87 octane in a e320?
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Joined: May 2023
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e320
87 octane in a e320?
Just picked this car up as my beater/DD, I was just wondering if I need to put premium gas? Gas prices here in Canada are insanely stupid and I am just trying to save some cash as I already have a BMW and a Porsche sucking money from me.
Is it safe to do so? Would I notice any difference in power or anything?
Thanks
Is it safe to do so? Would I notice any difference in power or anything?
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2017
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C320
My E320 has been on a steady diet of 87 octane for the last 50k miles. Now going on 215k total. I only use 91 in extremely hot weather (100f+) and mountain driving. The 91 octane returns slightly worse fuel economy than 87.
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fleet
i would say definitely for turbo engines and the V8S but not v6s
it says clearly to use premium, this was not easy to figure out
Last edited by e350forme; Jun 6, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
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E200 Kompressor
it says right in the manual if usin 87 octane fuel in a pinch, dont exceed 2 people/ minimum cargo and never go over 1/2 or at most 2/3 throttle.
this is just a temporary fix in case traveling and some buck tooth nowhere gas station only has 87 octane
this is just a temporary fix in case traveling and some buck tooth nowhere gas station only has 87 octane
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C320
Last edited by tjts1; Jun 5, 2023 at 09:58 AM.
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From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
You could do it without damaging the engine, but you may not really save any money in the long run. Some years ago I had a Lexus LS430. In that forum, people were always debating the need for high-octane fuel. One of the more tech-savvy members did a study of the impact of using regular fuel versus premium. His findings were that the engine management system took good care of the engine and no damage was done, BUT when using regular gas, the system dialed back the spark advance and valve parameters such that the engine ran smoothly but delivered lower fuel power and mileage. When he calculated his actual fuel cost per mile driven, the results were almost exactly the same cost per mile. He paid less per gallon of fuel, but burned more fuel per mile driven.
I cannot say whether MB engines will deliver similar results, but it would not surprise me at all if they did. I know your E320 is a low-investment daily driver, but the summary on the Lexus board was that if you could afford to buy the big Lexus, you could afford premium gas. . . and if you couldn't afford premium gas, then you bought the wrong car. Might not apply here, though.
I cannot say whether MB engines will deliver similar results, but it would not surprise me at all if they did. I know your E320 is a low-investment daily driver, but the summary on the Lexus board was that if you could afford to buy the big Lexus, you could afford premium gas. . . and if you couldn't afford premium gas, then you bought the wrong car. Might not apply here, though.
