93 or 95 octane for my 1989 560SEL i'm driving in town only tropical climate??
 

Any comments will be apprectiated. **Car was built for Japan and it's in the Philippines**

I always use the higher, but if you are not going to get on it I think you could get away with it.

It's only an island!

Try both...
 

I would try the lower octane and see if the car pings during acceleration especially going uphill. If it does, then go to the higher octane.

Do you still have leaded gasoline over there? If so, then you are lucky! The car was designed for leaded gasoline.

No leaded fuel here! Was it really designed for leaded fuel??

No it wasn't designed for leaded fuel, no car was since the 60's at least.

Considering how hot it is where you are, I'd use 95. But try 93, see if it pings.

You guys probably use a different measure of octane. Your 93 is probably not the same as ours.

Weren't they still using lead in Germany in 1989? I agree that engines used in the USA were designed to run without lead since at least 1974, but what about engines meant for other countries?

These engines are fine w/o lead..the valve seats are hardened to star w/ thus not needing any lead.

Besides, after a tank or two of lead the chemical bonding/formation of the halide on the valve seat has taken place (very important on non hardened seats) and one should be good to go.


Jonathan