RICA with Normal Petrol?

[DuncVolvoTurbo]

I am hoping for a bit of help. I have always ran Shell V-Power in my car, even before it had the RICA ecu put into it, but with the weather (I'm guessing), I am finding it hard to get any high octane petrol.

What side effects will I notice running a RICA on normal petrol?

[t5_monkey]

In this weather... if you don't cane it... Minimal I would have thought.

If you're driving hard, and the engine is hot you may get knock and retardation - fine if your knock sensor is working, but may cause damage if not, and just something to be avoided really.

Oh and it'll prob feel a fair bit slower.

It'll be fine just don't spank it, which I imagine you won't be in this weather anyway.

PS... when's the next VOC meet ? :D

[gmain1967]

I am hoping for a bit of help. I have always ran Shell V-Power in my car, even before it had the RICA ecu put into it, but with the weather (I'm guessing), I am finding it hard to get any high octane petrol.

What side effects will I notice running a RICA on normal petrol?

Same problem here Dunc - no Vpower, and same when I was on M6 on Tuesday last week.

I used Esso Supreme which was best I could find and not noticed much difference, though I am on snow tyres and the weather hasn't exactly been ideal for putting the power down....!

[DuncVolvoTurbo]

It'll be fine just don't spank it, which I imagine you won't be in this weather anyway.


Ah, you don't know me very well Monkey! lol

Would I be best to stick the standard one back in just now, or will that have a bad effect (switching between the 2 in a relatively short space of time)?

BTW, the next VOC will be at the Hamilton Toby Carvery on February 2011, so a fair bit away.

[LiamT4]

You could try adding an octane booster to normal petrol, if your finding it hard to get 99.

[t5_monkey]

Ah, you don't know me very well Monkey! lol

Would I be best to stick the standard one back in just now, or will that have a bad effect (switching between the 2 in a relatively short space of time)?

BTW, the next VOC will be at the Hamilton Toby Carvery on February 2011, so a fair bit away.

I doubt very much you'll damage it if you're on part throttle or short bursts of full power - just don't go mental :)

[nobananas]

To be honest I have had to run on regular unleaded from time to time and have never noticed a huge difference but I know others have. Think a lot depends on individual vehicles, they don't all seem to react the same way.

[DuncVolvoTurbo]

Well I did put the old ecu back in it for now. I'd forgotten how slow the car was at first :D

[Quicksilver]

I run mine on both super and normal with no ill effects.

[The Flying Moose]

Well I did put the old ecu back in it for now. I'd forgotten how slow the car was at first :D

If its of any help to you this is the official line from the Rica literature on their website:

"This ECM upgrade requires 98 RON super-unleaded in order to achieve the maximum performance and maximum fuel economy. 95 RON can be used but performance and economy will be adversely affected."

[woody]

I doubt very much you'll damage it if you're on part throttle or short bursts of full power - just don't go mental :)

Fully agree. I've been caught out a few times and had to use Half-fat unleaded, but I've just gone into 'Potter Mode' and it's been fine.