Do you use fuel addatives in your 5 ?

General Discussion Forums MX-5 Chat
2

 
If so maybe you should think twice.------------------------------------ Fuel Additive Video (5th Gear)

3

I use this all the time and I have not had any emmisions problems since I started.

4

The only additive that I’ve used has been Wynns HLA stuff, I wouldn,t give any additives a look to be honest. My car hasn’t had any emission problems during my ownership [8 years] I reckon that most of them are Snake Oil---------------

5

I always give mine a drop of reddex on every fill and only run on shell V-Power fuel. I find the V-Power fuel makes my car run better, but it could be a bit of a placebo…

These ‘power booster’ products seem to be a big thing, halfords has loads of different brands of these ‘snake oils’.

6

I believe that if it works for you, go ahead and do it. I can’t agree with the super unleaded thing in a non FI car, but what the hell if you like it and more importantly you can afford it…

7

Without cracking the old chestnut of super-unleaded vs. normal, I’ve found that such fuel will make the car smoother at low speeds (in stop-start traffic), but isn’t really worth it for the rest of my driving (mostly motorway with a little bit of urban).

I suspect that a lot of the additives would be the same in a car like the MX5 - they will make it run better, especially older ones, or if you’ve ever been unlucky enough to get the last of the tank at the petrol station, but probably won’t get much more power.

8

 I tend to run some every 6 months when I service it, it’s been recommended to me for keeping the injectors spot on and whilst it may or may not, I would rather ensure I do it.

9

I once read something about JDM cars needing higher octane fuel as the fuel in Japan is always of a higher octane than ours. Don’t know if this is true, any comments?

I am also considering advancing my timing 4deg, would a 95ron fuel then give me problems with pinking?

10

JDM cars are exactly the same as UK cars in basic terms, ie engines gearboxes body panels etc. The higher octane requirement is a myth. Change timing to 14 deg gives a marginal improvement, mainly by moving the torque curve. You can run a 1.6 Mk1 at 14 deg with the ordinary 95 ron petrol.