Best Fuel for my 280S

[Dopey]

Hey guys,
i drive a '73 280S (M110) Automatic, and was wondering what kind of fuel would be best to run in it (the previous owner said that they only ran LRP). But i hear that peoples oppinions or LRP here in australia are quite bad.....

If i started using premium would i have to adjust the timing???? im guessing i would as the lower octane values..... Anyone know where i could find out info on how to time these cars?? (single timing chaing i think..) I cant find a Workshope manual or any reading material on this car anywhere!!!

Thanks guys,
I just got this merc and love it! its my first car and i dont want to let it go!! (im only just 17, and had it since i was 15 )

[300SDog]

Your distributor should have fine adjustment for timing.... a single nut and lever against barred plate that measures adjustment down where distributor fits the block. This can be adjusted while the engine is running.

Low octane fuel can cause "pinging" and sometimes requires fine timing adjust to compensate...... thats what the above described quick adjust system was designed to do.

[Dopey]

Thanks for that, is the pinging very noticeable?? i dont want to damage the car, and am not sure wat i should be listening for or how to adjust it....... is it just a matter of adjusting it till the pinging noise stops??

And is it any better to be running PULP vs. LRP???

[david brent]

the best fuel i found for my 280sel is from bp its called ultimate 98 98 been the octane rating i live in perth so you should have it over east onther one to try is from caltex called vortex try the bp first its good stuff

[WGB]

Does anybody know if the valve seats in the 1970's heads will take prolonged use of Australian unleaded fuel.
I have a 1978 420 SE and my preference is BP Ultimate 98 - also has a better storage time if the car is not used a lot.
The Australian Lead replacement petrol does not seem to store well and after a relatively short time seems to go off and the exhaust smells like stewed salad!!!

[Russ114]

i'm pretty sure i've heard from a local dealer that you shouldn't use PULP in any pre 80 something mercedes...

i've seen a head after LRP though, and it's all orange, i tried one of those fuel catalysts to run on unleaded also, but it sorta gave me fuel starvation issues and ultimately lead to the seizure of an engine (don't worru, it was only a VW! [1916cc though !! ])

[Dopey]

I would also like to know if PULP will damage anything in my M110..... I have been told that the merc's have had hardened valve seats since the 1920's or something and that they will run better on the PULP, but will it damage the engine at all?????

Cheers guys,
the main reason for this thread is that i have been told that Australian LRP is very poor quality and actually does more damage than running ethanol. I have been looking at something called FlashLube, the fuel line goes through a tank and actually mixes with this upper cylinder lube automatically...... would this be usefull? or is it unecessary?? I have been given mixed answers from mechanics....

Thanks again

[WGB]

Following Discussion about what fuel to use I contacted the Service Dept at Diesel Motors in Perth Western Australia. They put me on to the Parts Dept and the very knowledgeable young man went away and looked it up.
His reply was that from July 1976 production all V8's will run on unleaded safely as they have upgraded valve seats. This presumably corresponds to the change to Hydraulic Lifters etc that occurred about this time. The book says 98 RON and this is what is in BP Ultimate.
Prior to this the recommendation is LRP.

Hi guys my 280sel (78) runs on premium all the time. I have had the car 18 months. No problems at all. car has 342000km on the clock. full service history from day 1.