I've now tracked the milage. Valves are spot on. Car starts and idles beautifully. and runs well. Adj. the bowden cable and car now shifts nicely, but still horrible fuel efficiency. Tires inflated to spec. Any ideas?

Brakes dragging?

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Didn't ya hear?.. they're fixin' the pumps!

jk

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Sticking trip meter?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I read another post today about poor milage and answers included a clogged muffler. This car revs like a gasser, smooth with no stumbles, so I'm guessing that the exhaust is not the issue. We will double check the tripometer, but the 8 miles clocked since the fill up is just about right.

Often they will slip intermittently. Keep an eye on it.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

How about leaking fuel? Check your lines, especially the return lines for a leaker...it sounds obvious but is often overlooked as the cause of low mileage. At $4+ a gallon you don't want any wasted.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Marty,
Not leaking. I just fixed a major oil leak on the filter housing to block. Sand driveway so it's easy to see leaks. Thanks.

At 15mpg, there is a fuel leak unless its blowing lots of smoke or the odometer is not accurate. Check the lines above the axle.

i vote for odometer problems

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

There's been about 5 recent posts of decreased fuel mileage suddenly. Something tells me they're using a "hamburger helper" filler, to stretch the fuel. In doing so, it's not pure fuel, so you get less mileage.

jeff

5 posts? How about the other few hundred members not experiencing MPG loss?

How many miles do you usually get on a full tank and how many gallons does it take?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

good question. It's my son's car and I think it's 15 gallon tank, possibly more. I"ll have him do a check. He only drives to and from high school, and around town. Kind of hard for him to empty the tank on his limited driving. He's run the tank down a bit and refilled noting the milage before and after and that's how we got the economy readings.

Odometer sticking on the 9's. Hard to notice. You have to keep a close eye on it when it comes to a 9.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13