S40 GSI Super Unleaded

lampieuk · Oct 6th, 2008, 14:46

Hi all, first post so please be gentle with me.

I have recently obtained an S40 1.8i GSI from my brother.

After reading several posts etc. I noticed that it is recommended to run it on Super Unleaded fuel to prevent coking.

He has had the car from new and I know that he has never used Super Unleaded fuel. My question is, is it worth me starting to use Super Unleaded fuel now, or am I just wasting money as any damage will have already been done ?

Many thanks.

PS
The car is a 53 plate, with 46,000 on the clock.

Rufe · Oct 6th, 2008, 15:34

Hi mate and welcome to the forum

Before we go any further i am assuming you meant GDi (not GSI), the Mitsubishi engined volvo.

As you have read already, these are quite known for coking up quite badly and i have also read that it can help to run on super. There will no doubt be some coking up occurred already, but the car has a relatively low mileage compared to many other older GDi's (they have been around since 1998 in the S40/V40) so you may benefit from running on super now . How much of a benefit it is though i couldn't say, i will be honest. Hopefully some one who has owned the GDi will be able to help a bit more.

lampieuk · Oct 6th, 2008, 21:03

Hi Rufe and thanks for the reply.

Yes, you are correct I did mean the GDi (told you I was new !!).

Does anyone else have any comments which might help ?

stevo48 · Oct 6th, 2008, 21:09

As above, it apparently helps if you use high octane fuel and take the car for an Italian tune up once a week (give it a good thrash down the motorway), the gdi engine seems to like hard driving and it contributes to keeping the coking up to a minimum, if the head does coke up it will require removal of the cylinder head to rectify also if the timing belt is due for replacing, on that particular engine it is very labour intensive and therefore very expensive to replace.

DavidMarron · Oct 7th, 2008, 11:01

Yes - a good hard thrash once a week and I use Shell Optomax whenever possible.

I had to have a decoke and new injectors (plus cam belt) so be warned!

lampieuk · Oct 7th, 2008, 11:22

Thanks for the advice guys.

Are you able to give me a ball park figure for how much you paid for decoke, injectors and new cam-belt ?

Still think I will keep the car though as I do like it and it cost me nowt in the first place

DavidMarron · Oct 7th, 2008, 15:55

the price was a shocking amount.

I was lucky in that the dealer that sold me the car allowed me to have Volvo do the decoke at £100 per hour! So that was about £1500 that I didnt have to pay for. While the engine was in bits I paid for the cam parts as they have to be off in the decoke so it was only a couple of hundred for all the belts, pulleys and a bit of extra labour. I have a proper price somewhere.

I then needed new injectors that came (off the top of my head) to £800 fitted.

I now have to keep the car for a lifetime to get the money's worth but i had the last one for 16 years

Oct 6th, 2008, 14:46	#1
lampieuk New Member Last Online: Nov 9th, 2012 14:49 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nottingham	S40 GSI Super Unleaded Hi all, first post so please be gentle with me. I have recently obtained an S40 1.8i GSI from my brother. After reading several posts etc. I noticed that it is recommended to run it on Super Unleaded fuel to prevent coking. He has had the car from new and I know that he has never used Super Unleaded fuel. My question is, is it worth me starting to use Super Unleaded fuel now, or am I just wasting money as any damage will have already been done ? Many thanks. PS The car is a 53 plate, with 46,000 on the clock.

Oct 6th, 2008, 15:34	#2
Rufe TRADER Last Online: Sep 16th, 2016 14:55 Join Date: May 2006 Location: FRF Volvo, Swansea (Volvo Main Dealer)	Hi mate and welcome to the forum Before we go any further i am assuming you meant GDi (not GSI), the Mitsubishi engined volvo. As you have read already, these are quite known for coking up quite badly and i have also read that it can help to run on super. There will no doubt be some coking up occurred already, but the car has a relatively low mileage compared to many other older GDi's (they have been around since 1998 in the S40/V40) so you may benefit from running on super now . How much of a benefit it is though i couldn't say, i will be honest. Hopefully some one who has owned the GDi will be able to help a bit more. __________________ Please Click HERE to read our Feedback... // OR, Click HERE to read our FAQ's... <<< FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PHONE: 01792 790066 / 01792 784272 >>> * YOU MUST QUOTE 'C3' WHEN CALLING FOR OUR BEST PRICES! (weekdays 9am to 5pm) *

Oct 6th, 2008, 21:03	#3
lampieuk New Member Last Online: Nov 9th, 2012 14:49 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nottingham	Hi Rufe and thanks for the reply. Yes, you are correct I did mean the GDi (told you I was new !!). Does anyone else have any comments which might help ?

Oct 6th, 2008, 21:09	#4
stevo48 Premier Member Last Online: Jul 9th, 2020 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Halifax West yorkshire	As above, it apparently helps if you use high octane fuel and take the car for an Italian tune up once a week (give it a good thrash down the motorway), the gdi engine seems to like hard driving and it contributes to keeping the coking up to a minimum, if the head does coke up it will require removal of the cylinder head to rectify also if the timing belt is due for replacing, on that particular engine it is very labour intensive and therefore very expensive to replace.

Oct 7th, 2008, 11:01	#5
DavidMarron Member Last Online: Aug 24th, 2023 17:54 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: reading	Yes - a good hard thrash once a week and I use Shell Optomax whenever possible. I had to have a decoke and new injectors (plus cam belt) so be warned!

Oct 7th, 2008, 11:22	#6
lampieuk New Member Last Online: Nov 9th, 2012 14:49 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nottingham	Thanks for the advice guys. Are you able to give me a ball park figure for how much you paid for decoke, injectors and new cam-belt ? Still think I will keep the car though as I do like it and it cost me nowt in the first place

Oct 7th, 2008, 15:55	#7
DavidMarron Member Last Online: Aug 24th, 2023 17:54 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: reading	the price was a shocking amount. I was lucky in that the dealer that sold me the car allowed me to have Volvo do the decoke at £100 per hour! So that was about £1500 that I didnt have to pay for. While the engine was in bits I paid for the cam parts as they have to be off in the decoke so it was only a couple of hundred for all the belts, pulleys and a bit of extra labour. I have a proper price somewhere. I then needed new injectors that came (off the top of my head) to £800 fitted. I now have to keep the car for a lifetime to get the money's worth but i had the last one for 16 years

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