The SMART CAR OF AMERICA community is a social utility that connects you with fellow smart enthusiasts.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Finally went on a trip w/ the smart and did a couple tests.
I filled up with 94 Sunoco and watched the ignition timing readout on the scangauge.
At 70-80 it was usually 23-24 degrees and went up a couple hitting a hill or opening the throttle and then it dipped to 22 soon afterward.
Coming home I filled at a station I had never heard of (off-off brand) and bought their cheapest brew.
I saw no difference in the readings, it seemed for a while the timing was a degree higher(!) but that is not for sure. The timing with cheap gas should have dialed back not ahead and if anything it increased.
I started at 600 miles and ended at 1100.
I saw very few 40+mpg reads on the way out and many more on the return. I'm not claiming the gas had anything to do with that, I just figure the "break-in mileage improvement" has occurred.
So, if the knock sensor is doing anything to prevent pre-ignition with crap gas, I haven't witnessed it. (I drive fast but very rarely use full throttle on any car - full throttle figures are thereby, not reported here).
I like your report, I wish a scanguage were compatable with my Smart (450). I like the lack of guessing and speculation.
What the adverage reader doesn't take into consideration is when the vacuum is low (Acceleration - heavy load - etc), is when the computer needs to retard the ignition, just exactly what the old vacuum advance used to do. That is the condition under which you get the benifit of higher octane. Most of the time 87 is plenty.
Drive hard...... Buy premium
Drive moderately..... Your car only requires 87
I'd be happy to challange Mercedes
The final decision is 100% yours.
Most are willing to pay MSRP for a car that nets the dealer 9%, the importer PAG some undisclosed XX%, the smart producer XX%, and parent company Mercedes XX%..... so we can assume the entire product caries at least a 15% profit in the consumer stream
and no one dares refer to PAG or Mercedes as evil thieving BIG CAR!
But have a legitimate energy business make an honest 6% profit on a commodity we all need, and they sure do get bashed and hated... hummmmm?
BIG OIL does not own the oil ...they buy it at market prices... normal speculators and investors own the oil... almost every body who has some mutual fund, 401, or other investments with some mix of commodities have a vested interest in energy costs... and PROFITS
Thanks for clarifying that Fred. *Yawn* I'll feel so much better this summer when I have to pay $4.00 a gallon. 5 years ago it was less than half this rediculous price. 10 years ago I filled my Neon with $12 now it's $32. Diesel is higher than high octane??? For a fuel that doesn't need to be refined?!?!? You can't tell my this rip-off is legitimate.........sorry.
Most are willing to pay MSRP for a car that nets the dealer 9%, the importer PAG some undisclosed XX%, the smart producer XX%, and parent company Mercedes XX%..... so we can assume the entire product caries at least a 15% profit in the consumer stream
and no one dares refer to PAG or Mercedes as evil thieving BIG CAR!
But have a legitimate energy business make an honest 6% profit on a commodity we all need, and they sure do get bashed and hated... hummmmm?
BIG OIL does not own the oil ...they buy it at market prices... normal speculators and investors own the oil... almost every body who has some mutual fund, 401, or other investments with some mix of commodities have a vested interest in energy costs... and PROFITS
Not too many unregulated businesses out there where the underlying costs of the product you resell can double and you can pass those costs on to the customer with little or no resistance and maintain your 6% profit, thereby doubling the _total_ $ you put in the bank without any increase in your unit volume. Which is of course why most critical commodities that serve the national interest become regulated after abuses. So long as people believe a fixed percent profit is a legitimate business concept in a critical commodity, it will be in the resellers best interest to see that the underlying cost increases. That is until or unless the consumer says they've had enough and either reduce their use of the commodity or pass regulations to cap the profiteering.
Note I am a lifelong and modestly successful business person, consistently vote on the right yadda yadda, but even I have had enough with this nonsense.
I had to fill with 89 yesterday as I was on vapors and the 93 tanks were empty at the station I pulled into. Car seems to run just fine. But I will run it down a 1/2 tank then fill with 93.
Chavez stood up to big oil, as did Mexico in the 50s. They nationalized them, and made the oil company's very unhappy.
Chavez stood up to big oil, as did Mexico in the 50s. They nationalized them, and made the oil company's very unhappy.
A2Jack.
sorry, wrong forum for this, but Chavez also would love to see the US Government 'overthrown' ......i'll take my chances with the oil companys, thank you. ;)
Monopoly plus necessity = we be screwed. The smart I've got runs with no discernable difference from 87 to 93 octane.
Got 38 mpg mixed driving with a mix of 87 and 91 octane. MPH from 0 to 70. Over hill and dale. 1225 miles. Just not to Texas. Ever.
......i'll take my chances with the oil companys, thank you. ;)
Today
Linear Mode
