Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-12-2008, 12:06 AM
fruitcakesa's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,143
Love em/hate em

The joys and sorrows of MB ownership played out this evening.
I took the family out to a movie about 40 miles away, yes we do live in the boondocks, and used my daughters 82.
The fuel gauge read just under 1/2 full with about 340 miles on the odo. hmm probably closer to 3/4 tank or less but still should be enough for the trip.
Saw "Man on Wire" a flick I would recommend. It let out at 9 pm and we started home.
About 10 miles on the car lost power and then died. Luckily the interstate was quieter this time of night so we could pull over safely.
The hate em part: The fuel gauge still read just under 1/2 but the reserve light came on! First time I ever saw it operate. I have had the sender out of the tank and cleaned all the gunk off it so I could be confident that it would read true. Hah!
Anyway daughters cell phone was dead of course so we hoofed it back the way we had come and by chance were only about a 1/2 mile from a rest stop where we could call AAA.
The love em part: 30 minutes later we had 2 gals of D2 in the tank and after 50 pumps on the primer and 4 GP/crank cycles she fired up and settled into a satisfying idle.
These cars can be finicky and a trifle erratic in the operation of some components but the simplicity and stoutness of the systems more than make up for it.
My TDI is a nightmare to restart after a no fuel situation although the fuel gauge is very accurate.
So the lesson here is to know thy vehicle and carry a can of fuel for those times when the car knows more than you.

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-12-2008, 12:40 AM
Simpler=Better's Avatar
Ham Shanker
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 2,544
5 gallon metal can with a screw-on lid is awesome!
__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-12-2008, 12:46 AM
JimmyL's Avatar
Rogue T Intolerant!!!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Sunnyvale, Texas (DFW)
Posts: 9,675
Where the heck is your cell phone???? Even street people these days have cell phones.......
At 340 miles on the odo my white wagon is ready to run outta gas. China makes it to 400 fairly easily.
I don't think the gauge works correctly on Smash. It gets near a 1/4 tank and never goes much below that.
I'm ready for the "love em" part. I hate both my wagons right now.....
__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-12-2008, 01:25 AM
compress ignite's Avatar
Drone aspiring to Serfdom
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: 32(degrees) North by 81(degrees) West
Posts: 5,554
Mercedes RoadSide Assistance

According to MBUSA.COM:

"Every Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. - no matter how old, how many miles it's logged or how many owners it's had - qualifies for Roadside Assistance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you ever need assistance while traveling in your Mercedes-Benz, just call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES."

FREE:
Jump-start (Or If your Battery is totally dead,They'll sell you a new one on the
spot... no installation charge)
Tire Change (With your spare)

Up to 3 Gallons of fuel.

Mercedes offers this program only in the U.S.
('From MBNA's view,It's cheap advertising...'Keeps the broken down MBs off
the side of the roadways)
__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-12-2008, 01:28 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
I havent used for mercedes yet, but it does make me pridefull of my old beast.
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-12-2008, 01:45 AM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I keep a 2 gallon jerry can in my trunk. Thats enough for at least 40 miles.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-12-2008, 08:47 AM
fruitcakesa's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,143
My cell phone?

I hate those things. Why do you think I own an old Benz?
__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-12-2008, 09:13 AM
BoostJunkie's Avatar
Boostaholics Anonymous
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 91
Cell Phones

Quote:
Originally Posted by fruitcakesa View Post
I hate those things. Why do you think I own an old Benz?
Even my dad, unibomber like hatred for technology that he has, has a cell phone.

__________________
1987 MB 190E 2.3 16V- Name Pending
1982 MB 300SD -Old Blue
1965 Ford Mustang - Laura
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-12-2008, 10:28 AM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
Ahh old guages!

I always drive my cars by the mile, I don't trust old guages. Just make sure your odometer is pretty accurite!
__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-12-2008, 11:17 AM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
Quote:
Originally Posted by fruitcakesa View Post
I hate those things. Why do you think I own an old Benz?
get a car phone

I keep a gallon of motor oil in my trunk for either quick top offs or use as fuel in case of emergency
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-12-2008, 04:23 PM
daw_two's Avatar
diesel enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 5,449
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL View Post
Where the heck is your cell phone???? Even street people these days have cell phones.......
At 340 miles on the odo my white wagon is ready to run outta gas. China makes it to 400 fairly easily.
I don't think the gauge works correctly on Smash. It gets near a 1/4 tank and never goes much below that.
I'm ready for the "love em" part. I hate both my wagons right now.....
Jimmy --- You need a bigger TANK. I get over 500 miles easily on Coda; I put 10.07 gallons in her yesterday (to top off --- because the price was so cheap); 288 miles since the last fill up. If you want me to, I can hook you up with an auxillary tank.

Jimmy --- are you sure your odometer is not slipping?
__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-12-2008, 04:31 PM
TylerH860's Avatar
KHAAAAAAN-gress
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wichita, Ks
Posts: 5,187
His odometer is not slipping. Its more likely that people are not making their W123 fuel calculations correctly.

I average 24 mpg, and have to fill up about every 350 miles on average. That's what they're supposed to do.

How many thread titles have you noticed that read, "Wow... I'm getting average fuel economy"?
__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-12-2008, 08:45 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
The W126 must have huge tanks compared to the wagons.....I've gone 430 miles before and still had like 4+ gallons left....it took around 18 to fill it.

Today I filled up at 346 on the odo and it only took 14.1 gallons, so it still had about 7 or more left.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-12-2008, 11:00 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
SDL has a 23.8 gallon tank, I think my SD had a 20 or 21. When I ran it dry I didn't get quite 20 in it, I know its a tick smaller than the SDL's.

What do W123's have? Sounds like 18ish.

450 miles on mine is usualy takes between 18-20 to fill.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page