What kind of Octane do you put in your C-Class?
07-24-2002, 11:27 AM
#26
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190 2.3 and C320
The cost of repairing engine damage resulting from your use of 87 octane gas instead of premium will far exceed your savings from using 87 octane.
07-24-2002, 11:42 AM
#27
In addition to potential Pinging problems, there was a rash of posts several months ago from folks using 87 octane. These members were complaining of receiving fault codes from the car, in addition to sluggish performance. I recall the conclusion was you get fault codes with contaminants in the gas (water), or low octane gas.
I recall the owner's manual says you can use lower octane in an emergency... put in only the amount needed to get to a source of better octane, and fill-up with premium asap. It doesn't get any clearer than this.
You bought the car knowing it took premium (I hope) so don't go back on your commitment and feed it junk gas. Just realize you're getting much better mileage than that 4-ton SUV parked next to you at the light and move on down the road with a smile.
I recall the owner's manual says you can use lower octane in an emergency... put in only the amount needed to get to a source of better octane, and fill-up with premium asap. It doesn't get any clearer than this.
You bought the car knowing it took premium (I hope) so don't go back on your commitment and feed it junk gas. Just realize you're getting much better mileage than that 4-ton SUV parked next to you at the light and move on down the road with a smile.
07-24-2002, 11:57 AM
#28
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Originally posted by MB-BOB
In addition to potential Pinging problems, there was a rash of posts several months ago from folks using 87 octane. These members were complaining of receiving fault codes from the car, in addition to sluggish performance. I recall the conclusion was you get fault codes with contaminants in the gas (water), or low octane gas.
In addition to potential Pinging problems, there was a rash of posts several months ago from folks using 87 octane. These members were complaining of receiving fault codes from the car, in addition to sluggish performance. I recall the conclusion was you get fault codes with contaminants in the gas (water), or low octane gas.
07-24-2002, 12:51 PM
#29
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It's all a conspiracy of the oil companies to get an extra nickel from you. The wholesale price difference between grades is pennies, the retail price difference is 10-15 cents. When I say wholesale I mean real wholesale and not what a gas station pays as each station pays different price based on location.
07-24-2002, 01:11 PM
#30
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The only difference between one brand and any other is the additives in most cases. Almost all companies use shared pipelines to distribute the product to keep costs down. If they put a gallon in they can take a gallon out anywhere along the pipeline, it might not be refined by the same company but it meets minimum standards. So, gas is gas until the different companies do their magic with additives for octane, clean air, etc.. These additives are put in at local depots and then loaded onto the tankers.
Which fuel is best for C200K?
08-22-2002, 12:40 AM
#32
Patrick, you should use the octane rating stated in the operator's manual, or the next higher if the recommended octane is not available. Using a higher octane will just waste your money, while doing nothing for your car.
My manual says to use 91 octane, but where I live 93, 89 and 87 are sold, so 93 is what I use.
My manual says to use 91 octane, but where I live 93, 89 and 87 are sold, so 93 is what I use.
09-02-2002, 01:23 PM
#33
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93 + 89 = No Problems???
Back from my NorthCarolina mini RR trip a day earlier to avoid traffic....
I accidentally refilled my half tank with 89 rating gas from an Exxon station. It didn't seem to have had any affect on the engine performance at all.
I wonder if 89 is OK ( here in Va there is no 91 rating or at least I don't recall ever seeing one) or it's the half & half formula that equated to the MB required gas rating.
Peace
I accidentally refilled my half tank with 89 rating gas from an Exxon station. It didn't seem to have had any affect on the engine performance at all.
I wonder if 89 is OK ( here in Va there is no 91 rating or at least I don't recall ever seeing one) or it's the half & half formula that equated to the MB required gas rating.
Peace
09-02-2002, 01:38 PM
#34
The Electronic control unit will retard the timing so the lower octane gas won't detonate. 89 octane probably wouldn't detonate anyway, unless you were driving hard. Still, it is best to use 93.
10-22-2002, 08:55 AM
#36
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89 octane in colder weather?
