Is Ethanol mixed gas slowly killing my Benz?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 67
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1989 300 SE
Is Ethanol mixed gas slowly killing my Benz?
A dull ache has been building all evening the more I read of all the damage the E10 (ethanol blended gas) can do to a older engine. My benz is a 1989 300SE and well, I'd rather not have the fuel system get slowly ate away from the inside out.
I'm in california where it isn't mandatory but having a real hard time finding e-free gas anywhere!
Has anyone seen any damage from the 10% in a mid eighties gas engine?
I about to check marinas for clean gas... desperate.
Thanks!
I'm in california where it isn't mandatory but having a real hard time finding e-free gas anywhere!
Has anyone seen any damage from the 10% in a mid eighties gas engine?
I about to check marinas for clean gas... desperate.
Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
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1988 Benz 300SEL (w126)
Premium unleaded only! I wouldnt poison my 300SEL with anything else personally.
Paying a slightly higher price for better performance and a cleaner engine will save you more money over the long term.
Paying a slightly higher price for better performance and a cleaner engine will save you more money over the long term.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
1989 300 SE
Yes- true. Clean is better than soot and other fouling.
I've found some remedys to ethanols affects on the system. BG says I need to neutralize the acids with a polyester amine and stop the corrosion with a inhibitor, they sell additives called BG CF5 and BG Supercharge 2. However, Techtron is the only Mercedes-approved additive, so I'm going to look for these ingredients in Techron when I can't find gas without ethanol.
What makes it difficult with high octane is I am reading that the way they raise octane is by adding more ethanol to the mix, I don't know how much more, but I know my Benz doesnt seem to like the 93 premium, seems to actually feel sluggish and is hard to start so I'm guesing maybe 18% E in 93 octane?
My particular engine loves a 90 octane which is a 91 half tank then fill up the rest with 89 and shake, since no one sells 90.
I've found online instruction on how to separate the ethanol from the gas by making it sink to the bottom and draining it off, what a hassle.
I've found some remedys to ethanols affects on the system. BG says I need to neutralize the acids with a polyester amine and stop the corrosion with a inhibitor, they sell additives called BG CF5 and BG Supercharge 2. However, Techtron is the only Mercedes-approved additive, so I'm going to look for these ingredients in Techron when I can't find gas without ethanol.
What makes it difficult with high octane is I am reading that the way they raise octane is by adding more ethanol to the mix, I don't know how much more, but I know my Benz doesnt seem to like the 93 premium, seems to actually feel sluggish and is hard to start so I'm guesing maybe 18% E in 93 octane?
My particular engine loves a 90 octane which is a 91 half tank then fill up the rest with 89 and shake, since no one sells 90.
I've found online instruction on how to separate the ethanol from the gas by making it sink to the bottom and draining it off, what a hassle.
Last edited by schurmann; Jul 26, 2010 at 11:36 AM. Reason: rambling
