Shell V-Power Nitro+ - Cold Starts

SAJ · Post by **SAJ** » Sat May 11, 2013 4:31 pm

I normally always fill up with Tesco 99, but I thought a couple of weeks back I'd try the new Nitro+ from Shell. Well I never really noticed any difference except for one thing....on a cold start the Evora is now hesitant on starting. If it's not a cold start it's fine but definitely on a cold start it is now hesitant before starting. I've had two tank fulls of the stuff through the car and just burning out the last of it today. Going to fill it up fully with T99 again give it a good drive and then check it out tomorrow morning.

Did a google search today also and found a thread on Pistonheads where others have also noticed this too.

Anyone else experienced or noticed this in the Evora? (V-Power Nitro+ not the older V-Power)

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sat May 11, 2013 5:18 pm

Thank you! I had my second tank full of this and was beginning to think it was great. Car feels smoother and sounds smoother too, but this could all be in my head of course. But the other morning, getting the bitch started/idling properly was a nightmare! Will definitely keep an eye on this

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David · Post by **David** » Sat May 11, 2013 6:18 pm

I hadn't made the connection, but the R400 usually starts on the button but the last few times it has backfired and died. Guess what fuel I put in it

woody · Post by **woody** » Sat May 11, 2013 6:45 pm

Not used it, but definitely not sport160 juice then.

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Sat May 11, 2013 7:15 pm

The Scooby guys swear by it. I'm still on a tank of Vpower so will give it a go then. Only difference between the two is a friction decreasing agent so not sure how that would affect running as you suggest - I'm no boffin though!

SAJ · Post by **SAJ** » Sat May 11, 2013 7:23 pm

Well just went out to fill up on T99.

So cold start and as expected the hesitation was there. Filled up to full with 53 litres of T99 so 7 litres of nitro still in the tank but will do 50 miles tonight so should hopefully see if there is a difference when I start it first thing in the morning.

Will report back tomorrow but I think a fair test will be on the 2nd tank full.

ceejam · Post by **ceejam** » Sat May 11, 2013 8:01 pm

I found that old carburettor Mijis run lean on V power compared to standard 95 octane unleaded.
One of my Dad's customers is an ex BP Chemist, and he confirmed this is likely to be the case, that "Super unleaded" fuels do burn leaner.

I wonder if the new Nitro burns even leaner due to the additives, hence the cold start enrichment not being rich enough.

ABZ-Elise · Post by **ABZ-Elise** » Sat May 11, 2013 11:11 pm

It would seem that a few people on the M3 forum I'm on are having the same sort of problems with this Shell Nitro stuff. Some have reported ruff idling and taking longer to fire up since using it.

I was always a fan of V-Power but I might give this nitro+ a miss for now.

Kev.

DDtB · Post by **DDtB** » Sat May 11, 2013 11:30 pm

Porsche likes it. No issues here!

Post by **campbell** » Sat May 11, 2013 11:50 pm

Unless your Elise has a knock sensor or similar, anything above 95RON is utterly pointless and a waste of your money. According to our tame local chemist - McKean (who works in the fuel business...).

So for S1s, it's only an expensive detergent really

j2 lot · Post by **j2 lot** » Sun May 12, 2013 12:26 am

I always use Shell as I have a V-Power card, however after switching between 95 Ron & V-Power several times I definitely get worse mpg with v- power & there really is no noticeable difference in performance. I haven't tried the Nitro v-power & now probably won't bother.
I have also read of people getting lower mpg with normal Shell compared to other premium fuels so might try a switch to test that too.

The Hoff · Post by **The Hoff** » Sun May 12, 2013 12:32 am

Interesting.. Strangely enough a friend of mine who runs a Mazda rx-8 mentioned to me only this evening that his car now starts first time on the same stuff whereas before he struggled to get it started first time..

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sun May 12, 2013 8:04 am

For me, the cleaning purposes is reason enough to use it, particularly given that my engine is now some 14 years old

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Post by **campbell** » Sun May 12, 2013 10:11 am

Fair choice, Jimbo.

Mine ran almost exclusively on 95 for the 60-70k miles before Robin and I opened the engine up, during which inspection things didn't look too bad at all. So I suppose that decided me against the 5-7% price premium.

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sun May 12, 2013 11:00 am

Maybe I'm just a sucker for engine borescope demonstrations at goodwood etc

Scottish Elises