http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/grubco/premium100-1.jpg
As discussed in the "E10 v 95" thread (which got locked) I had planned to try a tank of United's trial-run 100 octane fuel, called Premium 100 (which contains 10% ethanol). A lot of people were against ethanol content in general - myself included, from past experience - but I was curious and somewhat eager to try this stuff out anyway (especially as the only New South Wales stockist is 10min from my home!).
I always like to run my tank empty when I go from a 91 tank to 98 (or 100 in this case) but I miscalculated my work days, and ran out today instead of planned-Monday, so filled it up today. At least Friday prices weren't as high as I feared (I always fill up on Wednesdays).
The good news is that this stuff is only 12c/L higher than regular 91 (that is non-ethanol 91), so it is definately affordable! And far better value than that Optimax crap which was +20c/L higher! (I say crap 'cos I used it several times in my 380 and it did nothing).
As I only filled up today, it's too early for a good analysis of the fuel - and thanks to double-demerits I couldn't open it up too much around the place either. But what I did notice so far is far better responsiveness down low (considering I have used 91 for many many months now), better than I recall of 98 too! But the really wierd thing is that it has somehow made my exhaust sound louder! It is definately and clearly beefier in note, though I have no idea how that can be possible (but who cares!).
So... so far so good. For any other Sydney-siders in NSW, if you can get by Blacktown, try this stuff out! If I like this tank, I'll go back again.

Excellent mate! Can you take some note of any difference in your instant fuel too. I have found with some fuels you can notice the difference there as well. It is a shame that there is only one servo with it.

I fail to see how they are the only people in the state selling this fuel, what retarded company is supplying such a small amount of fuel.

Good luck on the test though

Its probably a test fuel as suggested in the other thread, probably to replace their 98 eventually.

From the United Premium 100 web page at http://www.unitedpetroleum.com.au/index.asp?pgID=65

"premium100 is currently only available in Albury & Bayswater in Victoria and now Blacktown (Sunnyholt Rd), NSW."

KJ.

Edit - Premium 100 locations web page at http://www.unitedpetroleum.com.au/distributor-premium100-locations.asp

shows a few more locations.

So which is it?

I would make sense to me to make it available at a few outlets in a major city such as Sydney. One north, one east, one west, and what about Newie and the Gong? I for one would like to try it out but am not going to drive to Blacktown to do it!!

why is sa all the way out at pooraka. not fair.

Just thought I'd update this thread (a few people were curious about how a tankful of 100 octane fuel would go).
So, how did it go? Well... so so.
The zing I noticed on the first day (ie the extra burst I felt and more sound from the exhaust) didn't continue past the first day - perhaps they were placebos or my imagination(?); by the second day, it drove and felt like 98. If you put the foot down, it'd take off - but I'm dissapointed that I've never experienced that "rocket fuel" feel with 100 in my 380 like I did when I used Optimax Extreme in my manual Magna years ago (the car really flew then; I could wind it up over 200* so smoothly!) [*just once, on the M7, for a few seconds only]
So power and performance was okay (not as impressive as I'd hoped though), but economy crept up right from the start (although I had been playing with the rev range to get a feel for the performance). After a few days I went back to behaving myself (ie driving sedately), but the economy was still high. On 91 I was averaging low 10s, with this I was mid-high 11s (a side effect of the ethanol?). Only on the last day was I able to bring it down to high 10s.
I was fully intending to run at least 3 tanks of the stuff, to see how it'd pan out, but when I returned yesterday for my fill-up they had those "Pump Out Of Service" (or whatever) tag-sleeves over the nozzles, so I uttered "F%$k it!" and filled up elsewhere. I don't plan to go back; it's too hard to get my car down to vapours on a cheap(ish) fuel day - and besides, it wasn't worth it.
Conclusion: if you like higher octane, stick with BP or Shell 98 (that's what I'll do).

While on this ethanol topic, i did a little test of my own over the last week.

Last wednesday, i drove to from the sunshine coast to sydney, 1030km's door to door, using only 95 or 98 ron non ethanol fuel, and managed to get the consumption down to 8.9L/100 (worked out manually, not from the trip computer (filled up at the servo 2km's from home on the way south, refuelled twice on the way there (didnt have to but did anyway) @ grafton and port mac, the refuelled back to full at the shell servo rose bay near where i was staying). On the way home, i used 91 w/ ethanol all the way (refuelled at the same places). There way less than 10km's difference from north to south trips. Worked out manually again, i averaged 10.2l/100k's. Both trips were driven mostly at night, with 2 people, a boot squished full of crap, a/c on, sunroof tilted, using cruise where ever possible.

While on this ethanol topic, i did a little test of my own over the last week.

Last wednesday, i drove to from the sunshine coast to sydney, 1030km's door to door, using only 95 or 98 ron non ethanol fuel, and managed to get the consumption down to 8.9L/100 (worked out manually, not from the trip computer (filled up at the servo 2km's from home on the way south, refuelled twice on the way there (didnt have to but did anyway) @ grafton and port mac, the refuelled back to full at the shell servo rose bay near where i was staying). On the way home, i used 91 w/ ethanol all the way (refuelled at the same places). There way less than 10km's difference from north to south trips. Worked out manually again, i averaged 10.2l/100k's. Both trips were driven mostly at night, with 2 people, a boot squished full of crap, a/c on, sunroof tilted, using cruise where ever possible.

Hi FFEEKY,how did your manual calculations compare to the trip computers reading and what was your conclusion at tests end ? ie, did the lower cost of the ethanol blend offset the worse mileage?

Based on those figures he used about 13.4L more on E10, can't see that working out to be financially beneficial.

E10 - 105.06L
95/98 (why not 91?) - 91.67L

Hi FFEEKY,how did your manual calculations compare to the trip computers reading and what was your conclusion at tests end ? ie, did the lower cost of the ethanol blend offset the worse mileage?

The cars computer said 10.9 when i got home, but that included lots of city driving, and a trip to canberra and back. Totals k's driven was just under 3200 for the week.


Based on those figures he used about 13.4L more on E10, can't see that working out to be financially beneficial.

E10 - 105.06L
95/98 (why not 91?) - 91.67L

Yeah, close enough (i rounded all the decimals)
I didnt use 91 on the way down, because most petrol stations only have an ethanol based 91ron fuel.

I didnt actually work out the costs before i threw the dockets away, ( :doh: ) but i remember premium was $1.39 and 91 was about $1.19/l

So $125 for 91ron (E10) and $128 for 95/98. The savings over such a distance arnt really worth the $3, as i wasted an extra 13L of fuel. From the little bit of research on the all knowing interwebz, it appears about 28L of crude oil was used to make 13L of petrol :doubt:

[Random Ranting]

Over 25,000km/year = 680L of oil wasted each year by using 91 ron E10.
Over the 13,000,000 cars (registered in Aus in 2003 (Cars/Bikes only - Not Commercial) (http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/22e7da19382d4bb2ca256f7200833044!OpenDocument)) 8,840,000,000L of oil wasted every year <24ML Daily> if everyone chose to save $2/tank :tired:

[/Random Ranting]