Ever wondered how to choose the right gas for Mercedes vehicles? Learn about octane ratings and how the right fuel boosts performance and protects your engine.
When you’re driving a Mercedes-Benz, you’re not just operating a vehicle — you’re experiencing a finely engineered machine that delivers performance, luxury, and reliability. But does your premium driving experience have to correlate to a premium gas station bill?
Possibly, yes. The fuel you choose is critical to helping get the most performance and longevity from your vehicle. Read on to learn the difference between premium and regular gas, what makes premium fuel “premium,” and answer the question, “Can you put regular gas in a Mercedes?”
Nowadays, all commercially available gasoline contains a compound called octane. The quantity of octane a fuel has determines its resistance to auto-ignition (A.K.A. spontaneous combustion). Without octane, fuel would be liable to combust in your engine before its spark plugs could fire. As such, the amount of octane in fuel directly correlates to how “premium” it’s considered to be by gas stations, as you can see below.
In lower-compression engines like those in an average commuter car, low-octane fuels are adequate. But in high-compression engines, like those found in performance vehicles, higher octane levels are needed so that the fuel doesn’t combust before it should.
So, what gas does Mercedes take, and how do you know what octane rating to choose? Fortunately, most car manufacturers don’t make it a mystery. There are two main ways to determine what fuel type to use in your vehicle:
If you don’t have access to your vehicle’s owner’s manual, and the marking on your fuel door/gas cap has worn off, you can assume that most Mercedes-Benz vehicles require 91 octanes or higher — especially if it’s a fairly modern model.
Ultimately, you can rest easy knowing that putting premium unleaded gasoline into a vehicle that only needs regular gas won’t harm its engine — though it could result in slightly worse fuel efficiency. So when in doubt, it’s often best to splurge on premium gas. While reduced gas mileage and higher refueling costs can total up, engine repairs due to unmonitored auto-ignition are often much more expensive.
Mercedes vehicles typically require high-octane gasoline because they feature high-performance engines. These engines often utilize high compression and forced induction methods like superchargers or turbochargers to efficiently produce maximum power.
Both of these techniques — high compression and forced induction — generate incredible levels of heat and pressure, which make regular fuel susceptible to spontaneous combustion. By using higher octane fuel, your engine can compress the air-fuel mixture more without it self-igniting — producing a more powerful explosion in each cyclinder, and therefore, more torque and horsepower overall.
But what would happen if you didn’t use premium gasoline? Filling your Mercedes-Benz with regular gasoline could result in engine knocking — a phenomenon that occurs when combustion occurs at the wrong time. If fuel ignites before one of your pistons reaches the top of its cylinder, it forces that piston down sooner than it should. This can result in increased stress on many components inside your engine and potentially metal-on-metal contact, which produces a high-pitched pinging or low-pitched knocking sound.
Many factors can cause engine knocking — from bad spark plugs to poor fuel choice — but no matter the culprit, it shouldn’t be ignored, since it can result in severe engine damage if left unchecked. If your Mercedes’ engine starts knocking, don’t wait to open the door; stop by Ed Hicks Imports for the care it needs.
Using the correct fuel is essential for maintaining your Mercedes-Benz’s performance and engine longevity. If you’ve ever wondered whether premium gas is necessary, let the experts at Ed Hicks Imports guide you. Our team can help you understand the best fuel for your vehicle and address any issues that might arise from using the wrong type. Schedule a diagnostic check with us today and help ensure your car continues to deliver the high performance you expect.
