Just wondering what kind of diesel mileage you guys are getting on your cars. I have a 83 300d and I got 28 miles per gallon in city/a little highway.
I was pretty excited to see this considering my car wasnt running well 2 weeks ago because of all the algage in the tank. since removing my fuel tank and cleaning/changing all the filter and fuel screen, all is well.
…and all will continue to be well. These are the only engines that run better the more miles they get. Running the engine hard will increase fuel mileage, improve starting, reduce smoke, and add to the life of the engine. The worse thing you can do to these engines other then running it w/o oil is to not run it at all. I can go about 435 miles highway on a tank of fuel – which is not too bad.
I drive my 200 gasoline on 0,86 l/10 km (8,6 litre on 100km) When i drive on a highway. in the city it want a little bit more, but i never drive it on over a litre/10 km. I think its pretty good! And i often put the gaspedal to the floor. i don´t think i can drive it under 0,8 litre/10 km, but maybe if i had a 5 speed gearbox??? i only have 4 gear in my gearbox.
I think that the 200 is the gasoline-engine that want smallest gasoline amount.
hi
I have 2.3i, M102 gasoline engine , with automatic trans , it takes about 13 liters in the sity and about 10 highway. Onkel, I think 2.8 takes a little bit more that my car , but 187 h.p , it's cool man []
Just wondering what kind of diesel mileage you guys are getting on your cars. I have a 83 300d and I got 28 miles per gallon in city/a little highway.
I was pretty excited to see this considering my car wasnt running well 2 weeks ago because of all the algage in the tank. since removing my fuel tank and cleaning/changing all the filter and fuel screen, all is well.
Looks like your car's in good shape. My car (same model as yours) makes 25 mph average city/highway. But with the fuel tank cleaned, filters changed, fuel lines purged, and all related systems performing optimally I'm sure it still has hope of going higher. [^]
JDC: is that really true? Not driving your diesel is actually bad for it. I understand the gaskets drying out, but are there other bad things that happen? My 83 300D is a sunday driver, and only in good weather.
I bought her from the original owner with 45000 original miles 2 years ago, she now has 47000. I start her every week and let her run to operating temp. (usually), and do tend to baby her too much. The original owner truly loved her (he has now passed), and I am continuing the love affair. My local MB dealership even tried to buy her from me when I ordered the new floor mats. Sorry, pride makes me ramble. Anyway, thanks for the info.Lancer.
Yes, that has been my experience and from what I gather from others. It has to do with the nature of the diesel itself and the way MB designed the engines. The biggest problem is carbon build-up. I would stop running it to operating temp in idle, if that’s what you’re doing – you’re actually doing more harm to the engine than good - and take it on a long trip at least once a month, say for an hour or two, on the interstate at 70 + mph.
Remember that “true� operating temp is achieved under load and when the tranny and dif are hot was well – one must see the entire drive train as a single unit. Don’t baby it. Let the engine wind out at full RPM, this is how the engine was designed to work. I know it sounds like it’s going to fly apart but it won’t. The engine needs to rev high for the battery to charge properly and the A/C to work correctly.
I sometimes wonder how many A/C and alt problems are due to “babying� the engine. You must get the engine hot, at least over 90 C to burn off the carbon. Excess carbon can cause the pre chamber(s) to fail, cause uneven heating of the engine resulting in fouled glow plugs, injectors, and IP’s.
Again, I wonder how often those components fail due to under use.
After I got home today from a hard run in 90 + F outside temp in hard stop and go traffic I sat in my driveway for a few minutes and marveled at how quiet and smooth the OM 617 was running. As if thanking me for the abuse! Gentlemen, this engine runs better now then the day I got it. It gets its valves adjusted and oil changed. No other service/repairs were done to the engine. They are truly amazing! Please take proper care of them.
[]
Cars are kinda like human beings. If you don't work out, you don't use your muscles that much, your heart does not reach training heart rate and you aren't "conditioned". You know what happens when you're not conditioned and suddenly run at the fastest speed you can ever do that given time--shortness of breath.
Similarly, I think, these diesels should be "stretched". It allows the engine to exercise, it allows all seals to perform their function (why put seals if you'll be keeping the car? Just remove the seals and let the entire car dry up) and it puts a smile on your face when driving it. []
My neighbor's Toyota Matrix had problems because of carbon build up. She drives it ever so gently. When my other neighbor borrowed her car, drove frantically and revved the engine, all carbon deposits were minimized and it performed much better. My dad likes to race his Honda every once in a while. Second gear at 5,500 rpm and floor the pedal to reach 8,000. Car loves it.
Yes! babying a diesel is not good for it. It needs "tough love". When I bought mine it wheezed and smoked now after a few months of driving it weekly it has lots of power, little or no smoke, and runs much smoother. It uses a little oil, but that seems to be leveling off too.
Interesting you say that we need to rev these beasts up. I was just wondering myself as the car seems a bit short legged for the 70+ speeds.
Has anyone familiar w/ a typical rpm for say 70 mph or 75mph?? Mine revs around 3,200 rpm at 65 and it is rather "busy" let's say. As I would typically travel at 72-74 on the interstates where there is a 65 MPH, (100 kph), limit and the comfort range of the engine seems exceeded at that speed, I was thinking that it is revving too high due to a gearing set up based on the 1985 era Federally mandated 55 mph speed limits.
Remember, most American cars of that era had a speedo that stopped at 85 to further help us w/ our economizing. Just wondering if this is a result of German engineering in which the sweet spot, performance wise, was in the 55-60 range, or if this is in fact the way it should be
Around 3000 rpm is correct, just as it was designed to do at 65. Fuel consumption goes up, unfortunately.
I like hearing the engine at that speed. If you listen closely you’ll hear it’s not really stressing. That’s what’s needed to keep it clean and running well.
JDC: that makes alot of sense. She does seem to enjoy a highway drive around 65-70 mph (2800-3200RPM). The vehicle has only 47000 miles, and I was doing to her what the original owner stated to do. It seems to not "have the guts" after 75, so I always kept her under/around 70. Being my 1st diesel, I have learned a great deal (with the help of this forum), and have alot of respect for a vehicle over 20 years old. In a strange way, I LOVE hearing those 300,000 mile stories. Thanks for the help. Now, maybe it's time to take that drive to Florida... Lancer
I just bought a 1980 300TD wagon with a recently rebuilt engine (about 500 miles since the rebuild). As far as running it hard is concerned, is there some period of time/mileage that I should take it easy and let it break in, or is it already fine to just let it rip on the freeway for a couple of hours?
btw as a complete MB noob this is a fantastic site with lots of great information. Thanks!
I’d give it an oil and filter change now if you have not already and try to stay below 60 mph for another 500 miles or so; but otherwise drive it like normal. []
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