Hi-
A few questions I'm hoping some folks can take a stab at:
1. what fuel grade is recommended for the SL?
2. I recently acquired mine from California. I live in Utah. It had sat for a solid five months prior in California, but was a solid runner with a new cylinder head, clean running, well-maintained, etc. When she arrived to Utah from sea level (elevation 6,000 feet where I am) she is incredibly sputtery and stinky. Perhaps I've heard a backfire or two, but not confirmed. But going through the gears sputtery and stinky sums it up well. In fact, on my first emissions test try here (no less strict than anywhere else) she failed miserably.
My questions regarding point #2:
+are there suggestions for adjusting to altitude from sea level?
+are there suggestions for improving the emissions?
Perhaps the two suggestions/remedies are related?
I've yet to do the Italian tune-up, she's only been driven at 40 mph around the city for maybe 45 minutes since I got temporary tags yesterday, and maybe the Italian could be part of the remedy?
If anyone wants to take a stab at this, I'd be very grateful. There's basically one respectable Mercedes shop in Salt Lake City (as far as I know. comically, or sadly, the major mercedes dealer technician told me, "i have no idea where to start on the emissions question.") and despite moderately trusting the smaller shop, I feel that if I came loaded with some possible scenarios provided by the more astute members of this board, they would at least have better direction.
Thanks as always.
P