Can I mix different fuels

Lapierre t 400
Lapierre t 400 Posts: 654
edited November 2010 in The Crudcatcher
I have a bit of a problem:The petrol stations around us have run out of 95 and 98 and they don't know when the next tanker will be coming in.add to this the car is on its last 10 liters and we have a bit of a problem so my question is:
Can I mix 98 into the fuel tank even though it says to put in 95 only.
I assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.

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Comments

  • IcarusGreen
    IcarusGreen Posts: 1,486
    Most petrol cars are happy to run on either, depending on the age the ECU will adjust the ignition timing automatically to get the most out of a different octane fuel over time.

    Basically, as long as your not mixing different fuel types you should be fine.

    The 95 and 98 are the octane ratings within petrol.

    What type of car and year is it?
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  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    Yes it'll be fine. When it says 95Ron on the car that's just the minimum you should use.
  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    There is more difference between octane ratings in Summer and Winter than there is in the nominal ratings.

    Just don't use diesel - our MD got his fuels mixed up the other day and came in stinking of diesel/petrol the stench was unbearable lol
  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    .blitz wrote:
    There is more difference between octane ratings in Summer and Winter than there is in the nominal ratings.

    Just don't use diesel - our MD got his fuels mixed up the other day and came in stinking of diesel/petrol the stench was unbearable lol

    You'd have to be pretty thick to put diesel in a petrol car considering the nozzle wouldn't even fit, you actually have to do it on purpose! :lol::lol:
  • IcarusGreen
    IcarusGreen Posts: 1,486
    Neily03 wrote:

    You'd have to be pretty thick to put diesel in a petrol car considering the nozzle wouldn't even fit, you actually have to do it on purpose! :lol::lol:

    This is only true on cars after a certain year as they used to be the same size.
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  • .blitz
    .blitz Posts: 6,197
    edited November 2010
    Neily03 wrote:
    You'd have to be pretty thick to put diesel in a petrol car considering the nozzle wouldn't even fit, you actually have to do it on purpose! :lol::lol:
    Which is the one with the smaller diameter nozzle? Is that diesel?

    Whichever one he used it was the wrong one :lol:
  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295

    This is only true on cars after a certain year as they used to be the same size.

    True.
  • VWsurfbum
    VWsurfbum Posts: 7,881
    .blitz wrote:
    Which is the one with the smaller diameter nozzle? Is that diesel?

    Whichever one he used it was the wrong one :lol:
    Unleaded has the smaller nosel.

    You'll probably find that running on 98octaine will make it seem very pinky and fast? the Japs still use 100octane and so when their performance cars come to europe they suffer as most people fill them with 95 octane
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  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Maybe noticable using lower octane than recommended, but not higher.
    Assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    cooldad wrote:
    Maybe noticable using lower octane than recommended, but not higher.
    Assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
    Not only that, but it's about the time for the annual French strike season. So there's a god chance your car will stop working, for completely inexplicable reasons, and as a side effect, end up pi**ing off UK haulage firms.
  • Sort of off topic...

    Morrisons fuel lasts longer...

    I get more MPG and more miles out of Morrisons fuel than I do with Tesco or Shell.
    On average its around 60-70 miles which is a fair bit!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Sort of off topic...

    Morrisons fuel lasts longer...

    I get more MPG and more miles out of Morrisons fuel than I do with Tesco or Shell.
    On average its around 60-70 miles which is a fair bit!
    Curiously, I've found the opposite :?
  • Is that long distance or short trips/?

    Over short trips the difference is negligable (for me) but it makes a massive difference when driving to work.
    I can last a good 2 - 3 days longer on the Morrisons stuff... I'm filling up again on the friday if I use Tesco!
  • IcarusGreen
    IcarusGreen Posts: 1,486
    That's the difference in the quality of fuels, a better quality fuel will create a better burn and therefore give improved fuel consumption or acceleration depending on how you drive and the engine management system.

    I did an assignment on this pish when I was doing my Automotive engineering HND over the last 18 months.
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  • Lapierre t 400
    Lapierre t 400 Posts: 654
    edited November 2010
    thanks for your answers,sounds like I'll be mixing 98 into 95.(does that make 96.5)
    Problem being about 2 weeks ago the frogs decided to shut the refineries but leave the stocks open so Sarko decided to use them up but now there is nothing left and it takes about a week to kick a rifinery back to life.So for those of you visiting France imminently especially in Pas de Calais,make sure your tanks are full as you will only find diesel if your lucky
    I assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Is that long distance or short trips/?

    Over short trips the difference is negligable (for me) but it makes a massive difference when driving to work.
    I can last a good 2 - 3 days longer on the Morrisons stuff... I'm filling up again on the friday if I use Tesco!
    I think you've hit the nail on the head. Most of my car journeys are to work, which is only 15 minutes away.
    I sometimes go on my bike, but I either sleep in too late, or have no idea when I'm going to be finished at work. I don't fancy finishing at 3am, and still having to ride home.

    Anyway, going to work and back, the car uses about as much as my old Peugeot 306, but when I go further, it uses less.
    I'm not sure how buying it from Tescos or Morrisons would affect that though.
    I find I get the highest MPG a few days after using Shell. BUT, the Shell garage is so expensive, it's only ever used in emergencies anyway.
  • El Capitano
    El Capitano Posts: 6,400
    Sort of off topic...

    Morrisons fuel lasts longer...

    I get more MPG and more miles out of Morrisons fuel than I do with Tesco or Shell.
    On average its around 60-70 miles which is a fair bit!

    Same here.
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    So for those of you visiting France imminently especially in Pas de Calais,make sure your tanks are full as you will only find diesel if your lucky

    I don't see a problem? :wink:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Diesel is the way forward, especially if you drive a BMW :lol:
  • Andy wrote:

    I don't see a problem? :wink:

    What I mean is 98 and 95 are inexistant and diesel is in shortish supply
    And before you ask why I want to mix 98 into 95 its because I've got 20 liters of it in the lawnmowers jerrican
    I assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    shouldhaveboughtadiesel/10
  • diesel was the first to go off the pumps when the refineries shut but its also the first back with a 10-15 cents increase in price as it is coming from belgium
    I assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    don't you live in Kent?
  • Pas de Calais actually just across the chanel from kent.Its know as lower Kent by the english people living here because its so close
    I assume this is French petrol - be careful in reverse - the car will retreat rapidly at the least provocation.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Oh, gothca :oops: :lol:
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    thanks for your answers,sounds like I'll be mixing 98 into 95.(does that make 96.5)
    Problem being about 2 weeks ago the frogs decided to shut the refineries but leave the stocks open so Sarko decided to use them up but now there is nothing left and it takes about a week to kick a rifinery back to life.So for those of you visiting France imminently especially in Pas de Calais,make sure your tanks are full as you will only find diesel if your lucky

    Pretty much, yes.
    I don't do smileys.

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  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Oh, gothca :oops: :lol:

    Hence my French petrol comment. Never mind.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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    Parktools
  • other than the price.. no problemo at all. shell will make your fumes smell like sunflowers haha!!

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