Heeelp, urgent - pumped regular gas....
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Boston, MA
2005 E320, 2004 C240 4Matic, 2001 S430
Heeelp, urgent - pumped regular gas....
Folks,
I was in a rush at the gas station and didn't notice that I selected regular gas... I only pumped like 6 gallons and then switched to premium (for another 12). I panicked so I also poured in one of those ATP fuel cleaners...
Can someone elaborate on the obvious question "what did I mess up?". I also had to bring the car in to the dealer (to have my aftermarket xenons progammed) and I noticed some rough idling so I mentioned it to them. They said that "something is misfiring in there" so they'll look
I can't remember if that started before or after pumping the gas but hopefully it's not related to the gas issues.
Any comments, suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks guys,
Sergiu
I was in a rush at the gas station and didn't notice that I selected regular gas... I only pumped like 6 gallons and then switched to premium (for another 12). I panicked so I also poured in one of those ATP fuel cleaners...
Can someone elaborate on the obvious question "what did I mess up?". I also had to bring the car in to the dealer (to have my aftermarket xenons progammed) and I noticed some rough idling so I mentioned it to them. They said that "something is misfiring in there" so they'll look
I can't remember if that started before or after pumping the gas but hopefully it's not related to the gas issues.Any comments, suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks guys,
Sergiu
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
It wouldn't do any damage even if you had filled the tank all the way with regular gas (which is 87 octane in California). The worst that would have happened is a reduction in power and a decrease in mileage. Modern cars like the W211 have engine management systems that prevent pre-detonation (knocking and pinging) with lower-octane gas. Don't worry about it.
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
As the others have mentioned, don't sweat it.... The only thing I see you did wrong was to put that additive (fuel cleaner) in the car... This may be the cause of the reported mis firing
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Boston, MA
2005 E320, 2004 C240 4Matic, 2001 S430
Now, let's say the additive caused the misfiring. Would this go away when I fill it up? The normal premium gas here is 93 but Sunoco also sells a 94. Should I fill up with that for a couple of tanks just to get things back to normal?
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
The manual states that it is OK to put regular fuel in the car if you have NO CHOICE. It states that if you do put regular fuel in the car not to rev the engine high and treat it as if it on a race track. I have not put regular fuel on this car yet, but on occasion, I have had to put the cheap stuff in my other Mercedes cars. I never drove them hard and the cars ran perfectly. As soon as I could, I put premium in the car again and that was all.
The problem here is that people assume that cheap gas in DIRTY. If you buy low-octane gas at a reputable station it will be just as clean as the premium fuel. Fuel grades are referring to the octane rating, not the cleanliness of the fuel.
At the same time, there are very few fuel injector cleaners that Mercedes Benz approves for use in their vehicles. I have never put anything other than 44k in my cars. I have had really bad experiences with other brands in the distant past. Some people even report having fuel gaskets and injector damage from some cleaners. You hopefully will not have any permanent negative effects of the cleaner, but I would be willing to bet that the missing/misfiring is from the injector cleaner and not the cheap gas.
There should be no damage from the occasional cheap gas use as long as you don't give the car hell when it has cheap gas. I always get premium, but only if I can not help it I sometimes get whatever the place sells.
Good luck,
Steve
The problem here is that people assume that cheap gas in DIRTY. If you buy low-octane gas at a reputable station it will be just as clean as the premium fuel. Fuel grades are referring to the octane rating, not the cleanliness of the fuel.
At the same time, there are very few fuel injector cleaners that Mercedes Benz approves for use in their vehicles. I have never put anything other than 44k in my cars. I have had really bad experiences with other brands in the distant past. Some people even report having fuel gaskets and injector damage from some cleaners. You hopefully will not have any permanent negative effects of the cleaner, but I would be willing to bet that the missing/misfiring is from the injector cleaner and not the cheap gas.
There should be no damage from the occasional cheap gas use as long as you don't give the car hell when it has cheap gas. I always get premium, but only if I can not help it I sometimes get whatever the place sells.
Good luck,
Steve
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From: Boston, MA
2005 E320, 2004 C240 4Matic, 2001 S430
Ok, update on the rough idling: service advisor said it was due to a bad spark plug wire and they just changed them all (seems like that's what they do these days, they roughly diagnose a problem and then change everything that could cause it). Anyway, still seems rough to me so I'll take it back... They said it's not normal and they don't know what would cause this. I'll keep pumping the premium gas, hopefully once the additive is gone from the system everything will be alright.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by ddrango
So i can put regular gas in my 03' E320? I'm in NYC and regular is 83 or something. What would happen? I have mine leased until march next year.
Your question here reminds me why I don't even consider lease returns if I had to buy a used car. I am sure that you are not the only one who is contemplating or doing this. Prolonged use of cheap gas would probably do some damage to the engine like excess carbon deposits and stuff. This is penny wise and Dollar foolish.
Steve
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From: NJ
Bantha
Originally Posted by ddrango
So i can put regular gas in my 03' E320? I'm in NYC and regular is 83 or something. What would happen? I have mine leased until march next year.
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From: Torquay, England
E-class E300e Estate, Sprinter (stretched limo)
Originally Posted by intrinsico
Ok, update on the rough idling: service advisor said it was due to a bad spark plug wire and they just changed them all (seems like that's what they do these days, they roughly diagnose a problem and then change everything that could cause it). Anyway, still seems rough to me so I'll take it back... They said it's not normal and they don't know what would cause this. I'll keep pumping the premium gas, hopefully once the additive is gone from the system everything will be alright.
I hope your service advisor does not make an issue of you putting in the 'cleaner'. It sounds like there is indeed a problem which needs to be sorted.
Good luck,
John
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From: Irvine, CA
07 M6, 05 Noble, 01 S4, Smart ForTwo
Originally Posted by ddrango
So i can put regular gas in my 03' E320? I'm in NYC and regular is 83 or something. What would happen? I have mine leased until march next year.
