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  #1  
Old 05-08-2005, 06:23 PM
erfaniman's Avatar
Diesel Addicted Youth #2
 
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My fellow diesel drivers...

I was wondering if driving really slow is a dangerous thing? I like to accelerate really really slow becuase of better mpg, and its a diesel. Everyone seems to tailgate me and try to push me. Its kinda scary in a sense, but i was wondering what you all do in those situations. Thanks

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  #2  
Old 05-08-2005, 06:35 PM
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Accelerating slowly, in my experience, does not enhance MPG's. Relatively brisk accelleration to the desired speed will. Anyone who has watched meters displaying instant MPG's should confirm this. Anytime you're accellerating, mpg's go way down including when you accellerate slowly. Therefore, if you must accellerate, do it briskly and don't anger those who must follow.
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  #3  
Old 05-08-2005, 06:38 PM
erfaniman's Avatar
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so i should accelrate somewhat fast, doesnt that hurt the car?
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1986 300SDL (w126) - 111k
1991 420SEL (w126) - 123k
1981 300SD (w126) - 205k (passed away 2/20/06)
1985 300SD (w126 - 185k
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  #4  
Old 05-08-2005, 07:27 PM
BusyBenz
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There are many here who believe a lead foot is good for the diesel engine, and the more lead foot the better!

I'm more like you, I am easy on the pedal around and about, but at least once in 30 to 50 miles, when getting onto the hi way, I will bring the engine up in third gear in a hurry, enough to blow accumulated soot out the exhaust. When the black soot stops coming out, I let up on the pedal a bit and slip it into 4th.

Others do this all day long, and in my opinion, it's a waste of time!
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  #5  
Old 05-08-2005, 07:58 PM
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Under normal conditions, I never exceed 3K rpm. That is my driving style, but I still tend to flog it a few times a day.
Last tank of fuel yielded 29.2 mpg in the 300SDL. I suppose that's not too bad.

About time I started getting acceptable mileage!
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  #6  
Old 05-08-2005, 08:03 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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leadfoot

i usually floor it until i get up to the desired speed in a 240 or 617 turbo. my 350sdl accelerates well enough part throttle is fine most of the time. flooring it produces black smoke which also discourages tailgating.
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  #7  
Old 05-08-2005, 08:05 PM
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The closer they get, the more smoke they'll eat-if they get within 2 or 3 feet it goes into S and the throttle goes straight to the floor!!!
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  #8  
Old 05-08-2005, 08:18 PM
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consideration of others as well

I think it would depend on the situation. If there is another lane for traffic to get by and no traffic... take your time. If you are holding up others think of them as well. Is it considerate to have all of them wait for your acceleration preference? To me that is kind of like going 10mph below the limit in the left lane on a highway. It may be legal but it is not considerate. We are all trying to share the same few roads and have places to get to. The person behind you may be trying to get to a day care ontime or visit someone in the hospital, or or or ....

If the traffic is busy, pull over and let everyone go by. You can then proceed at your own pace and let others proceed at theirs. You don't bother them, they don't bother you. If that inconveniences you think of what you are doing to others.

Chuck
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  #9  
Old 05-08-2005, 08:34 PM
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With the SDL, being that it is somewhat slow and heavy below 2000 rpm's, I let it accelerate at 1800-2000 rpm's. I'm not going to wind up the turbo just to get the vehicle up to 35 mph in seven seconds.

If the $hitbox drivers have to get to day care one minute faster than they would otherwise get there, if there was no SDL in front of them, well they can just go **** themselves.

After I rig up my "proximity regulator" using misted diesel fuel, the problem will be permanently solved.
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  #10  
Old 05-08-2005, 08:44 PM
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If you are holding up traffic you are going too slow. You should accelerate at a normal rate but you shouldn't need to floor it or engage the kickdown. You are actually saving nothing. It makes no difference if you accelerate slow or fast as long as you don't kick down to a lower gear. Even that is not wasteful if you need to do it to make a steep hill. The way to save fuel is to time the lights and drive across town at a steady rate, catching all the lights green.

