BMW 3 E36 owners manual page 103

text version of content this owner's manual page from owners manual to the vehicle BMW 3 E36, year of production 1990 - 2000:

102 Catalytic converter The catalytic converter reduces harmful Traveling abroad exhaust emissions. aAlways observe the above points Always make sure that unleaded fuel It is designed for use with unleaded fuel to prevent unburned mixture from meeting your engine’s octane require- only. entering the catalytic converter. This ments will be available when planning Even minute quantities of lead would be could result in overheating, leading to trips outside the country. The use of enough to permanently damage both serious damage. fuel failing to meet the official octane the catalytic converter and the system's High temperatures occur on all vehicles requirements could result in engine oxygen sensor. equipped with a catalytic converter. damage. To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine Heat shields are installed adjacent to If you are considering traveling to a operation and avoid potential damage: some sections of the exhaust system. country in which unleaded fuel is not d Always have your car serviced in Never remove these shields; do not readily available, please remember that accordance with maintenance apply undercoating to their surfaces. leaded fuel will destroy the lambda oxy- instructions. When driving, standing at idle or park-gen sensor and the catalytic converter d Never continue driving until the fuel ing the vehicle, take care to avoid con-on your BMW. After operation on tank is empty. tact between the exhaust system and leaded fuel, your vehicle will no longer d Respond to engine miss by switching flammable materials (e.g., grass, hay, meet American and Canadian exhaust off the engine at once. leaves, etc.). Such contact could lead to emission standards, and there will also d Never tow-start the car unless the a fire, resulting in personal injury and be a loss of fuel economy. Upon your engine is cold, or else unburned fuel property damage.c return to the US or Canada, you will be may reach the catalytic converter. expected to comply with legal ordi- Better yet: use jumper cables! nances requiring that you replace both d Avoid other situations in which the the oxygen sensor and the catalytic fuel would not be (completely) converter, and to have the fuel system burned, for instance: flushed to remove any traces of leaded Frequent, extended, or repeated fuel. starting attempts during which the engine fails to start. (Switching off and restarting a healthy engine causes no damage). Never let the engine run with any of the spark-plug cables disconnected. Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 9 790 377 - © 07/98 BMW AG

owners manual BMW 3 E36

owners manual BMW 3 E36 - year of production: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 - BMW 3 E36 owners manual EN