How much mpg does a 300sdl give, really?
 

Someone has an ad up on Craigslist. He says he gets 26 city/38 hwy. I don't know how a heavier 6 cylinder (they are 6, aren't they?) 300sdl can get more mpg than my 300d 5 cylinder with turbo.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/720461942.html

What are you guys getting in REAL mpg city/hwy? I figured they'd give about 28 on the hwy.

jeff

They are two completely different generations of engines. The 6-cylinder used in that car is much more efficient than the one your 300D.

The OM603 6=cyl engine engine uses a cross ventilated air intake for less restriction and has different cylinder rings so they use less oil (and less blowby). There is also the better aerodynamics on the 124 chassis but even the big 126 chassis with greater frontal area is an improvement over the 123 brick shaped body.
I dispute the claim that the SDL will give 38 MPG however, thats stretching things a bit unless its measured downhill with a tail wind. 26/28 MPG is more like it. maybe the seller meant 26/28 but then again there's always the sales factor (to sell it, tell them what they want to hear!)
If you want good diesel fuel economy get a 190D with a 5 speed transmission! That combo is going to get you closer to 38 MPG maybe more :)

The '86 gets 28-29 like a clock. Runs 90% highway. Speeds are 65-70 typically. Cannot get 30 mpg unless speed is kept below 65 and a/c is not used.

i consistently get 28-29.5 with mixed driving no A/C and a mere 418000 miles on the ole gurl

some guy on my CL is claiming his 190D 2.2 gets 45 mpg.. city.. But he wants 700 for it and its in good shape...

and it sold already :(

Mileage claims with these old cars are like fishing stories, don't beleive everything you hear and read.:D

Figure low 20's around town, high 20's on the open road, maybe breaking 30 on good days if you drive slow without the AC.

What, Would Stalin do?
 

'Have Beria strangle or shoot them.

$700.00 U.S. for a nice running 2.2 190D ain't bad... (Rust?)
(I've heard of 5sp models getting close to 40mpg on the highway,at reasonable
speeds)

In two years of ownership, all types of driving, all types of lead-footing or non-lead-footing, I've never seen lower than 21 or higher than 26.5 in mine.

In my four months of owing a 1986 SDL with at least 290K miles. I have averaged 27.6mpg in mixed highway and city traffic. My best tank was 36mpg on straight highway running at 65mph. My worst was 24.something

I average 27+ doing 75mph up I 81 and I 78.

So far I have put 10,000 miles on it runnign between West Virgina and NY so I think my averages are pretty accurate.

When I had one,with mixed driving I saw 22 mpg to 25mpg.
On my 1993 300SD 3.5 liter nothing better than 24mpg.

I just got back from my first road trip in my 86 and averaged 25.9 running B100 with 80% highway at 75 cruise and A/C. Considering that B100 is usually about 10% less mileage, that would make it 28 or so.

Wow. 418k! That's a few hours on it. Imagine how many rotations the crank has made in that time.


So, at almost half a million miles, and being a Mercedes, it must be due for it's first tune-up then.
Does it still get 60mpg? :D

In town 24-26 mpg. On the highway at 70-75 mph 27 mpg. Keep her at 65 mph and I have seen 28-29mpg with the A/C on.
This is a 86 sdl with 110,000 miles.

Commute 54 miles each way and mileage is dead on 28mpg.

I use my bike 2 to 3 days a week and she gives me 48mpg and is alot more fun and a whole lot faster.

Here is the compairson on my dad's 300SDL and my 300SD

300SDL 24-29 MPG
300SD 19-23 MPG

Why such good in a 300SDL is because the aluminum heads, Lighter thus making it easier to turn and reduceds the waste of energy, Advance Fuel injection system, Serpintal Or 1 belt driven system reduces the waste of energy and self adjusting valves increced in fuel milage...

I crowd my 87 SDL (188Kmi) all the time and I get a consistent 24/25 miles per gallon. However, I have slowed down a bit since fuel prices are so high now. I should get better mileage since my driving is mostly at hiway speeds.

I get a consistent 22-23 mpg in 95% city driving, although I've started to become much more conservative on my driving (accelerating and braking), so we'll see how she does now.

I think that as we drive more gently to conserve fuel, we'll see more EGR problems from those that are still functional and gunking up the intakes.

I'd love to get that kind of mileage in a big sedan like an SDL, but find it hard to believe. My 300TD gets about 26-28MPG.

Braking is for emergencies and for those that don't know how to drive..........;)

The W126 has a more efficient body and a more efficient engine (I-6), so the additional weight (about 400 lb.) is basically offset.

So, wouldn't that mean one could reasonably expect about the same mileage from both cars?

I think you'll find the usually I-6 does better than the I-5 on the highway and the city is largely a wash. But, my I-5 precisely matches the I-6 for fuel economy..........however, it has a 2.88 rear and a rebuilt head and perfect IP timing.

I rarely use them since changing my driving habits.

My 300 SDL gets about 18-22 in the city(averaging about 19 city driving it with a lead foot), and on the highway, 28-30 mpg at max speeds of 75 mph. Driving with a lead foot, I get about 25 mpg combined. Driving with economy in mind, I get about 28 mpg combined.

I have had a few 40+ mpg trips with it, but these were 200 mile trips taken at a steady 50 mph in the slow lane, making sure to shut the engine off at stop lights, coasting to stops in neutral, coasting down hill in neutral, ect. These trips are definately the exception and not the norm!

I've also taken note that she gets about 10 mpg going 115 mph. :D

Out of interest and just for information if its anyuse to anyone....!

My W123 wagon, N/A 617.952 running on my daily commute of 100 miles round-trip, approx 60 miles of which is motorway usually at 75-80 alledgedly! gives me approx 27 MPG...

--But Thats Imp. Gallon....:(

Ive got a few things to do and to try, maybe I can get a few more MPG outta it!
--Maybe if I slowed down a bit might help!:D

1986 300 SDL milage
 

I'm on board with the others A mix of highway and town (not city) I get 26-32MPG and I don't pussy foot it it likes the R's. However I haven't got to do a mileage test since I put new monarch injector nozzels in and balenced them within 25psi of each other flushed tank and put in new tank screen in I bet it will help the MPG once I figure out my idle issue.

I'm considering the prospect of building aerodynamic body panels for mine, not just for the fuel economy benefits, but also top speed and acceleration while passing on the highway. I'd love nothing more than to eventually have a Myna performance kit in this thing, and some streamlining to have 40+ mpg hwy being routine, 0-60 mph < 6 seconds, and with a gearing/wheel change, the prospect of 150+ mph top speed... but that's about $5,000 and hundreds of hours of work later.

I have Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires on it, and they have given me a measured 1 mpg extra.

I get around 27 but I drive alot of highway miles and I'm not light on the pedal. I don't know if these cars can get over 30 mpg. The thing is anyone will tell you anything to sell a car. DID YOU KNOW THIS CARS CAN GO A MILLION MILES. :eek: I love that one the best.