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Slik560
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 Posted -
7/21/2010
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8:19:29 AM
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Many are already aware of the Top Tier gasoline standards and the retailers that provide the best fuels, but I felt that this was worth posting due to a personal experience.
I had been taking my 560SL to a certain fuel retailer in my neighborhood because they had 93 octane premium fuel. The logic was that it was a major retailer and that 93 octane could not hurt....right? Wrong. After some stalling and starting problems developed last year, I took the car to KH for a fuel system check-up. One vacuum leak was found, but I still had problems. It was suggested that I run through the remainder of the 93 octane in the tank and start using a Top Tier fuel for this particular car.
I thought I'd be clever and siphon out the old gas and burn it up in the ML, but I found that Mecedes must have anticipated gas theft and made sure that a siphon hose could not be inserted far enough into the fuel tube to take any out. So I spent the next month making short highway trips to burn through the old gas. (I hestitate to "spill" the name the retailer, but if you can't figure it out, send me a PM :) )
I have two Top Tier retailers in my neighborhood: Phillips and Qwik Trip. This is where I have always taken our other cars, and I kick myself for taking the SL elsewhere merely for the pursuit of octane. I've run through about a tank and a half of Top Tier gas now, andI have to say that it really has made a difference. The real test will be a long drive in this summer heat. The old SL tends to run hot anyway, so I have to implement some heat contol measures like a colder thermostat or no thermostat to keep it in check.
For what it's worth, I'm now a true believer in the Top Tier fuel standards. It would be interesting to see where Costo, Sams, etc. get their gasolines. I doubt if they have Top-Tier suppliers due to their discounted prices.
http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html
| TOP TIER Gasoline Retailers: | | | | 76 | Petro-Canada | | Aloha Petroleum | Phillips 66 | | Chevron | QuikTrip | | Chevron Canada | Rebel Oil | | Conoco | Road Ranger | | CountryMark | Severson Oil | | Entec Stations | Shell | | Esso | Shell Canada | | Exxon | Sunoco Canada | | Kwik Trip / Kwik Star | Texaco | | MFA Oil Co. | The Somerset Refinery, Inc. | | Mileage Stations | Tri-Par Oil Co. | | Mobil | Turkey Hill Minit Markets | | | U.S. Oil |
Kevin Arburn
OPKS
1987 560SL / 2003 ML320
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Pharaoh
2nd Gear
46 Posts
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 Posted - 7/21/2010 : 9:37:36 AM
Ouch! Sorry to hear that Kevin.
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Babu  |
grownup
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Posted - 7/22/2010 : 9:31:51 AM
Good news that you're running better, Kevin.
I too, have been having some fuel related issues, and spent most of last evening changing out a fuel filter. I ran a dose of Sea Foam gas treatment through the old SL a few weeks ago, and I think that might have had some contribution to my problems. I'm going to do some cleaning to the throttle body, too. We'll see how the car acts this weekend.
Thanks for the tips on fuel. I might have used some of that "sloppy gas", recently, too. There's one of their retailiers very close to my house.
JR
"I wait for delivery, each day, until three..."
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Slik560
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Posted - 7/22/2010 : 3:13:50 PM
I should have also mentioned that TECHRON is a great fuel additive to keep the old MB injectors cleaner. I get it at Advance Auto. One bottle every few fill-ups does it. However, the recommend no more than three bottles between oil changes.
Kevin Arburn
OPKS
1987 560SL / 2003 ML320
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Top Tier Gasoline
