Alright Ron?

[Mr Funk]

I know this is always a funny subject and, if I'm honest I've never seen the point BUT I am willing to admit that I'm wrong sometimes.
The ever lasting 95/97 ron Fuel Question.

I know some people swear by it but does it actually make a difference?
The engine (at the moment) is fairly standard but with a whacking great 4 branch and 2l Audi throttle body. I know it needs a bloody big tune up but was wondering whether I should just bite the bullet and ehack a tank of the good stuff in.

[Nate]

if you car is set up well, you will notice a difference driving it in anger. you will notice very slightly improved fuel consumption driven normally

[Ryan]

I had to fill up with pauper Ron (bloody Texaco) the other day after always using super since I bought the car.
Haven't noticed too much performance difference - but it's drinking it at a similar rate to Oliver Reed on a bender!

[bluestreak56]

Made a massive difference with the pinking on mine to begin with not sure anymore..

[the edmundator]

I just do what VW tell me every time I open the flap and stick the more expensive stuff in. At least I earn money off with a Shell Driver's club card (must upgrade to a V-power card).

[GTXTRA]

v power all the way for me on all the cars - been trying the tesco 99 stuff too recently.

[mark1gls]

I ran my golf (DX engine) on 95 Ron for about 2 years (reset the timing) found the car ran alright but I could not get it to tick over smoothly and it bit felt a little flat.

I then started to use super unleaded (set the timing back) and the tickover is better and the car has got a bit more go now.

The car will run on the lower rated petrol, 95 Ron but it took ages to get the timing right, found a long quite road and got a 13mm and 7mm spanner and just keep adjusting the timing and tickover, try the engine under load while listening for pinking. I did mark the shaft of the dissy before I started so if it all went wrong I could put the timing back to where it should be.
I would now not go back to normal unleaded 95 Ron petrol myself.

[walkinginperu]

I don't notice any difference, but then I do have a 1.6GT carb. AFAIK the 1.6 carb modles only need 91 RON or higher - it's the injection and 1.8 models that need 97 or higher.

[eamon1.3]

I always run the standard stuff, used super once, it made no difference to performance and it drank it a bit faster. Cheap stuff ftw!!

[MickyS]

could using 95 ron from tescos be a reason for my car having a few coughs and sputters and the occasional power failure? ive checked most other things, like fuel filler neck etc etc, although i cant work out how some of you guys can look inside the fuel tank from under the rear passenger seats? ive looked and all i see is the fuel pump wiring? so thats confused me a bit...... thanks

[james butler]

rockos were only designed to run on min 98 ron or super unleaded. to run on 95 u have to fidle with the timing and subsequently the idle screw. you will find the car will run better and get better mpg sticking to 98ron/super unleaded.

[walkinginperu]

Depends on the model. The 1.6 8v carb engines were designed for 91 ron or higher, so can run on any old rubbish

[Mr Funk]

rockos were only designed to run on min 98 ron or super unleaded. to run on 95 u have to fidle with the timing and subsequently the idle screw. you will find the car will run better and get better mpg sticking to 98ron/super unleaded.

We're having the same conversation in the fuelling section as I've been wndering if it's any better.
From what little I know any VW after the late '70's was designed to run on pretty much anything.

[GTXTRA]

Bit of the merger topic magic for you.

[GTXTRA]

It's been a while since I checked it but in basic terms most vw's after about 1976 can run on unleaded in one form or another.

Anything less than 1.6 can run on normal RON unleaded - exceptions being the 'formel e' golf/jettas/polos/derbys.

Of the roccos the early mk2 cl 1457cc ran on the lower stuff but the early gl 1588cc engined cars needed the higher octane stuff before the later 1595cc engine came on stream. Craig or Pete can clarify re the various Mk1 engine combos.

The 1.6 and 1.8 gti plus the ex 1781 carbed cars are best set up to run on 98RON but if you fiddle with the ignition timing - detune it basically - they can run on the cheaper stuff. My original gtx was set up like this when i first got it and it felt very chuggy. Quickly reverted to the standard settings to allow use of the higher octane stuff...............in the days when i could fill up for £25..................

Cant recall re the KR being able to run on lower RON stuff but for reasons similar to the above i'd only ever run it on the highest RON stuff available - usually V power or recently the Tesco99.

Happy to be corrected but pretty sure thats the bits that affect us.