Jun 29, 2015, 02:57 PM
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Gas for c class (US)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: boston MA
2015 C400
so if you were to use the techron concentrate additive because you are pumping your car with a non top tier gas station, how often do you need to use this techron concentrate and is it the entire bottle at once? i found it on amazon.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 703
Likes: 68
From: Boston Area
2021 Mojave Silver E450, 2024 Black on Black Jaguar F-pace P400, 2011 335d (RIP), 2010 E350 (sold)
From what I have read on the subject (and there is a LOT out there, some good and some bad) additives like Techron help with carbon buildup on valves in engines with port injection, but not with direct injection. Do you agree with this or have any experience with or images of the intakes of higher mileage MB direct inject engines? I know they are pretty new but I was hoping that you or someone might have some insight into how MB is faring in this area? I know that BMW for example requires carbon cleaning (with crushed walnut shells) every 50K miles.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
From what I have read on the subject (and there is a LOT out there, some good and some bad) additives like Techron help with carbon buildup on valves in engines with port injection, but not with direct injection. Do you agree with this or have any experience with or images of the intakes of higher mileage MB direct inject engines? I know they are pretty new but I was hoping that you or someone might have some insight into how MB is faring in this area? I know that BMW for example requires carbon cleaning (with crushed walnut shells) every 50K miles.
So yes you are correct regarding port upside of the valve. Both Ford & Benz keep the inlet valve clean by pulsing the injector briefly while the inlet valve is open & this keeps the tulip clean. I've been monitoring DI cars in SA & no issues at all.
VAG group seems to have the most trouble with DI & have installed a LP injector in the inlet manifold. Much of what burns onto a valve tulip is VI improver from the engine oil coming down the valve guide plus captive crankcase breather crud.
Benz long experience with building diesels stood them in good stead for DI gasoline.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 703
Likes: 68
From: Boston Area
2021 Mojave Silver E450, 2024 Black on Black Jaguar F-pace P400, 2011 335d (RIP), 2010 E350 (sold)
As I said earlier, DI engines don't enjoy inlet manifold cleaning. We covered this at length on the W204 forum at the DI engine launch.
So yes you are correct regarding port upside of the valve. Both Ford & Benz keep the inlet valve clean by pulsing the injector briefly while the inlet valve is open & this keeps the tulip clean. I've been monitoring DI cars in SA & no issues at all.
VAG group seems to have the most trouble with DI & have installed a LP injector in the inlet manifold. Much of what burns onto a valve tulip is VI improver from the engine oil coming down the valve guide plus captive crankcase breather crud.
Benz long experience with building diesels stood them in good stead for DI gasoline.
So yes you are correct regarding port upside of the valve. Both Ford & Benz keep the inlet valve clean by pulsing the injector briefly while the inlet valve is open & this keeps the tulip clean. I've been monitoring DI cars in SA & no issues at all.
VAG group seems to have the most trouble with DI & have installed a LP injector in the inlet manifold. Much of what burns onto a valve tulip is VI improver from the engine oil coming down the valve guide plus captive crankcase breather crud.
Benz long experience with building diesels stood them in good stead for DI gasoline.
I heard about VW doing something to try to address the buildup issues, but never read up on it. Are you saying that they added a second fuel injector and everything that goes with it to each cylinder or one in the manifold? Its not that I don't believe you, but more that it seems that would be pretty complex and expensive.
Having said this, I was also wondering how much value detergents in gasoline provide to DI engines, assuming of course the injectors are not getting it on the tulips to keep them clean? Is there a value in the combustion chamber or elsewhere?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I missed your mentioning DI engines, and I am not trying to be confrontational here. I was mostly curious about how MB DI engines are doing with carbon buildup. Thanks for the description, very enlightening.
I heard about VW doing something to try to address the buildup issues, but never read up on it. Are you saying that they added a second fuel injector and everything that goes with it to each cylinder or one in the manifold? Its not that I don't believe you, but more that it seems that would be pretty complex and expensive.
Having said this, I was also wondering how much value detergents in gasoline provide to DI engines, assuming of course the injectors are not getting it on the tulips to keep them clean? Is there a value in the combustion chamber or elsewhere?
I heard about VW doing something to try to address the buildup issues, but never read up on it. Are you saying that they added a second fuel injector and everything that goes with it to each cylinder or one in the manifold? Its not that I don't believe you, but more that it seems that would be pretty complex and expensive.
Having said this, I was also wondering how much value detergents in gasoline provide to DI engines, assuming of course the injectors are not getting it on the tulips to keep them clean? Is there a value in the combustion chamber or elsewhere?
Here is the VW/VAG group fix from Golf VII onward: (as I say MB & Ford go the injector pulse on back of tulip route & control valve stem leakdown)
LP injector in the inlet manifold to keep the inlet system clean in conjunction with HP DI . The inlet system is served by a single LP injector.
In the case of a Benz DI. The value of detergent gas is keeping injectors, combustion chambers & valve tulips clean. Combustion chamber cleanliness is where Techron has a clear lead over it's competitors.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jan 29, 2015 at 03:16 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 703
Likes: 68
From: Boston Area
2021 Mojave Silver E450, 2024 Black on Black Jaguar F-pace P400, 2011 335d (RIP), 2010 E350 (sold)
You are not being confrontational. This is a civilised discussion which is why most of us are members here.
Here is the VW/VAG group fix from Golf VII onward: (as I say MB & Ford go the injector pulse on back of tulip route & control valve stem leakdown)
LP injector in the inlet manifold to keep the inlet system clean in conjunction with HP DI . The inlet system is served by a single LP injector.
...
In the case of a Benz DI. The value of detergent gas is keeping injectors, combustion chambers & valve tulips clean. Combustion chamber cleanliness is where Techron has a clear lead over it's competitors.
Here is the VW/VAG group fix from Golf VII onward: (as I say MB & Ford go the injector pulse on back of tulip route & control valve stem leakdown)
LP injector in the inlet manifold to keep the inlet system clean in conjunction with HP DI . The inlet system is served by a single LP injector.
...
In the case of a Benz DI. The value of detergent gas is keeping injectors, combustion chambers & valve tulips clean. Combustion chamber cleanliness is where Techron has a clear lead over it's competitors.
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 45
Likes: 4
MB C450 - June 2016
So looking for US opinions on whether c450 owners think there is a difference between the top tier brands. Is Shell V-Power Nitro, Chevron Techron, etc. better than a premium grade from other top tier stations like Costco or QT?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 264
From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
Any premium "top tier" gas will have additives that are designed to limit engine deposits. I don't think it really matters which particular one you use as long as it's premium fuel with additives to reduce engine deposits.
While these gasoline additives are commonly referred to as "detergents", and the name has stuck, most are not technically detergents. Just in case anyone actually cares about the chemistry
While these gasoline additives are commonly referred to as "detergents", and the name has stuck, most are not technically detergents. Just in case anyone actually cares about the chemistry
