Adaptation to regular gas
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 254
Likes: 60
From: Houston, TX
Mercedes Benz 2007 GL450 , 2012 BMW 528i
I have been running sam's club 87 for last 3 years. Approximately 25K local miles. I don't have the tool to check fuel quality flag in system, but no performance issues. I run a bottle of gum out twice a year.
At max highway mileage has been about 19-20/gallon. Everyday mileage computed by ECU is about 12.5mpg.
At max highway mileage has been about 19-20/gallon. Everyday mileage computed by ECU is about 12.5mpg.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 628
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Yeah, maybe I can hook up the tool and see what mine still set at at… I’ve been driving regular for well over a year, about 12 K and I have never heard a ping out of the motor. Just a re-cage everybody’s brains, the day I switched to 87 octane on an almost empty tank; from the drive home from the station the ECU had sensed and automatically set the low octane flag so I didn’t have to do anything in star to make this happen.
So I would be very shocked, appalled and surprised if that flag were now set to no.
And no way in heck am I going to set it to yes with 87 in the system.
I am still a little fuzzy on how the actual adaptation occurs, whether it’s a set number of pings over a certain amount of time that automatically retards everything and sets the low octane flag. And then, conversely, in order for the ECU to set the low octane flag to no?
So I would be very shocked, appalled and surprised if that flag were now set to no.
And no way in heck am I going to set it to yes with 87 in the system.
I am still a little fuzzy on how the actual adaptation occurs, whether it’s a set number of pings over a certain amount of time that automatically retards everything and sets the low octane flag. And then, conversely, in order for the ECU to set the low octane flag to no?
IF you were interested in doing the experiment, I would put a tank of premium in, along with cleaner, and set the flag back to No. Then resume the regular after that tank is dry.
I am curious to peek inside my own motor's cylinders again to check whether the carbon deposits are still present.
