though.

I use Optimax because it has the required RON rating for the engine and the fuel economy is better. I reckon if you take into account the reduced fuel economy of regular against Optimax, there probably isn't much in terms of cost per tank between the two, not enough to bother me anyway.

 

[damianmkv]

Alternativley a GT TDI would go a long way towards reducing your fuel costs.

Couple of things....

You would be MAD to trade a brand new MKV GTI for any GT TDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Secondly, although my car is chipped, I never see more than 380 out of a tank Doc...I'm sure you can get 300 out of your GTI. Not as big a saving as you might think.

Do you drive hard then ? Or just short journeys ? Mine's not chipped but I get over 500 from mine without fail. Most I've got is 620 from a tank.

 

[kenl]

Record mpg in our 1.6fsi (53.3mpg) was on regular unleaded fuel.  I generally put 97RON Shell in it.

 

[Spin 150PD]

Ref Chipping and fuel consumption I also think if you have a light right foot you may well see some benefits, I'd still wait a good 10,000 miles befor e getting mine remapped and then you would still have the choice of what fuel you put in leaving the 'knock' sensor to alter the max power output as it does with the standard map.

Food for thought...most of us bought the GTi on the strength of good press and impressive test drives, just how many dealers do you think actually use optimax ?? I know that 2/3 I spoke to admiited they just put standard 95 ron in their demos and I was still impressed with the performance !

If I'm passing a shell garage I will use optimax, but for veryday driving on our congested road network I would have no problem using 95 ron if more convenient (still feels pretty fast & responsive to me).

At the end of the day I can't think of anyone buying a GTi for economy, sod the fuel costs and just enjoy it - you bought it to have fun not to count the pennies did you not ?!?

My plan...

1) Fill up where convenient unless passing a 98 ron garage or planning a track day/event. (never done one yet!)

2) Ignore the MPG computer .- (leave it on driving time).

3) Remap after 10K .

4) Keep smiling & enjoying the car for what it is - a hot hatch.

 

[CkB]

Ah this old chesnut. Mine got it's 1st thousand miles on Optimax, and downgraded to bog standard shell unleaded. Whilst it could still shift, the responsiveness and feel of the car dropped *MASSIVELY*.

So I'm back on Optimax, although it's only 93.9p here (though I cried this morning, it was only 91.9 last week!), the whole time.

If you want guidance, just actually bother to read that black and white label on the inside of the petrol cover. 98 in large, 95 in small - either's fine, though as said, for "best results" use a 98 job []

As for miles, I think I've had about 350 outta my best tank so far, approx !

 

[Irish]

Only way I can get Superplus if I get a GTI is to drive across the border. Some t*at here decided to stop it being brought in.

To answer the question from above....I have a heavy enough foot and do short enough journeys yep - 4/5/6 miles being the norm for a one way trip.

I once saw 520 out of my car, unchipped and doing long cross country journeys with no stop start driving. Again though, I was pushing on where I could.