Hi there. I am considering a B200 and am wondering if you really need premium gas. Why does a 2.0 litre engine making 132 hp need premium? Anyone have experience using lower grades of fuel? Will I damage the engine if I don't use premium?
Mercedes makes their engines with closer tolerences and higher compression engines. If you use lower octane fuel you can get a diesel effect going on in the engine. We know this as "knocking" or "Pinging". It is due to preignition. (Hot pistons+higher compression=preingnition of gasoline.) Higher octane fuel has a more controlled burn, elimination preigniton. Our engines are equiped with anti-knock sensors that will retard the timing to reduce preignition. However the engines must "knock" first before the ignition timing gets retarded.
Think about this... Your pistons have not yet reached the top of their stroke and the gasoline explodes and tries to drive the piston down, but it can't. Do you think this is good for your engine? I don't ! Do I want this to even happen once, HELL NO! If you want to save money on gasoline, buy a Honda!!! You bought a Mercedes for GOD sakes. Use the minimum octane rating that Mercedes recommends. Mercedes isn't getting anything out of making you purchase a higher octane fuel. YOU purchased a Mercedes because of its performance, luxury, safety and prestige, now you want it to be something else.
Some tips to increasing gas milage:
Change oil seasonally to use the lightest weight oil for you temperature.
Keep a constant vigal on tire pressure.
Combine many small trips into one or.....
Purchase a used gas miser of a vehicle to commute or run short trips.
MB's will last almost forever if you take care of them. Just think of how much money you will save in the long run. For example: Lets say your car is paid of in 4 years and you can go 5 more years without a car payment because you took care of the engine. I am willing to bet the amount you would save on car payments will more than make up for the little extra amount you had to pay for premium.
Buy the way please do me a favor and post the difference you will be paying a year between regular and premium.
Last edited by Sanpareil : 11-02-2006 at 09:38 AM.
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