E53 fuel grade?

[Brindlescoops]

Hi, just picked up an E53 conv which I love! From what I have read it can take either E5 or E10 fuel, has anyone with this engine noticed any benefit from using the better grade?

 

[Spider10]

Should be the higher octane what does it say on the fuel filler cap?

 

[alabbasi]

E5 or E10 relates to the level of ethanol not octane (although ethanol does raise octane). Your car will run on either grade because like just about every other car built in the last 25 years, it has variable valve timing and unless you're racing it, you'll likely not notice the difference.

 

[Teego]

In UK e5 is mostly 97 Ron. E10 is 95. You should run on 99 Ron from Shell, Tesco, Esso. I run Gulf or Texaco 97 in my CLS55.

 

[Germgh0st]

+1 for the higher octane fuel, keep trying to tell myself that it's a placebo effect but the car definitely feels more spritely on it.

 

[ALFAitalia]

E5 or E10 relates to the level of ethanol not octane (although ethanol does raise octane).

Sort of....but of course the higher ethanol stuff (E10) is the lower octane fuel in the UK. You can get E85 in the States which is about 108Ron!.....they make special Flexfuel kits to allow an E63 to use it.....then you can tune them to 1000hp plus and use high boost without fear of detonation (pinking).

 

[Spider10]

You need abit more than a flexfuel kit to reach 1000bhp + he's talking about an E53

 

[ALFAitalia]

True.....

 

[alabbasi]

Sort of....but of course the higher ethanol stuff (E10) is the lower octane fuel in the UK. You can get E85 in the States which is about 108Ron!.....they make special Flexfuel kits to allow an E63 to use it.....then you can tune them to 1000hp plus and use high boost without fear of detonation (pinking).

Right, it's an additive that raises octane but that does necessarily mean it's a high octane fuel. In any case, unless you're running a car with a mechanical distributor, your timing will be controlled by a computer that looks at a knock sensor and adjust timing. You should not have any issues with pinging on lower grade fuel even though the manufacturer specifies higher octane fuel.

 

[Tblk]

I always run my E53 on 99Ron. Had it for over a year now.

 

[Brindlescoops]

Thanks guys,

 

[HB]

Super Unleaded everytime. Don’t put 95 in it

 

[Jimmcb]

I have tried both E5 and 10 in my same car/model, and find the super fuels do make the car perform so much better.

Jim

 

[Jimmcb]

Super Unleaded everytime. Don’t put 95 in it

Agreed!