Gasoline additive
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From: Chicago
2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
Depending on where you are in the world - a gasoline additive may be needed. If you're in North America - visit https://toptiergas.com. In my early days at Bosch - we worked extensively to approve Techron for use in BMWs. Tricky exercise as the manufacturer of the injectors and not wanting to imply a defect that needed to be cured with a fuel additive, nor imply an engine design defect, etc. But we got it done and Techron was the formulation. It then became part of advertised gasolines. That was all taken over on a much grander scale in the form of top tier gasolines where vehicle and equipment manufacturers write and enforce the standards. Mercedes-Benz is one of those manufacturers.
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From: Elk Grove, CA
2011 w212, 2018 W166, 2024 v167
Depending on where you are in the world - a gasoline additive may be needed. If you're in North America - visit https://toptiergas.com. In my early days at Bosch - we worked extensively to approve Techron for use in BMWs. Tricky exercise as the manufacturer of the injectors and not wanting to imply a defect that needed to be cured with a fuel additive, nor imply an engine design defect, etc. But we got it done and Techron was the formulation. It then became part of advertised gasolines. That was all taken over on a much grander scale in the form of top tier gasolines where vehicle and equipment manufacturers write and enforce the standards. Mercedes-Benz is one of those manufacturers.
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From: Elk Grove, CA
2011 w212, 2018 W166, 2024 v167
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
sounds like it needs an 'Italian tune-up', borrow the car for an afternoon, and drive it hard, keeping the revs up for extended runs at speed. Do this about once a month for ongoing maintenance.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
Costco's Kirkland is, however. We use Costco Premium as much as practical. It helps that its the cheapest gas in my area.
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2016 S550
The only thing I could recommend would be Techron. However, don't think that it'll clean valves etc on direct injection engines.
I'm quite skeptical of snake oil and other additives that they try to sell you. However, from personal experience, Techron works. Over a decade ago, a co-worker sold me a W140 S420 that was running rough, for a really cheap price. I knew it needed A LOT of work, but the price was a bargain. The first thing it needed was a tune up, I knew it'll need at least spark plugs and maybe dist. rotor and cap. When I first got the car, I poured one bottle of Techron into it and to my surprise, that cured the rough idle.
I'm quite skeptical of snake oil and other additives that they try to sell you. However, from personal experience, Techron works. Over a decade ago, a co-worker sold me a W140 S420 that was running rough, for a really cheap price. I knew it needed A LOT of work, but the price was a bargain. The first thing it needed was a tune up, I knew it'll need at least spark plugs and maybe dist. rotor and cap. When I first got the car, I poured one bottle of Techron into it and to my surprise, that cured the rough idle.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
This is old school advice from various mechanics I've known, but if you run the Techron Concentrate, the recommendation was, larger bottle of Techron in the tank, and half fill the tank with gas, then run that tank out keeping the engine at as high RPMs as practical via manually downshifting, til the tank was mostly empty, refill the tank, drive normally another day or two, then change the oil and filter. yes, this involves an all day several hundred mile joyride.
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E300 w212 | E46 BMW | Golf MK5 | Toyota Tercel | Dodge Intrepid | CBR600
I don't really have an option on these additives but looking at my old MB dealership receipts they would add the MB brand fuel additive with every service.
And some of my other non MB cars have it on the service interval to use the fuel additive every 5k.
So I just have a 24ct box of the cheapest additive I found at the time (liqui moly) and just add it with every oil change I do now, never felt a difference on any of the cars.
And some of my other non MB cars have it on the service interval to use the fuel additive every 5k.
So I just have a 24ct box of the cheapest additive I found at the time (liqui moly) and just add it with every oil change I do now, never felt a difference on any of the cars.
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2008 E350, 2012 ML350, 2014 E350, 2015 ML350
, Definitelyindeed, Sams Club / Walmart is not listed.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
Costco's Kirkland is, however. We use Costco Premium as much as practical. It helps that its the cheapest gas in my area.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
Costco's Kirkland is, however. We use Costco Premium as much as practical. It helps that its the cheapest gas in my area.
This is old school advice from various mechanics I've known, but if you run the Techron Concentrate, the recommendation was, larger bottle of Techron in the tank, and half fill the tank with gas, then run that tank out keeping the engine at as high RPMs as practical via manually downshifting, til the tank was mostly empty, refill the tank, drive normally another day or two, then change the oil and filter. yes, this involves an all day several hundred mile joyride.
I use Techron if the car's tank is half or less, top it off, and I am traveling longer than 1 hour, plus the Italian's tune-up if the traffic permits (hopefully @midnight 
)
Last edited by JCM_MB; Jan 30, 2023 at 04:44 PM.
