Re: 87 Octane Fuel
Originally Posted by Paul Bosslet
It's all about the compression ratio. The car is smart enough to keep running without a hiccup but it was designed for the higher octane. If I recall, Vegas and Pintos used regular gas and the Mavericks with the Sporty add ons even used regular too. You could always get one of those babies!
I agree, but must point out the misconception by some in the forum that the Crossfire 3.2L NA is a high compression engine. 10:1 compression is not uncommon by today's standards. There are quite a few vehicles out there that run on regular fuel that have higher than 10:1 compression. Example: Ford's newest version of its 3.0L Duratec V6 has 10.3:1 compression and regular unleaded is recommended. That engine puts out 240hp and 223 lb-ft torque. When aluminum engine blocks and heads are used the engine has the capacity to dissipate heat much better resulting in lower compression chamber pressures. The timing profile used by MB to obtain the claimed HP with this engine is what dictates the "requirement" for premium fuel.
Last edited by Rob M; Nov 6, 2009 at 04:12 PM.