My husband put in the wrong gas

[olivefreak]

My husband put in a tank of mid grade gas versus the premium. I have read the threads dealing with the octane issues, but I really need someone to tell me that I don't need to take the car to the dealership. It has the loss of power mentioned, which I hate. It has a slight shudder when stopped and idling. Honestly I feel like I could just smack my husband, he's a great guy, but dangit! By the way the car is a 2004 C230 kompressor sport sedan. I use it to run the kids around to their various activites and don't want it to conk out with my kids in the car and get stuck on the side of thr road. Thanks to anyone who can soothe me, or point me in the right direction.

[mpolli]

READ YOUR MANUAL. It will tell you not to exceed certain rpms. However I think these instructions are for if you put in regular. My manual says to use 91 octane and around here premium is 92 and mid grade is 89 so I call 89 close enough. I was actually advise by my DEALER that I could run regular in mine and the CR is 10.5:1. But I don't have a Kompressor. I don't think it is a big issue but I would avoid drag racing.

MP

[jim16671836]

Just go to a autoparts store and buy some octane booster and either make him drink it or put it the fuel tank. It will raise the octane and when you get below 1/2 tank just fill it up with what you want...Jim

[olivefreak]

I DID read the manual, thanks for the snarky comment. But I still wanted someone else to say it was okay. I just wanted some real world confirmation from some who may have been there. Octane boost was the first thing I told him to do. I'm glad to see someone else thought it was a good idea. Makes me feel better. As it is it seems to run worse when it is still 'cold'. My first instinct is to take it to the 'doctor'. But I hate to run the car in every time it 'sneezes'. I had a diesel Volkswagon Rabbit when I was a teen and a friend filled it up with regular gas. That poor car couldn't take it, I had to have it towed and they had to drain the tank and clean the injectors. It was a mess. I'm trying not to have flashbacks.

[jim16671836]

You are going to be allright. Just add the boost and fill up with high octane when you have a half tank. I have had the same problem before. Give him a kiss and hug and all is well....Jim

[manny]

Originally Posted by olivefreak

. I'm trying not to have flashbacks.

Sounds more like hot flashes to me.

[Duke2.6]

There's nothing to worry about unless you hear detonation (knocking or pinging sounds that you haven't heard before), especially when accelerating or climbing hills.

Modern cars have sensors that retard timing if the engine knocks, and most modern "premium fuel" cars can be operated without problem on lower octane fuels. They just might not feel as peppy because of the retarded timing.

Several of my friends switched their "premium fuel" engines to unleaded regular at my suggestion (I got tired of hearing them whine about the extra cost of premium fuel.), and they have not experienced any knock and can't tell any difference in performance or fuel economy. A boosted engine might have a more noticeable loss of pep than a naturally aspirated engine.

If you don't notice knock or any loss of performance, keep using midgrade or even try regular and see how that works.

Duke

[olivefreak]

Hot flashes! LOL!!

Actually my husband has no idea I was so peeved. He's a good guy so I kept my cool. Seriously, I would like to be the person who screws up my own car for once. It's always someone else toying with them, suspisciously always men. Come to think of it, mostly my brothers. Backyard mechanics, but they never have a running vehicle between them. Thanks for the help, I DO feel better now.





<~~~Gory ain't it?

[190edude]

Originally Posted by olivefreak

I DID read the manual, thanks for the snarky comment. But I still wanted someone else to say it was okay. I just wanted some real world confirmation from some who may have been there.

Not to be a smartass, but how much more truth can you get than from the company that built the car?? I take the word of my factory manual over anything anyone else tells me.........

[Strider]

My wife managed to put diesel in my Jaguar XJ6 once. Luckily only in one tank. (It had two tanks). Took a bit of effort to get the diesel out. She actually ran it through the motor on the highway too, then quickly switched the tanks back. I was FURIOUS! I mean, come on, that took real talent. The nozzel doesn't even fit in the tank fill neck.

I believe your car has a knock sensor, which should retard the timing and prevent detonation (knocks) before they happen. This is probably the reason why you don't think its running very well now, the motor retarded the ignition timing. I wouldn't think that going from 91 to 89 RON would make that big of a difference around town though. You know midgrade is simply a 50/50 mix of regular and premium.

My W124 300E does not have a knock sensor. My wife topped the tank off with over 3/4 of regular before a road trip. I drove to the autoparts store, added octane booster, then after I was down 1/2 tank filled up with premium. Never had any worries, and lesson re-learned, never let the wife fill up the car.