using non premium fuel

[curtis]

When I picked up my car a couple weeks ago My dealer told me SMART said it is OK to use non Premium Fuel. He said they still advise using it for best performance however. Was anyone else told this? My salesman, Tony, just returned from a weeks worth of training by Smart USA.

[blackbeagle]

The sales manager told us it was 'recommended' but it's not 'necessary'. This week, I filled up the tank using mid-grade (90). So far, no difference in performance or mileage.

[oldmike]

The grade of your fuel will determine in the long run (2 or 3 fill ups) how your wear of the block will go, pistons rings and sparkplugs. Go ahead and use cheap fuel, but remember that when you are back at the dealer repair shop and they hand you over a bill for $4,500 for a new engine.

Just a thought: if premium gas is 25 cents more that regular, times 8 galons, equals $2.00 per fill up more, if you fill up 10 times a month, (you drive too much) but equals $20.00 extra a month, which is probably 1/4 tank of your SUV or truck. It's really not a lot to pay for better fuel for your engine.

You probably pay for bottle water because "it's better" than tap water, and go to starbucks beacause is "better" than home made coffee. But wont spare $2.00 for your smartie. He has feelings too you know!!! LOL

Of course the dealer will tell you "recommended" high octane fuel, they need you to come back, they have home mortgages and boat payments to make.

Thrust me, this is my second smart, they both have given me many great miles of road adventure. Thats for another post...

[konati]

Would you please explain to us non mechanical types. How does cheap gas effect the block, plugs and so forth. My understanding was that is had more to do with the timing and the computer would adjust to the octane used.
Thanks
Vince

[oldmike]

Gas engine 101:
Fuel goes in, mixes with air, spark makes fire, gas goes boom, cheap fuel leaves more carbon inside the block walls, hense depositing on pistons and rings, there is no cleaning lady inside there to keep it shinny and smooth, the carbon build up scratches the walls and then you loose compression. You loose compression you loose power, car goes slower uses more gas because you floor ir more to keep up in traffic. You'll see the black sud build up on you muffler tip, by then it's all inside your system from header to cat converter to pipe, ...and not to mention the back of your car due to the venturi effect. Then out to other vehicles, and human lungs and little defensless animals trying to cross the road minding their own bussiness and BAM!!! ran over by a blinded motorist due to the polution on the road.....errrrrrGGG. I got carried away. sorry.

and now Car computer basic 101:

The smart computer inside our cute, itty bitty, little, fuzzy wuzzy cars, they are just too cute I think... can only "remember" your driving style and your driving history and car diagnostics, it's not WILL-E (movie) or NUMBER 5 (movie) for us older people, and it's not alive or capable to adjust to our driving likings. Say, Soda please!!!as you hold you cup under your radio dial, as a matter of fact if you turn your ignition key to the I position and depress the gas pedal all the way to the overdrive, hold it and then turn the key back to the O position, it will "reset" your "log" for your driving style, some people call it making it a "virgin" again. and it works, I did it.

There is so much about these cars it would take a web site to compile, oh wait there is...this one.

[Monoski]

octane rating has nothing at all to do with cleanliness it is only a measure of the fuel's resistance to autoignition - igniting before the spark plug sparks.

run premium as the engine is going to run better, and in the end be more efficient.

[oldmike]

How can you have "ignition" before that spark fires? ..... Witch!!! witch!!! get him....

The octane rating of a spark ignition engine fuel is the knock resistance (anti-knock rating) compared to a mixture of iso-octane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane, an isomer of octane) and n-heptane. By definition, iso-octane is assigned an octane rating of 100 and heptane is assigned an octane rating of zero. An 87-octane gasoline, for example, possesses the same anti-knock rating of a mixture of 87% (by volume) iso-octane and 13% (by volume) n-heptane. This does not mean, however, that the gasoline actually contains these hydrocarbons in these proportions. It simply meanshat it has the same autoignition resistance as the described mixture. I learned that in Pre-K.

Durrr!!! maybe my 28 years in auto mechanics with Mercedes Benz have been a waste of my life, I'll turn my certification in first thing on Monday, I think they are hiring at the sanitation department, there is no way I can screw that up...

I tell you what, go fill up with water if you like, you'll get many years of fine auto service. Hey how about some sugar in the tank, that will incresase your MPG by 50 miles... I sure need to pay my boat slip this month.

Sorry I try to help. I'll go back to my cave now... urg!! urg!! urg!!, woman make me eggs, give me some, while I wave my fist in the air...

[curtis]

I am only using premium (non ethanol) fuel, I am just passing on what my dealer told me because originally I think they said only use premium but now they say they suggest it but it's not mandatory and won't void your warranty.. one other note to gear-heads, is it true non ethanol fuel will get you close to 10% better mileage?

[Old smart]

Another thing to munch on in the choice of fuel is how "good" it is. This is worth a look: Top Tier Gasoline . Though all grades of gas should have all of the increased anti-fouling additives discussed, it is likely that you will only get the full dose in the premium blend. Example, Shell is a Top Tier gas, but their regular and mid-grades only have some amount of increased additive, while the best "V-Power" formulation is reserved for the premium only. All About Shell V-Power® - United States .

I don't know if such marketing is as an incentive to get owners who do not need premium to spring for it anyway.

[nevis]

I wish you would tell me where you can buy non ethanol fuel... Its my understanding all US fuel has it now, only E85 has more... am I right?