Schenbri on Premium Fuel

[kwagar]

Dave Shembri recently commented on the question of the use of less than premium fuel. His comments:

"There has been some confusion regarding the recommended use of premium fuel which I want to help clarify. As many of you have noted the smart fortwo was engeneered to run on premium fuel (91 octane or higher) to provide the best performance and fuel economy. However, in limited and temporary situations, the smart fortwo can run on regular fuel. The owners manual says that if premium fuel isn't available when filling up, drivers can use partial tanks of regular fuel until premium becomes available. You should also try to drive more conservatively if using regular fuel-stressing the car while using regular fuel can negatively affect the car's durability and performance. Again, to be clear, using premium fuel best protects your car from damage to the engine and catalytic converter."

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by kwagar

Dave Shembri recently commented on the question of the use of less than premium fuel. His comments:

"There has been some confusion regarding the recommended use of premium fuel which I want to help clarify. As many of you have noted the smart fortwo was engeneered to run on premium fuel (91 octane or higher) to provide the best performance and fuel economy. However, in limited and temporary situations, the smart fortwo can run on regular fuel. The owners manual says that if premium fuel isn't available when filling up, drivers can use partial tanks of regular fuel until premium becomes available. You should also try to drive more conservatively if using regular fuel-stressing the car while using regular fuel can negatively affect the car's durability and performance. Again, to be clear, using premium fuel best protects your car from damage to the engine and catalytic converter."

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[xcrew229x]

I'd really really really like someone to explain to me what that UNLEADED regular is going to do to the catalytic converter. I know that avgas will kill it, and coolant won't do it or the O2 sensor any favors, but unleaded regular? Huh???

[DFWehman]

Not a combustion engineer, but possibly, since the engine is tuned for higher octane, the regular gas may be passing some unburned hydrocarbons into the cat?

[sharonlee]

As I was about to leave a parking lot about a week ago, a man pulled up behind me and asked about the gas mileage. I told him that I wasn't sure yet, that I had picked up the car at the end of May and had not refilled the tank yet (true). His mouth dropped open and as he drove away he was laughing his head off.

At the rate I'm going, I will fill up about four times a year. Premium gas will not be a budget buster.

[SmartCard]

well this goes to show that he didn't really mean that all of us should run out and put regular gas in our smarts...thought so!