Recommended gasoline for the 458

I use Shell but have used Marathon (once). The reason I use Shell is because it's only about 10 miles from my house and Ferrari recommends it. I admit that this is not a great reason for using Shell. No issues with Marathon though.

 

I always understood every brand's gas came from the same pipeline and simply had different branded detergents added.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/study-shows-top-tier-gasoline-worth-extra-price/

 

The 458 can go on any EU RON95 gas imo. Not a higher grade (as is explaned in the Owners Manual).

 

It really shouldn't matter so long as the Octane is over 91. Preferably 93. I tend to go to Shell because they are easily found in my area and they have the association with Ferrari. But although I feel a little bit bad when I put something else in the car, like Mobil, I honestly can't tell you I feel a difference- or even think to look for a difference.

Now, watch this and turn up the volume, this will increase the octane of your blood!

 

Costco is fine.

It’s Top Tier gas.

 

In Canada Shell premium 91 contains no ethanol, I use it in all my vehicles.

 

Mel,

In my country we have regular RON95, premium RON95 and RON98. I use premium RON95.

Nevertheless, if I'm not mistaken, you can use RON98 on the 458, as the ECU will automatically adapt.

The owners manual says the car is optimised to work with RON95, so that's what I use, but the RON98 is imho always superior to the RON95 (regular or premium).

Same thing with engine oil, imho. Ferrari recommends 5W40 on the 458, although I feel a 10W60 would protect and lubricate the engine better, namely in my country where temperatures reach 40ºC in the summer very often and I barely use my car in the winter. Nevertheless, I go with 5W40 as Ferrari wishes.

Kind regards,

Nuno.

 

I always used Shell. But here in Fl. most Shell stations are run by some sort of quick stop. Poorly maintained pumps, dirty stores. Have switched to Costco and have experienced no problems. Centers well maintained, clean!

 

The best we have is BP 93 but the ethanol is impossible to escape here

 

In California, Governor Moonbeam now requires us to run our vehicles using personally composted materials. The 458 seems to run better when using leafy vegetables and organic fruits. I must admit I did some illegal dumpster diving once at an In N Out and the vehicle ran much faster on the higher protein and grease diet.

 

For the sake of those of us in the US, I looked this up and RON 95 = US 91 / RON 98 = US 94. Where I live its possible to get 91 and sometimes possible to get 93 (which I think is about RON 97). Nuno, I think if you are running your car hard for extended periods of time when the temp is very hot outside like tour 40C (104F !!) then I would first consult the owners manual. I just looked in my owners manual for the recommended tire pressures for my GTC4 and I discovered it is more detailed than the suggested pressures sticker on the door jam. Its possible the owners manual has information about running the car in higher temps?

 

Jerry I don't recall seeing any special recommendation for driving in temperatures above 35ºC on the owners manual but then again I'll doublecheck, as it was a long time ago since I read it from cover to cover. Car behaves well and fans work as expected. Car only suffers when driving at slow speeds (below say 80kph) or when it stops, as engine temp quickly goes up and fans immediately spring into action, but that's also valid for the kind of weather we're facing over here right now (around 15ºC).

I believe cars suffer more in extreme heat than in extreme cold, but the 458 has been a true warrior so far (*knocks on wood*).

Kind regards,

Nuno.

 

Yes its amazing, most people would think the engine gets hottest when you are really on it, but I have seen it heats up even more when you have just driven really hard and then you are forced to drive very slowly or are suddenly stuck in traffic. I pointed this out to a friend last summer as we drove some really scenic roads and were allowed to drive them really really hard and at the end of the run we had to stop and I said watch the engine temp spike now...

 

COSTCO has been fine with my BMW's. However I use Shell for my 488.

 

Always use a top tier fuel with good cleansing additives, and throw in some cleaner periodically. Direct injection (DI) engines more easily have a buildup of carbon.

“[Over] time DI can lead to clogged fuel systems and engine carbon buildup. The result can be engine hesitation and a loss of power—and the need for expensive repairs.

Some carmakers, including BMW and Kia, have issued technical service bulletins (TSBs) to their dealers recommending that drivers use only name-brand detergent gasoline—without ethanol additives—and that they periodically add a fuel-system cleaner when they refuel.”

You can see why from this diagram. Unlike non-DI engines, hardly any fuel with its detergent gets to the intakes or valves.

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Excellent writeup, Need4Spd.

That's why I use premium RON95: the recommended fuel as per owners manual and being premium, the gas with the most addictives in it. I am however wary of using fuel addictives and mixing them with the fuel in the tank.

To prevent carbon buildup, fellow 458 owners I know also do one of two things (or the two, if possible) once all fluids are at the optimal temperature:

- Find a strech of open road at drive some >10km at a constant speed of >300kph.
- Shift up all gears at redline three or four times in +/- 10km intervals.

Don't know which one works best to prevent carbon buildup (if any), but I'd like to hear from you guys. Not being an engineer, it's my humble opinion that driving the car hard at times, give it hell, drive it like you stole it, take it for a spirited drive, call it what you want, may be effective in preventing carbon buildup. The worst possible thing being driving in city traffic and/or constant speed at legal limits.

Kind regards,

Nuno.

 

300 kph would land me in jail here in the U.S.!


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No difference here. But first, they have to catch you

Kind regards,

Nuno.