I agree whole-heartedly. But, as I said, in some out-of-the-way places you can only get 91 octane (and deisel). I still don't understanf though, why there needs to be 95 and 98 octane petrol. If 98 is so much better (which I believe it is) then why make 95 at all? Just give the consumers a choice between 91 crap and 98 good stuff, and they will mostly buy 98. Throw 95 into the equation and all you get is confusion. Many country locations sell 95 premium - even shell and bp outlets, so why should country people be discriminated against? It costs the same to transport either fuel. Most country people may not even be aware they are not getting the same as their city cousins, after all 95 is called premium, but you certainly notice it when you are used to having the choice, then can't get it.
I recently drove from Brisbane to Melbourne in my Mini and found that 98 octane wasn't available anywhere on the New England Highway. I ended up putting 95 in at Glen Innes, then didn't refuel (other than using my 10lt emergency) until I got to Bathurst, where I could get 98 (choice of Optimax or Ultimate).
Cheers, Watto.

With all due respect, BP is the only company in WA to sell 98octane fuel. So having a choice in the first place is still doing one better than WA. Also BP is only the 3rd largest company in WA, behind Caltex and Shell as far as station numbers go, hence the availabilty of the 98Octane fuel is minimal. There is a reason why 98 Octane fuel isnt populous at all stations though, that is that demand exceeds supply...

I read on BP's NZ website that a while back Kwinana WA was the only place that made 98 Ultimate. It was shipped from there to NZ and probably Sydney too.
Likewise Mobil 8000 all came from Melbourne. So that limited supply.
Whereas 95 was made by everybody and more available.

BTW they did an economy test on Today Tonite or ACA a month ago. 95 won...

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

ahh ok... thats interesting.

i saw the test... I would question its accuracy but at least the ULP91 lost...

I'm using standard unleaded and Flashlude with the 1100 Clubman but will convert over to BP Ultimate and Flashlube when I get the round nose going with the 1275.
Ziff

The way I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, but almost all petrol sold in Victoria comes from either Shell in Geelong, or Mobil in Altona. Even BP and Caltex - they have it made by the others to their specification. The same apparently goes for Sydney where they have a Caltex refinery (what others?) and BP in WA. This saves on the considerable cost of interstate freight.
This still doesn't explain why the two types. If 98 is only available by BP in WA, that might be explained because BP doesn't want to make 98 for its rivals. But, is 98 available at ALL BP outlets in WA (I think not)? If 95 is available at BP outlets in WA, why? Why not just make 98? This is still a question that nobody in the fuel industry (and admitedly my contacts are basically restricted to media reps) has been able or willing to answer.
Consider this - we are told by both BP and Shell that 98 octane is better for our cars and better for the environment, has less carcnogenic Benzine and other aromatics than lower octane fuel and provides better fuel economy. So, again, why sell 95 as well?

As for the economy test on ACA - I think it was run under fairly dubious paramters anyway.

I recently attended a media re-launch for "new improved" BP Ultimate. Nobody at the launch, even one of the top engineering guys, could explain to me how Ultimate had been improved over what it was before. Apart from the new, more visible signage and a bit of a vague mention about "new detergents" for more effecient engine cleaning, I couldn't find any eveidence that it had actually changed.
All the performance and economy testing had been carried out under very strict and exhaustive criteria (which I believe) and showed all the improvements of using Ultimate over 91 octane fuel. It was all very impressive and above board.
But, when I asked what similar studies between Ultimate and 95 octane petrol were available, I was told that no such comparisons had been done. When I enquired why BP was still marketing 95 octane petrol, if Ultimate was so good, I got no reply, and found myself suddenly unable to talk to any of the engineers. Hmmm.............

In terms of environmentally friendly fuels - well, no petrol is that, but recent government legislation means that ALL unleaded petrol must have less than 1% Benzine. I don't think all the other nasties get a mention though.

So, again, it all comes back to my main question. Why is 95 still made?

Watto

Also, and I think some Tassie people could confirm this, I don't think you can buy 98 octane fuel anywhere in the state.

Just another example of Tassie - being considered a country/regional destination - is descriminated against by not having the fuel available.

In case you hadn't worked it out by now, this whole question of fuels is one of my pet issues. All I want is some answers.

Watto.

I have been to a couple of BP servos between Morwell and Dandenong in the last couple of weeks and both were only selling 91 and 98, tho both had sold 95 just a few weeks ago??

There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or rreason to it. Our local BP sold 91 and 95. They recently started selling Ultimate, so now they have 91, 95 and 98.
Watto

I think it's just marketing. Up here the pumps that had LRP in now have 95 (at BP) or Vortex 98 (at Caltex).

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Are you that's Vortex98 and not just Vortex? Most Caltex places I've seen (only a few in Sydney sell the 98) are selling normal Vortex where they used to sell LRP.
Confusing, innit?

Watto

Don't know what happened there. How did that smiley get in the middle.
That should have said: "Only a few in Sydney are selling the 98)

Watto

Did it again.

Must be some computer techno jargon making it happen. Forget the brackets, it said Only a few in Sydney are selling the 98

Grrr.......

Watto.

Nope most have it now, around Blacktown- seven Hills- baulkham Hills anyway.
Guess they had to find a use for the empty LRP tanks...

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

OK, I stand corrected. Last time I was there (June) I only saw a few. Haven't seen any in Melbourne yet. Coming back up to Sydney in a couple of weeks for the Ausmini Dyno Day, and other things. Will see what it's like then.
Watto.