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#238 of 491 Premium or regular for the fourtwo by unclefudd May 25, 2008 (3:16 pm)
Is anyone driving the smart, yet? If so are you sticking to the premium gas as "recommended"? I am really curious as it seems this would negate any savings or most for the difference in cost of the gas. Also I find it funny that a car with "high compression" of 10 to 1 is too high for regular. But would like to hear from owners who have tried one or the other. If I have to use prem. Its' a deal breaker for me. Thanks all. UncleFudd Replies to this message: snakeweasel (May 25, 2008 7:59 pm)
#239 of 491 Re: Premium or regular for the fourtwo [unclefudd] by snakeweasel May 25, 2008 (7:59 pm)
Replying to: unclefudd (May 25, 2008 3:16 pm) I am really curious as it seems this would negate any savings or most for the difference in cost of the gas.   Most likely not, the Smart is rated at 33 city and 41 highway with regular going at $4.14 and premium only 20 cents more at $4.35 that means a car using regular would have to get 31.4 city and 39 highway to equal the fuel cost per mile of the Smart. As far as I know all non hybrids fall short of that so the premise that the additional cost of premium eats up any savings due to MPG is false.   As gas prices increase car using regular will have to get even better mileage.
#240 of 491 regular vs premium by unclefudd May 25, 2008 (8:55 pm)
Thanks but the question remains; Is anyone using regular in their smart?   the reason I ask is because it is only a 10 to one compression. This should not be a reason to have to use premium. I guess the test is to put some in and drive it. If it is not detonating it is OK. But by then its' too late as it implies that you have already bought it in order to perform the tests I described.   Anyone!!   Thanks   UF Replies to this message: dstrom (May 26, 2008 3:54 am)
#241 of 491 Re: regular vs premium [unclefudd] by dstrom May 26, 2008 (3:54 am)
Replying to: unclefudd (May 25, 2008 8:55 pm) Yes, you can use regular gas in a smart (and most other cars), The smart engine is equipped with a knock sensor that detects predetonation and adjusts the engine's settings (timing, mixture, etc) until the "knock" is eliminated. There is a price to using regular in the form of reduced performance and fuel economy but I have yet to find anyone, including automotive engineers (I've asked many over the years), who can tell me about any other reason not to use regular. But nobody will say it's OK (?). From personal experience, I used regular in my knock sensor equipped premium fuel 94 BMW 318i for 55,000 miles and my son still uses it in the same car today (87,000 + mi) and expereienced no problems of any kind.   As I'm getting 46-51 mpg on my smart (LOVE IT!) and premium is only 10-14 cents per gallon higher here, I use premium in my smart. 50-75 cents more per tank is not enough to cause me to switch to regular.   Enjoy!
#242 of 491 Commuting 60 miles per day by murphy4 May 26, 2008 (2:33 pm)
does the SMART car make sense on the 101 Highway in California?   Feedback appreciated. Replies to this message: scwmcan (May 27, 2008 3:44 am) murphy4 (May 31, 2008 8:46 am)
#243 of 491 Re: Commuting 60 miles per day [murphy4] by scwmcan May 27, 2008 (3:44 am)
Replying to: murphy4 (May 26, 2008 2:33 pm) I Think that is something you will have to try for yourself. My test drive showed that the smart was fine for me on highway driving, but for you it may not be, also it may depend on the highway itself, I would say that yes the car is fine on the highway, but you may or may not find it acceptable for you, and only a test drive on the highway will let you know one way or the other. Scott Replies to this message: murphy4 (May 31, 2008 8:46 am)
#244 of 491 regular v premium by unclefudd May 27, 2008 (10:01 am)
Thank you dstrom;   I appreciate confirmation of what I beleived to begin with.   I have been a mechanic all of my life, although a licensed aircraft mechanic, I have built several high compression car and motorcycle engines to run fast and powerful. Now with gas cost it is imperative I get something with mileage in mind. But I was a little disconcerted to hear the sales person say that I must use premium. I asked him and he said it is a 1 liter 77 HP engine driving 1800 pounds. So it is difficult to imagine premium being the only fuel that will power it successfully. I did not try to explain, but most people know that internal combustion engines will TELL you if they are running on poor or inadequate fuel. They knock or ping etc right away. However one would already have purchased to auto in order to test and decide whether it will run or not using regular.   I have no doubt it mat cause a little difference in performance but it should run just fine. Now as my wife points out, it is only a 7 gal tank and only .20 cents difference in the two fuels so why bother and or take the chance. merely to proove a point I suppose. I ordered mine today and have no doubt the wife will run premium.   But thank you to all who participated.   UncleFudd Replies to this message: plekto (May 27, 2008 10:34 am) gregg_vw (May 28, 2008 5:13 am) unclefudd (May 29, 2008 3:43 pm) gregg_vw (May 30, 2008 5:31 am)
#245 of 491 Re: regular v premium [unclefudd] by plekto May 27, 2008 (10:34 am)
Replying to: unclefudd (May 27, 2008 10:01 am) Still, 87 Octane does have a bit more power per gallon than 91. Given the reasonable compression ratio that it has, it should do just fine.
#246 of 491 purchase now? by irisheyes44 May 27, 2008 (2:32 pm)
Is it possible to go to a smart dealership and buy one off the lot or do you have to pre-order? Replies to this message: bumpy (May 27, 2008 5:32 pm)

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