Shortage of Higher Octane Fuel??

[Robatron]

Well rather luckily I haven't had the S2 for about 2 weeks now (), but I have noticed that everytime I go to the petrol station, whether its a shell, BP or Tesco garage, none of their higher octane fuel is available.

I am in West London and I assumed it was a problem just contained to this area, however I was in south Wales last week and they didn't have any V power/ 99 Ron / BP Ultimate either....

Is anyone else experiencing this? When I get the car back on friday I want to be able to sustain its drinking habit.

In the mean time however I am having a driving around in a bmw 130i. I can honestly say that this thing will give an S2 a run for its money, I'm seriously impressed.

[Pete Reeve]

I went to my local Shell garage on saturday and nearly the pumps inc the high octane was shut so i filled up with regular,i asked on paying was they low on fuel and they said they had plenty but the was a problem with it so could not sell it,so i dont know whats going on.

[waad_uk]

Both our local Tescos had carrier bags on the 99 pumps this weekend

[Greg_S]

You can get the octane booster additive to put into your fuel from halfords and the like. think its about £5 for a bottle to treat 275 litres of fuel and translates as roughly the same cost as getting 97ron overall

[Robatron]

Thanks Greg, it looks like I may have to buy myself some of this if I can't find any decent fuel.

[Pete Reeve]

You can get the octane booster additive to put into your fuel from halfords and the like. think its about £5 for a bottle to treat 275 litres of fuel and translates as roughly the same cost as getting 97ron overall

Mmmm i take it you didn't see 5th Gear last week,they did a test on all the best sellers and they all reduced the bhp and not increase it!!!!!!!

[Error404]

Pete, surely you don't believe stuff they test on 5th gear?

[Pete Reeve]

Pete, surely you don't believe stuff they test on 5th gear?

this was an independent test done on a proper test rigg and scientists etc no bulls--t!

[Error404]

ah ok, as long as it wasn't lumped in on the back of one of their supercar practicality tests

I wouldn't buy the crap off the shelf at Halfrauds, but proper octane booster does work - i.e. Toluene

They used to use it mixed with 'normal' petrol to fuel F1 cars in years gone by

[Greg_S]

Mmmm i take it you didn't see 5th Gear last week,they did a test on all the best sellers and they all reduced the bhp and not increase it!!!!!!!

Nope im about 4 episodes behind on 5th gear at min so still catching up on them. Bit of a shame if they all reduced power though.

[curlyks2]

I went to my local Shell garage on saturday and nearly the pumps inc the high octane was shut...

Likewise, and given your location I imagine it was a different filling station. I went in to the shop at mine 'coz I needed a couple of things anyway and they had suffered a complete power failure to the pumps and/or computers - you could see into the back office and there were a couple of very stressed techies with test kit. A couple of weeks later 75% of the pumps were closed off because - and I asked after filling up at one of the few which was open - they were pretty much out of fuel.

My local Tesco on the other hand doesn't seem to run out (Buncefield type events not withstanding) but does have massive queues.

Ck.