i will be entering my 2001 C240 in an autocross event this weekend, and i know a local gas station sells race fuel. i was wondering if anyone knows anything about using high octane fuels in cars like my own. i also worry that the fuel might be leaded, i will be sure to check before i buy, but i was wondering if anyone knows anything about leaded fuels.
thanks.
C. Deutschler
p.s. if anyone lives in the atlanta area and cares to join a fellow benz enthusiest, be sure to contact me
Unless you modified the engine and increased compression (cams, pistons, head with larger valves, fuel management, etc), adding more octane does not translate into more power. I dynoed my C230 with a pulley kit for about 50% more boost, had Renntech exhaust, itg airfilter and I dynoed 100 octane 76 unleaded with zero increase in power over 91 octane. I even ran the entire tank through to make sure the ECU adjusted to the higher octane fuel before doing the dyno. Also, if it were going to make a difference, it would do so in CA where it's hotter and arid and more likely to ping, afterall, does it get to 110F with < 10% humidity in Atlanta, I don't think so.... If you want more power, sell the car and get a nice clean used 2002 C32.
Leaded gasolines are a big no-no with modern vehicles. They build up in the catalytic converter and will pretty much guarantee a voided emissions systems warranty.
But I assume that if you are hot rodding an MB you probably don't care about your warranty. I would suggest trading in the car and buying a ricer.
If you want True Race Gas go to Sherman Williams (yes not a typo). Toulene is the best stuff. Its 114 octane UNLEADED race fuel. All you need is 1-2 gallons per tank to boost your octane from 93 to 96+ or from 91 to 94+. I alwasy yes it and YES it makes a huge difference as far as engine responce, engine does not pull timing b/c it is and anti-knock additive so engine never needs to pull timing b/c engine willl not ping/knock with toulene in the tank. hope that helps
True Toluene is used as an octane booster, but proper useage requires Toluene to be heated for proper atomization - something that is definately not recommended as DIY.
Also, be VERY careful with Toluene handling/inhaling etc. it is a known to cause tremors, cancer and a whole whack of other non-nice symptoms.
It is pointless to run higher octane fuel on your car.
I made 390whp 405wtq on my Supra using 93 octane fuel on 18PSI. By using 104 octane I was able to raise the PSI to 21 thus making 434whp and 451wtq. I did not make more power by just simply adding the race fuel....the higher octane simply allowed me to raise the PSI and not cause my engine to detonate.
I would also stay far away from leaded fuel on your car!! You will destroy all types of O2 sensors and cats. My Supra is straightpiped so I have no worries running leaded even though I always run unleaded 104.
Umm... Higher octane does not equal more power. EtOH (booze) is 120 octane. Octane measures anti-knock properties, not power. In fact, higher the octane, the less combustable it is. I can put my cigarette out in EtOH, but not in gasoline. Don't use leaded gasoline in an unleaded car--the catalytic converter will melt and can cause fires (the chemical reaction releases more energy).
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