RICA with Normal Petrol?

**DuncVolvoTurbo** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 21:55

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** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 22:01

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 ?

**gmain1967** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 22:05

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 22:07

Originally Posted by t5_monkey

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** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 22:54

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

**t5_monkey** · Sunday 12th December 2010, 23:03

Originally Posted by DuncVolvoTurbo

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** · Monday 13th December 2010, 20:25

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** · Tuesday 14th December 2010, 20:01

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

**Quicksilver** · Tuesday 14th December 2010, 20:17

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

**The Flying Moose** · Tuesday 14th December 2010, 20:23

Originally Posted by DuncVolvoTurbo

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

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."