2004 C230 just filled up with sainsburys petrol mpg plummet!

[ElegantSpoon]

Hellooo!

I have filled my new W203 c-class up for the first time today after picking it up on saturday. The car had been filled with 95ron fuel an was averaging 31mpg.

I read in the book that 98ron was the required fuel so decided to fill up with the closet rating in my area 97ron from sainsburys but immediately after doing this the cars mpg has plummeted to 24mpg??

I had an Audi TT before which always seemed slower when using sainsburys super unleaded. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

What fuels do you guys use?

Anyhelp would be great!

Thanx
Mike

 

[DougCLK320]

My findings too. And nowadays, supermarket swill is little, if any, cheaper that "real" fuel (unless you're at a motorway services!!!).

 

[ElegantSpoon]

Best sticking to BP do you think?

 

[bigasotonuk]

I always use Super Plus Unleaded in my C230K as its noticeably slower less responsive and less economical on supermarket fuels.

 

[ElegantSpoon]

I did use to use esso super unleaded in my TT which always run well with it. I will have to go and use up this fuel then!

bigasotonuk what MPG do you get from your C230?

 

[verytalldave]

As with all things in life you pays your money.....etc....etc.....

Supermarket fuels are cheaper because they dont have so many of the additives that the dearer branded fuels have.
Whether the difference is noticeable is a matter for the individual to decide.
Personally, I cant tell the difference.

 

[PaulMdx]

Does anyone have any mpg figures between standard and super?

Based on a regular price of 106.9p and a super price of 111.9p (not sure how accurate the difference is across the country) your mpg has to be 4.7% more fuel efficient to break even on cost, for instance going from 30mpg to 31.4mpg.

 

[bigasotonuk]

I put in what MB recommend rather than be driven by the costs.

 

[ElegantSpoon]

If mercedes recommend the super then it is probably best to fill up with it. They wouldn't say it unless it needed it. Just avoid the sainsburys pumps!

 

[bigasotonuk]

I did use to use esso super unleaded in my TT which always run well with it. I will have to go and use up this fuel then!

bigasotonuk what MPG do you get from your C230?

I get between 350-380 miles to a tank mainly motorway work between
70-90 mph.
Not exactly sure what that is to the gallon but I think it is somewhere between 30-32 mpg

 

[NewMB]

I have never, and never will, fill up with anything else than Shell or BP (Shell preffered choice).

Supermarket fuel..... well, you get what you pay for as mentioned earlier.

I have, however, been trying Shell's Power Xtra Diesel and have not noticed any difference in performance nor economy.

Running petrol cars before current car, there was always a difference on my Volvo's when running on Shell Power XTra Petrol.

 

[A210AMG]

My Bus and the wifes car pretty much has More reasons fuel ever since we owned them.

I may try some strong stuff for them and see if it makes any difference, given my wife can get 44mpg out of the A210 I doubt it?

If I can get any more out of the ML its worth a try..

 

[PaulMdx]

Well thanks to some press-ganging I have now upgraded from Tesco Regular to Shell Super. I will say I can't really tell the difference.

Out of curiosity I will also track the mpg on Super. With the Tesco swill I got 25.6 mpg so in to order to break even on pounds/mile I need to get 27.3 mpg (+6.5%), withstanding Super being better for the engine reducing maintenance, etc.

 

[philharve]

Super fuels or supermarket fuels?

I have used Shell V-Power, and Optimax before that, in my C230K for over 2 years. When I purchased the car I ran it on supermarket fuels. The car prefers the high-grade fuels and runs more smoothly and lively upon it. There's a slight power increase and better fuel economy too, about 8 percent per tank. Thirty-plus MPG is easy to obtain and 40 is just about possible on longer journeys. I refill at around 350 miles but I suspect 400 miles is easily achievable.

The rising cost of fuel would, if I was still working, be hurting my pocket on my daily commute into work. However, since retiring my annual mileage has dropped to about a third of what it once was and my fuel costs have consequently dropped by around GBP120.00 per month.

I won't be returning to using supermarket fuels which may(?) have long term consequences on the engine and increase maintenance costs.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[PaulMdx]

There's a slight power increase and better fuel economy too, about 8 percent per tank.

That being the case, it's actually cheaper to use Super as the price difference is less than 8%.

 

[philharve]

Not all engines benefit from super fuels

That being the case, it's actually cheaper to use Super as the price difference is less than 8%.

Hi PaulMdx

Yes, provided you don't make too many short journeys which tends to push up the MPG and you have to refill more often.

I believe that super fuels keep the engine and fuel system cleaner for longer and therein reduce long term maintenance & running costs.

There is a noticeable performance boost too and the car feels more responsive.

Super fuels seem to complement supercharged engines well - at least in my case - but not all engines seem to experience the same benefits.

It is worth trying a couple of tanks of a super fuel for any worthwhile effects to be noticed. Only then can you decide whether it is worth sticking with the premium quality fuels or reverting to the slightly cheaper supermarket stuff.

I have no comparative information concerning the relative benefits of each make of super fuel. I use Shell because a Shell filling station is close to my home. I have not tried other makes of super fuel but other members report similar benefits from using them.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[rich599]

I drive a sprinter van doing european deliverys,and if i fill up in luxembourg i need to fill up again about 50 miles from home (hudds) but if i fill up with the v power diesel i can get all the way home and still have 30 to 40 miles left in the tank

 

[ElegantSpoon]

Hey Paul, let me know how you get on with the upgraded fuel. It will probably take a couple of tanks before you get the full benefit so let me know how it goes


Hello Phil

That sounds like good MPG and advice! I had hoped when buying the car I would at least get 300 miles from a tank so your feedback is greatly appreciated! I will aim for 350 once I've used this sainsburys rubbish up!

 

[philharve]

What fuel tank size?

Hello Phil

That sounds like good MPG and advice! I had hoped when buying the car I would at least get 300 miles from a tank so your feedback is greatly appreciated! I will aim for 350 once I've used this sainsburys rubbish up!

Hi ElegantSpoon

Do you know what size fuel tank you have in your W203? I believe the standard capacity for the W202/3 is 69-litres (15-gallons) but some vehicles are equipped with long range tanks which I think were 79/80-litres (17.5-gallons) which may extend the range by up to another 100 miles.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[moneyman]

Wasn't there a test on Top Gear where they proved that super unleaded only had a noticable difference on turbo charged engines?

Also if my handbook tells me to run my car on 95 ron fuel will it cause any damage to run on a higher octane or does the ECU compansate by altering the ignition timing.