I was wondering if any of the forum members have good ideas on improving the fuel economy of the w210 diesels? It's too cold here to uses WVO easily and biodiesel is not sold nearby. I'm getting 27 to 29 mpg 40 cetane petro diesel.
Steve

Your mileage does not seem out of the ordinary.

Winter diesel gets less miles per gallon.

Adjust driving style, (good reports recently on the Scan Guage II, which gives instant read fuel economy - want one) all the usual suspects after that.

Low-rolling resistance tires? Mine have an extra 5 plus psi in them.

Maintenance, air cleaner, fuel filters, wheel bearings.

Turn off the AC when not needed EC function.

What mix of driving you do? City vs. Rural, stop and go vs. highway, 55mph vs 80mph....

Mine seems to get about what yours is, but there are several short trips in there.

Others will respond as well... Oh and clean the Intake Manifold, been meaning to do that myself. Check Injectors too...

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raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

IP timing/injectors adjusted and functioning properly. Glow plug and starting systems working properly so the engine starts up quickly.
No snow where I am but would using a block heater (besides making it easier to start) save you fuel as you do not have to warm up?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Put a block of wood under the throttle.

I'm getting ~25mpg right now... winter/city driving. Someone here claimed to be getting 34mpg highway, but they must be lightfooted. Best I've had so far is 31 mpg hwy @ ~65 mph.

Now that I'm using two tanks for my WVO conversion, calculating mileage becomes a bit of a black art.

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Best I've ever done is 31 MPG on a recent trip. Mostly get 23-25 with combined driving. Limit warm up times, stay out of boost by making small throttle adjustments should help.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

That's my problem... I'm addicted to the loud pedal.

After years of driving VW idi diesels, the om606 is a revelation. I "trundle" about in town, but on the highways I'm in the boost. Just as well that there's no boost gauge... that would only make things worse!

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

I've had my 98 for 6 weeks... Lowest mileage was 27, highest was 31... Snow storms and bumper to bumper commuter traffic have been the biggest detractors to good mileage... As the weather gets warmer my mileage has been increasing... Things I've done to increase my mileage include installing a ScangaugeII to monitor mileage in real time, slow down highway speeds to just under 70, usually 68 - 69mph, smoothed out my driving even more than it already was... Tire pressures are set at 5# under the max for the tire and I use cruise control to negate the lead foot factor...

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Joe

1998 E300D turbo 240K + Miles
2000 Dodge Dakota 122K + Miles
1992 Mazda Miata Autocross Machine 143K + Miles
http://www.renegademiata.net

Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains. - Winston Churchill

OK, thanks. I've done all the maintenance. Will recheck the tires. Sounds like it's normal for a 20 min commute at 65mph followed by 25 mph for 5 mins.
Steve

I second the "block of wood" suggestion by Forced.

On the older models, pre-electronic actuators, you just made a simple adjustment to the linkage, which restricts how much fuel can be delivered, thereby decreasing peak hp. Supplement that with a block of wood. There ya' go. Max mileage.

Who cares if your top speed becomes 65 - 70 mph and it takes you a minute to get there. Isn't that the limit anyway, and what's the rush?

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Alot of good suggestions....tire pressure, speed & throttle moderation.....
There is no throttle body so air intake flow is at full throttle on a diesel all the time....so clean air filter and a clean Intake manifold will help engine performance and mileage......diesels need a ton of air. If you have never pulled the IM off.....do that job when time allows. You will be supprised at how much oily carbon gunk builds up in the intake manifold, EGR and intake ports on the head. The last time I pulled and cleaned mine the diameters of the openings were reduced by about 10% to 15% restricting air flow. Not good if your trying to stretch a gallon!

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FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K