Premium fuel solved a stalling problem on our i30.

I own a 2009 Hyundai i30 petrol 1.6 Estate (manual) bought from a Hyundai dealership in 2010. This car has been a likeable, reliable car to drive over the last 20,000 miles. However, more recently my wife and I, unless we were very careful, would stall the engine on engaging the clutch when moving off from stationary. This occurred when the engine was at normal running temperature. We both have around 45 years experience driving many different cars and have not experienced this problem before. A Hyundai check at its normal service date found all systems to be OK and a road test did not highlight anything. Still faced with the problem and remembering your commendations on the use of higher grades of fuel I decided to try Shell V Power over the cheapest supermarket unleaded. I have used this totally for the last 1000 miles and have been surprised by the results with stalling being eliminated after approximately 500 to 700miles and our confidence in the car returning.

Asked on 2 March 2013 by RN, Cavendish, Suffolk

Answered by Honest John
That's because the engine pulls cleanly from lower revs due to the higher octane of the fuel. The problem with the i30 and cee'd petrol engines is that they are so quiet it's very difficult to hear the engine revs which is how you would instinctively declutch in cars you have driven before.
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Well equipped. Refined. Good ride and handling. Economical. Available as a 1.6 diesel auto, which is rare. Five-year unlimited mile warranty.
 

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