# Regular Gas Last Resort

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 24, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918 "2013-01-24T20:36:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![threephi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@threephi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/threephi)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/1 "2013-01-24T20:36:36Z")

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Last night I got stuck in a situation where I was at a gas station in the middle of nowhere with a car that requires premium fuel. Since I was not sure if I’d make it to the next stop I opted to refuel with the regular fuel. So I put in 5 gallons and got back on the highway.

When I got to a station with premium I filled the tank up all the way. Did I just do damage to my car?

MB E320 1999 Automatic 300 miles

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/2 "2013-01-24T20:39:55Z")

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As long as you drove “conservatively”, it is very unlikely that you did any permanent damage.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/3 "2013-01-24T20:41:26Z")

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You should be fine, 5 gallons of regular + 10 or more gallons of premium, no problem. And the E320 is not turbocharged. I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/4 "2013-01-24T21:03:31Z")

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You did no damage whatsoever. You can sleep soundly.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/5 "2013-01-25T06:21:55Z")

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@threephi you’re fine. The engine control module adjusted the ignition timing to compensate for the 87 octane fuel.

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**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/6 "2013-01-25T06:46:34Z")

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You did perfect.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 10:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/regular-gas-last-resort/76918/7 "2013-01-25T10:27:16Z")

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With only 300 miles I am surprised you needed fuel :).