There are so many ways to make money and save money that I'm not going to torture myself and other road users for pennies. I think a lot of people obsess unnecessarily about gas mileage. If you figure it out you would have to double your mileage to make a noticable difference. It's a waste of time if we are talking about saving enough money each week to biggie size one happy meal.
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  #11  
Old 05-08-2005, 09:16 PM
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I have an S class I'll accelerate as fast as I want to!

I try to keep the rpms around 2k let the other people ride you.
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  #12  
Old 05-08-2005, 09:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganaraska
If you are holding up traffic you are going too slow.
Is that so??

So, if the usual $hitbox is behind me and wants to go 45 mph in a 30 zone, and I have accelerated modestly to 35 mph, you believe that I am going too slow??????????

If that is really true, please reread the second paragraph in post #9.
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  #13  
Old 05-08-2005, 11:19 PM
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it still depends

Folks,

I try to consider all sides. I traded from a 5.0 mustang to a diesel MB. I live in an area where it often takes 4-5 lights to get through an intersection - typically because someone is yacking on their cell phone and delays 10 cars getting through a light. If someone chose to accelerate by choice at a pace that meant 10 or 15 people would not make it through a light I would rank that the same way - inconsiderate of others. To me a big factor is - is it every light or once in a while? If I had to follow someone like that through 5 lights... were they were on a cell phone or just chose to be slow? Either way would be effecting many people for your own convenience.

To be fair, the original poster did not say how "slow" he went. He may be well within the parameters of reasonable. I guess I assumed he was "cell phone slow", and I'm sorry if I mis-interpreted.

So I don't race to the speed limit either, but I do look in my mirror and think about if there are 100 people behind me. If I'm in the left lane at 70 and there are 20 cars behind me and nobody in front, I move over and let them by. If I close on someone doing less than the speed limit, I would hope (not expect) they do the same. Consideration by all of us sharing a common resource and different priorities will help everybody.

Chuck
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  #14  
Old 05-08-2005, 11:43 PM
Diesel Power
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganaraska
If you are holding up traffic you are going too slow. You should accelerate at a normal rate but you shouldn't need to floor it or engage the kickdown. You are actually saving nothing. It makes no difference if you accelerate slow or fast as long as you don't kick down to a lower gear. Even that is not wasteful if you need to do it to make a steep hill. The way to save fuel is to time the lights and drive across town at a steady rate, catching all the lights green.

There are so many ways to make money and save money that I'm not going to torture myself and other road users for pennies. I think a lot of people obsess unnecessarily about gas mileage. If you figure it out you would have to double your mileage to make a noticable difference. It's a waste of time if we are talking about saving enough money each week to biggie size one happy meal.
I have to disagree with this line of thought. I am one that strictly adheres to the posted limit, and also uses proper road etiquite (sp?) on multi lane roadways. I am constantly tailgated, sneered at, and at times flipped off for having the audacity to actually obey the laws. People around here seem to be incapable of looking beyond their own windshield wipers as I've lost count on how many times some brain dead moron pulls up to within a couple of feet of my back bumper, on a three lane highway with TWO wide open lanes to the left to pass me with.

If you are obeying the laws, and are keeping right except to pass, then my attitude is screw the moron who is in a prepetual hurry, and thinks that they have some god given right to blatantly ignore the rules. I'm not going to risk a ticket so the moron can get to whatever their destination is .000000000000000001 seconds sooner. I laugh as 99% of the time, I will catch up with them at the next light. They'll be stopped, while I might have to lose maybe 1/4th or 1/3rd of my original speed.
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  #15  
Old 05-09-2005, 01:42 AM
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I always accelerate at a fairly quick pace, with about half of it just the on-off switch method I don't speed either....highest I'll exceed the limit is maybe 3-4mph, no more. I've been getting about 24-25mpg now that the summer fuel is back. When I do more modest acceleration I do right around half-pedal....my boost gauge usually holds at around 4-6psi during those accelerations, then if I am only reaching 30-35 or so it falls to about 1-2psi while holding the speed and cruising....about 2-3psi holding 40-48ish mph....and around 5psi for maintaining 55mph (majority of my drive to work). Timing is everything, hovering right around the speed limit gets you all the green lights and saves the most fuel. I can drive down the 55mph road to and from work and get essentially every green light (about 7 of them) w/out slowing down even once if I maintain 55-57mph the whole way.

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