choop

Hey guys,

I'm going to be purchasing my father's 2006 C280 once he gets his new car and he's been putting regular 87 in it. He says he's had no problems in over a year and a half. What are your expert thoughts on this and does it/will it ruin anything?

Thanks!!

-- C

omg its nate

I would just put in what is required. I always use 92 Octane in my car. Someone more knowledgeable might have some pros or cons for you.

Might find something if you search.

Emin

Use 91. In the long run, your engine will run a bit cleaner

jturkel

your car will get worse gas mileage with less than spec. octane. not to mention, the performance of the car will be below normal and you may get hiccups.

choop

Kinda what I thought but will or has my dad ruined the car or is using 91 more for performance and gas mileage?

BF_JC230

Using a lower octane rated gasoline on an engine that requires a higher octane rating can cause engine damage and knocking, so it is advisable to use the recommended octane for high performance engines.

Your father's ECU has been constantly correcting and retarding the timing to insure that there is no knock. He has also not been getting a full burn, and more waste in heaver form is finding it's way to the valve train, CATs, etc.

Use the proper grade fuel...if you don't want to put 91 in your Mercedes-Benz...well, mom always said if you don't have something nice to say...

OneOfaKindTrini

MY Dad Uses 93.

TemjinX2

just use the gas it saids to use in the manual.

Glyn M Ruck

Use the best gas money can buy to prevent running retarded & one that contains an inlet system cleaner like Techron.

choop

An "inlet cleaner"? I always figured all that crap was marketing garbage.

CHiKompressor

as i understand most gasoline companies have been and are required to put in additives already. i always feel like my car runs better when i give here shell . discount gasoline on the other hand..

choop

Hmmmm, interesting. How do you all feel about Costco or Sam's Club gas? And don't say it sucks just because its 10-15 cents cheaper than regular stations....lol.

CHiKompressor

im not saying it sucks because all gas has to meet certain state and federal guidelines in terms of weight, concentration and stuff. i think its my mind playing games on me i just feel like i get more mpg's and better performance when i put in shell vs a discount gas.

holycaoAMG

+1 on everything everyone said.

Just start using 91 or higher (make sure you stick with it!) for now on and remember the better quality the gas (chevron), the better.

And just because, add a shot of techron concentrate fuel system cleaner and add a full tank of the premium grade chevron gas next time you fill up. You will definately feel a difference in drivability instantly since im pretty sure your inlet system is not in its best condition right now and that the octane rating your running is low.

Your engine is probably begging you for some real 'high explosive jungle juice' us americans call premium unleaded gas for a long time, and todays the day.

krisv420

keep using 87 i wanna see if it makes it past 2011 =P.... Lol you should use whatever the car says to use... Right next to the gas cap it says what to use..

bdgdl08

My grandfather always ran 87 in my car. When I got it, I just ran an additive injector cleaner through the system with a tank of gas, and run premium always. My car's fine.

LILBENZ230

Some on here could run $12/gal 134 octane fuel and still be quite retarded. Sometimes, that has less to do with the gas and more to do with the driver.

Drew - you're not a good example. Your car had like 6 miles on it when you got it. And look at the rim that's all beat up!

bdgdl08

I haven't done any damage to the car... it was like that when I got it after those 6 miles. I was just trying to advise running some cleaner through the engine and don't put swill in it ever again.

I was almost forced to put 87 in my car last week actually. I was on empty and the only gas station only had 87 octane. I decided to press on, running on faith, and found a real gas station. I thought that I had screwed myself.

LILBENZ230

LOL I did that "on faith" thing today. It took 16.1 gallons to fill my car, with just a 16.4 capacity, that was close. It had said "0 Miles" for a while. The dealership I use has a fleet of C300s they only put 87 in. Both the Benz and 135i get GA 93 octane top-tier fuels. I thought this was more critical in cars with forced induction, but I could be wrong. The G37 was forced to use 87 during a gas shortage in several tanks and it didn't run any differently. I don't think you'll hurt them, but you should still use the recommended fuel.

bdgdl08

Your range goes to 0? Mine gets down to around 15 and then just starts showing a picture of a car at a gas pump. Scared the hell out of me the first time I did it. I was on the interstate, watching my range, and suddenly nothing. I stopped immediately.

LILBENZ230

Yes, that picture of the car at the pump came in later years. My car doesn't have that, ever. My range starts at 454 (every fill up) and will end with 0. As soon as it says 0 miles, it will hold about 15.6 gallons. It's pretty accurate. The G37's "Range" function infuriated me. It would be at 45 one second and 10 seconds later be flashing "- - - -". My 2005 has what I think is the perfect range feature and it sucks to know that Benz has gone to the new craze of ridiculously paranoid ones.

FraKctured

They don't advise the premium gas for fun or profit, they simply require the higher octane gas to run properly and consistently. Use the right gas, maybe talk to your mechanic and ask if there are any cleaners you can add to a few tankfuls to clean any residue that may have built up. For the life of me, I can't understand buying a Mercedes Benz and then trying to save $100/year on cheap gas. I always use 92 or 93 and I would not even consider putting anything less in it.

alpinweiss

It has been said on this forum before: If you cannot afford good quality gasoline, perhaps you shouldn't be driving a Mercedes Benz. (A Toyota Corolla, or Nissan Sentra, is a good inexpensive small sedan.)

Also, try to get Top Tier gasolines (www.toptiergas.com).

LILBENZ230

Nothing less than 92, eh? Not even the 91 that it "requires"?

Sometimes it's for running consistently. Sometimes it is because the manufacturer got the best HP/TQ numbers with premium. And sometimes it is total and complete BS - like when Honda used the J30 engine in the 1998 Accord and 1998 Acura CL. Same engine, same numbers but the Acura badge made the car require premium.

All grades of gas have detergents. The idea that you may as well dump tar in the tank if you use 87 is rubbish. All this talk of "OMG use cleaner to clean the build-up" is dramatic and unnecessary. Use the octane it asks for, but don't buy into this the-world-will-end-if-you-use-87 stuff.

Lastly, the W203 is hardly an expensive car anymore. Ownership of one doesn't wealthy.

OneOfaKindTrini

The Gas Tank Door Says Exactly What To DO.