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From: Canberra ACT
2013 E350 Facelift (Japan Import) 2007 E350 Elegance Wagon, 2014 E350 Wagon facelift model Jap Model
indeed, Sams Club / Walmart is not listed.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
Costco's Kirkland is, however. We use Costco Premium as much as practical. It helps that its the cheapest gas in my area.
https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
Costco's Kirkland is, however. We use Costco Premium as much as practical. It helps that its the cheapest gas in my area.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Just paid $2.49 per gallon for 93 octane Premium at the Tom Thumb gas station associated with my Tom Thumb Grocery store, where I score $1.00 off per gallon. I presume it dispenses no-name gas (certainly not "Top-Tier"). But I don't know for sure, since I am never there to see the delivery tanker on site.
I've had ZERO issues with engine performance... no hard starts, no idling problems, no stumbles, etc. I don't use any additives, either. I did use a bottle of Techron once, just to see what all this periodic, repeated blabber is about here. Made ZERO noticeable difference, so I haven't used it since.
I guess some of us are just lucky. Naw...
I've had ZERO issues with engine performance... no hard starts, no idling problems, no stumbles, etc. I don't use any additives, either. I did use a bottle of Techron once, just to see what all this periodic, repeated blabber is about here. Made ZERO noticeable difference, so I haven't used it since.
I guess some of us are just lucky. Naw...
Last edited by DFWdude; Jan 30, 2023 at 05:59 PM.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Years ago, on a long-distance drive between St. Louis and Orlando, FL (going to DisneyWorld), I refilled my minivan's tank in Georgia at a Chevron station. This "Top Tier" station did not sell me usable gas... more like watered gas. I sputtered down I-75 for hours. until I topped up with better fuel in FL.
One can get bad gas anywhere, I suppose. But if "Top Tier" means you have better confidence in a branded gasoline, this time it failed. I haven't patronized a "Top Tier" Chevron station in the 28 years since...
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2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
I’ve had good luck with the Gum Out with PEA stuff in my cars. Maybe a bottle every 5k miles or with seasonal changes to make sure no condensation (water) build up sits in the tank for long.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
Top Tier stations will have a sticker on the pumps proclaiming as much. The additive is metered into the gas as its put into the station's tanks. Ditto, if the station sells midgrade, that's typically a 50-50 mix of high octane and low octane.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Top Tier, now thats funny, we have a BP, Sunoco, Shell and Marathon refineries here in CLE, all the gas comes from those four refineries, additive packages are dumped into the tank in packets while the truck is filled, if it's going to off brand stations, a particular section of the tanker is given a different additive package. most off-brand stations will buy based on price from all four and usually accept that particular brands additive package, tomorrow may be a different refinery that was a penny less so could be many different refiners additive packages in the tank at those stations, The branded stations only use additives for their brand, RBOB is RBOB. All gas is made to a minimum standard, the only difference between BP, Shell, Marathon or Sunoco, Valero is the additive package.
Same thing is true for ethanol, today may be Cargill, tomorrow may be ADM, or a local small producer, once the truck is QC'ed at the inbound gate, it all goes into the same tank,
For you left coasters, most of your ethanol comes from Pacific Ethanol, 2-3 ethanol plants in Cali, for you Bay Area guys, it comes from Stockton.
Same thing is true for ethanol, today may be Cargill, tomorrow may be ADM, or a local small producer, once the truck is QC'ed at the inbound gate, it all goes into the same tank,
For you left coasters, most of your ethanol comes from Pacific Ethanol, 2-3 ethanol plants in Cali, for you Bay Area guys, it comes from Stockton.
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Jan 31, 2023 at 01:18 PM.
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From: 122W, 37N
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I asked the guy filling a station once (because I had to wait for him to be done, I was on fumes), and he pointed to the on-truck additive mixer. He flips a switch, its 'generic' Top Tier. Another setting, its Techron for a Chevron station. We have two refineries in greater SF Bay Area, Chevron and Tosco. Chevron stations always get filled from the Chevron refinery, everyone else can buy from either. Ok, "Tosco" is owned by someone else now, but everyone still calls it that.
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From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
I asked the guy filling a station once (because I had to wait for him to be done, I was on fumes), and he pointed to the on-truck additive mixer. He flips a switch, its 'generic' Top Tier. Another setting, its Techron for a Chevron station. We have two refineries in greater SF Bay Area, Chevron and Tosco. Chevron stations always get filled from the Chevron refinery, everyone else can buy from either. Ok, "Tosco" is owned by someone else now, but everyone still calls it that.
Santa Maria and Rodeo are connected by a pipeline, operated by Conoco, so the gas from each can be produced at either. One refinery owned by Chevron, the other by Phillips 66, a spin-off from Conoco.
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Jan 31, 2023 at 01:35 PM.
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From: 122W, 37N
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Rodeo is a 3rd refinery I forgot to mention as I rarely hear of it. Its less than half the capacity of the Chevron Pt Richmond facility.
