Tonight I took my first test drive, and I loved it! The Smart car is a whole lot of fun to drive. I didn't really mess with the manual shifting, because I was nervous, but I had a great ride and I wish it was longer. I liked everything the dealer had to say about the Smart, especially the fact you can change out all the body panels whenever you want. One thing kind of took me by surprise, though. He mentioned they recommend premium fuel. This in my mind kind of defeats the purpose of having a really fuel efficient car.
So my question to you guys is, do you use premium fuel? If so what are the real benefits to using it over regular?
So my question to you guys is, do you use premium fuel? If so what are the real benefits to using it over regular?
Replies to This Discussion
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the smart engine has a relatively low HP/displacement output. the only engine lower would be a geo metro 1 Liter 55HP. if you know you will only drive around town, or keep it below 60mph, 87 octane is fine. i got 44mpg on my last 2 tanks of 87 octane on my smart in stop and go driving.
it depends on your driving habits, if you're a city driver, don't floor it, use 87, if you drive at or above 60mph, use 91+ octane. the smart car is "loafing" when driven below 60mph, the smart will happily go to 91mph (if you get a re-map 130mph)
it's a silly question, if you drive mostly hiway miles, use premium, if you drive city, use regular. the smart isn't nearly close to a "high powered" vehicle, 70 HP at one liter is low today. and i seriously doubt any smart driver will see over 4000rpms when left in "D".
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Hi mr bad, got your ScanGauge yet?
Yep, the NA engine at 71 bhp is a relatively mild tune. The old "rally" rate is 100 bhp per litre.
US pump octanes are somewhat different to Europe and Australia. MON vs RON. Aren't all those different pump octanes obtained by mixing from two storage tanks? That would imply that the pump itself is blending for a nominal octane, so there is a good chance that no two gas stations would give you exactly the same blend?
About this time of year, US winter mix fuels start to appear, depending on when or where they predict the first freeze. How is this done? Additives in the stored gas or premixed in fresh deliveries? ... spin the octane wheel and where she lands, nobody knows.
The 84 bhp turbo engine is a different critter to the NA. Gentle pressure on the accelerator and easing off when it gets over 3,500 will produce smooth and gentle gear changes and acceleration in Auto. Press a little too hard the car takes off. Turbo boost maybe. It flies up to over 5,000 in first gear and hits 60 kph (38 mph) before you know it. I don't know if the NA exhibits this behavour - when it wants to spin out, it will do so and does not Auto shift at the low rate spots.
Refilled today and consumption was up to 6.6 lhk (36 mpg) for the fill. That tank saw a lot of local town trips in stop go traffic and a hill climb to the Tablelands plus some rev head standing starts to break in the engine. Now that I have a better feel for the car (which is getting smoother every day - now over 1800 km) it may be worth dropping the fuel back from V-Power (98 to 100 RON) to normal Premium of 95 RON. With the turbo, I will not go below the recommended 95 RON.
Rumour is that the MHD system will be an offered option on all NA engines in the new year. The turbo is not so easy to turn off because it needs to spin down, cool and be oil fed till it stops, so it may not get the MHD option. MHD can add 30% fuel economy to those stuck on heavy urban roads.
A quick question: my pulse turbo idles at stop at around 930 to 990 rpm, which seems very high, but since the transmission is not creeping the car forward, I guess it's by design. Does the NA idle so high?
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scan gauge is on the top of my list, life keeps happening to me! i had a good job a month ago, a previous employer comes along with a "better job", i take the bait, the better job sucks, the good job is no longer available...
MHD, i'd never have one, letting an engine stop for several minutes, then starts with an immediate load, i won't buy that! the oil drains from the cylinders in 30-60 seconds, then the engine starts, almost DRY, and put under immediate load.
all my cars, on "cold" i let idle 60 seconds before driving, when warm, 30 seconds, the smart has synthetic oil, i let it idle 15 seconds when warm.
as for idle, all the pics of smarts i've seen idle in the 900's, between SG and tach pics... i think my metro might have idled around 850 (no tach) i can live without the turbo option, but would love your tires! i had 195/50-15's on my metro and loved them, the skinny things they put on US smarts are for the birds!
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Where I live the difference between filling up with premium and filling up with the next lower grade is about 90 cents - to me it's certainly worth 90 cents every few weeks to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. - sheureka
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Have you ever experimented with using lower grade fuel? If so how does it affect gas mileage/performance?
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In general you will get more MPGs from premium fuel. So, lets say you will put 8.7 gal of Regular and get 37MPG (322 miles) and lets assume that with 8.7 gal of Premium you will get 42MPG (365 miles). Difference about 25 cents (Regular vs Premium), so you will pay only 2.17 more per tank, but will drive 43 miles more.
Does it really worth for you to mess with your brand new car?
CUBE
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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on -
The Smart ECU has a knock sensor. It will reduce engine power as you add low grade fuel. You might think you are saving but then again you are driving a Smart Car and it is hard to fool with. Go with Premium and enjoy the millage and power.
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You can use regular fuel, on a limited basis, if needed. I caught myself very low on gas and pulled into a station right after Hurricane Ike. The pumps were labeled regular, mid-grade and premium - but they were all marked with 87 octane regular - all for the same price! Not having any choice, I filled up. I didn't notice any major differences in performance, but when it was down to a half tank again, I filled up with premium to sort of equalize the octane. . . I plan to run only premium, but know that I can use lower grades if needed, on an emergency basis. It's not worth the few cents or few dollars saved to have lower mileage or risk damage from knocking.
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Yeah, I think it's definitely worth it to stick with the higher octane fuel. I called the smart dealership around me to get a second opinion ( and to get on the orphan list :) ) and the lady I spoke with says Mercedes especially recommends higher quality fuels for their vehicles, but it's not a total necessity. I figure it's worth it because you get more life + possibly more mpg with it.
I wish I knew about this sooner, I may start using it with my Yaris to see how it changes the ride.
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IMHO, 91 octane is recommended and will provide the best overall performance for this engine. I have been using 93 during break in because of availability but will go to 91 when possible.
Happy motoring,
26.2
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Permalink Reply by jackb on -
A recent article in Winding Road will shed light on your question. Click the link below, then click on "Is Premium Gas Worth It?" in the lower left corner of the page that opens.
http://windingroad.nextautos.com/windingroad/200810/?folio=cover
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i was reading the article on the new Fiat 500, much more interesting, they refer to the smart fortwo several times, they feel sorry for us stuck with 70HP and this new fiat may come to the US with 140-180HP. that sorta defeats the idea of "economy". might as well jam in a suzuki hayabusa engine in a smart!
i can live with a euro-smart with a 600-700cc turbo. that mag thinks all america is hooked on HP, 0-60 in 10 seconds isn't good enough for them! the editors are a bunch of "euro-snobs"!
i remember when i cancelled my subscription to Popular Science, the issue was "save the ocean planet" (global warming and all that crap) and all the vehicle ads were for V-8 and V-10 pick up trucks!!! (way back when, i was driving my metro, praying for something smaller, and these idiots were ramming V-8 & V-10's down our throats!!!)
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