My 2002 C230K, auto, 1800 miles, is hard to start in weather under 40F. It coughs, sputters and sounds like it is running on 1 or 2 cylinders. I shut it off and it restarts fine. The dealer told me to use 89 octane gas in colder weather. In Missouri, this would be 5-6 months of the year. This advice contradicts everything in the owners manual and all the other paperwork I received when I purchased the car. Any comments? Thanks.
10-22-2002, 09:49 AM
#38
Call Plaza Motors Service in St. Louis (100 miles away, same Winter environment) and ask them what they think of this advice. Then go back to your dealer and tell them what you heard, and ask them to diagnose the real problem with your motor and fix it properly.
There have been several threads previously concerning the (nasty) results of running less than Premium fuel in these cars. You should only use 89 octane in an emergency, adding Premium at the earliest opportunity. It's all in the manual.
There have been several threads previously concerning the (nasty) results of running less than Premium fuel in these cars. You should only use 89 octane in an emergency, adding Premium at the earliest opportunity. It's all in the manual.
10-22-2002, 10:56 AM
#39
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thanks
Mr. Bob, I bought the car at Plaza and would really rather have it serviced there but they do not have weekend service so I need to take a day of vacation to get to St. Louis. I will do it though. I'll still use 91 octane gas but I may try a different brand to see if that helps.
10-22-2002, 11:13 AM
#40
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My car also had a couple of bad starts which I attributed to rain, cold weather.. we'll see how it does now.. it's been starting fine in NY since mid-May..
Today, it was 40 degrees F .. no problemo..as it should be !
Today, it was 40 degrees F .. no problemo..as it should be !
10-22-2002, 03:33 PM
#43
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Mine started rough once - was shaking like the engine was going to jump out. Restarted fine after a shutdown. Dealer diagnosed bad coil and replaced it. Fine since (over 6 months).
10-22-2002, 04:44 PM
#45
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The M111 engine has an electronic ignition system - it doesn't have a mechanical distributor or hi-voltage wires. Instead, every spark plug has its own coil. When a coil goes "bad" (internal short-circuit, or broken down insulator or in some cases broken conductor), the affected cylinder starts misfiring.
However, the service writer simply said "bad coil".
However, the service writer simply said "bad coil".
10-22-2002, 04:51 PM
#48
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Of course it has spark plugs! This is not a diesel engine.
If a coil "goes bad", it may only affect starting, or it may not work at all. It depends, I guess, on the extent of the damage. But, in any event, there should be a misfiring code thrown, and although it doesn't show on the MFD, it gets stored in the ECU's memory. Your dealer will see it in the Star system.
If a coil "goes bad", it may only affect starting, or it may not work at all. It depends, I guess, on the extent of the damage. But, in any event, there should be a misfiring code thrown, and although it doesn't show on the MFD, it gets stored in the ECU's memory. Your dealer will see it in the Star system.
10-22-2002, 05:28 PM
#49
Re: thanks
Originally posted by tcmo
Mr. Bob, I bought the car at Plaza and would really rather have it serviced there but they do not have weekend service so I need to take a day of vacation to get to St. Louis. I will do it though. I'll still use 91 octane gas but I may try a different brand to see if that helps.
Mr. Bob, I bought the car at Plaza and would really rather have it serviced there but they do not have weekend service so I need to take a day of vacation to get to St. Louis. I will do it though. I'll still use 91 octane gas but I may try a different brand to see if that helps.
If there are two dealers, my thought was not to drive to St. L, but to call Plaza by phone and ask their service dept about the (suspect) advice you're getting in Columbia. If they confirm that the advice is bogus, I would definitely tell your local dealer in Columbia of the St. Louis advice and make them fix it locally. As others have posted here, I suspect you have a coil, or other problem not related to gas usage..
Otherwise, you'll take a vacation day trip to St. Louis, only to find (surprise) that they'll want the car overnight (or for two days) and give you a loaner, meaning another vacation day to retrieve your car. That will get old quickly.
10-22-2002, 07:47 PM
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2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Weve had several days below freezing...no problems at all with starting, always used 93octane. The cold mornings lately rock! The car feels like its got another 25HP on the cold days!!!
