Hey i'm goin to advance the timing on my N/A VL Calais. I hav read thru the various threads and theres alot of talk about PULP. Being that im from NZ our petrol octane ratings might b different from yours in aussie. As we hav; 91 (dunno if its unleaded or not, dont really care, i dun use it), 96 PULP & 98 PULP. So what i really wanna know is... when u guys talk of PULP are u talking about 96 or 98? and will i b able to advance the timing to around 17, 18 deg BTDC using 96 or will i havta use 98? The car is faily standard as far as engine mods go, it just has; extractors, 2 1/4" exhaust, pod filter... Thats about it. Cheers, Jay

I think 96 is Premium, and 98 is Optimax, I never found a difference using it on my car when running 10psi. It made 235hp@wheels, standard injectors, standard computer, no pinging what so ever.

So 96 PULP should b fine! Different petrol stations call them different things over here... like brand names - Mobil calls their range Synergy, Caltex calls theirs Vortex etc etc. But i think 96 & 98 are both just PULP in general! The other thing in NZ is only Mobil has 98... I think BP might b getting it, but its quite a pain in the ass to get sometimes... i think ill just stick wit 96 unless i hav problems! cheers

I the car turbo or not, I cant see anywhere that says. If it's N/A dont worry about it, they'll run on anything. If it's turbo with the above mods then premium should be fine. As a rule that I follow when filling up, just find the most expensive fuel and fill it up with that, Optimax is great. Same for oil, I use Mobile 1 always have, costs me $70 approx for 5ltr's but the car runs better for it, so it's worth it.

Hehe, I said in the very first line of the thread that it was N/A. So no its not turbed! altho, how i wish it were! anyways... i try to use 98 but like i said, fcuk all of the gas stations in NZ hav it and its a pain of the ass goin right outta ur way to get it! wel, ill try it on 96 and then ill try it on 98... i doubt the'll b a difference... but ill try em both anyways! cheers, Jay

BP is called ultimate =98

i thought 98 was like a standard thing but im sure optimax is 98..

So from wat i understand from reading this and other threads is that; wat is refured to as "Premium" over there is 96, what is refured to as "Optimax" or "Ultimate" is 98... So what octane rating is wat u guys refur to as "Normal Unleaded"?? If someone could confirm/correct this info, then i'll leave ya all alone and stop asking stupid questions about fuel. I just want to know what is being talked about fuel wise on these forums in relation to NZ fuels. i'm curious as to what is wat so i can figure out wat is my best option in NZ to run my N/A Calais on. Thanx for the help so far, if someone could clear it up fully, it'd b much appreciated! Cheers, Jay

91 is normal cat's piss unleaded 96 is cheapo premium unleaded 98 is ultimate/optimax which is good premium unleaded Edit: 96 is fine for your non-turbo

91-92 Octane - Your typical unleaded you get from any service station 96 Octane - Caltex Vortex (their premium unleaded, just as good as other premium unleaded's just not as much octane) 98 Octane - BP (ultimate) and Shell (vortex). Top of the range premium unleaded In response to your question... Yes you can run your car off the vortex (96 octane) If possible use the premium/optimax (98 octane) when possible. But it will make no harm using the vortex... Problem Solvered

Cheers guys! 51kvl, yes that solved my problem. Over here things are a little different fuel wise... A lot of people in nz still use 91 - 92 octane... its at every station! 96 Octane is also at every station but the quality varies at different stations (eg mobil, caltex, etc) 98 octane on the other hand is only at selected mobil stations. It goes by the name of synergy 8000 and is mainly only at new stations. this is why i'm kinda gonna havta run it on 96 cos its too much bloody hastle to get a hold of 98! oh well... i guess thats what u get wen u live in small countries like NZ! o yea, I think BP is getting it over here soon so that shuld make it a little easier to get! Thanx 4 everyone's help... now i gotta go adjust the timing, change the oil and do a bunch of other sh�t. oh wel it'll b running mint wen its done. Cheers, Jay