What exactly does a 'reserve tank' mean? Does the fuel not get used unless you somehow hook up to it or enable it? I'm reading my 300TD has a 16 gallon tank + 2 gallon reserve, or something.

Yoy dont have to do anything when the gauge and sender is work right when the.rev light comes.on yoy got that many gals.left..not.sure on ur wagon check ur book

my 91 560 sel my gauge is not right so when my rev light came on i drained all the.fuel out and have 2.5 gals just what my rev is.when my light comes on it flickers goes.to a.quarter then E. Its not the sedong unit nor.the.gauge unit .so i live by the.light
12.5.city
17.5 hiway.
In city i get 280miles max on a tank and puttingappx 23.0 gals in it ..onlt .5 gals.till out that time.

hmmmm, my fuel light actually turns on at an absurd point like when there are 4-6 gallons left. The total capacity is 16gal I think, on my wagon. Sometimes the light flickers randomly when I have most of a tank full.

Yes, it is possible to get 600 miles on a tankful of diesel . . . if you install a 25 to 30 gal tank, or add an aux tank!!!! I usually get nervous looking at the gauge when it's lower than 1/4 tank, as it seems to use go down faster on the lower part of the gauge, and I usually put twelve gals. in at around 340 + miles (during long trips). If you want that kind of capacity, you may wish to check with other forum members of good tanks/gauges to insure that fuel capacity you want. my '83 300D only averages about 26-28 mpg on highway, keeping it at 65, without the A/C. I instantly lose 2 mpg for kicking on the compressor, or driving over 65. If going 70-75 mph, with the A/C, I'll average 24 mpg for the trip, all highway miles. That is on my taxi-model '83 300D (no-frills, manual seats). I'm told the same year model can get up to 31 mpg in the SD model because it's better on the aerodynamics of the body design, even though it has the exact same drivetrain (just slighly longer drive-line).

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1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

I assume you are trying to save diesel, so let's put in some perspective. I operate a semi with a Detroit Diesel 60 series. To run for two days at 6mpg (open top box trailer, aerodynamics akin to a grand piano limits me) I burn about 150 gallons, about $550 or so. Point is, I wouldn't risk running out over a few bucks, and if you live 600 miles between stations, carry 5 gal. Good job if you can get 30mpg!

I have the same.problem

The touch-screen keyboards are made for 14-year-olds.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Well last fill up had.385 miles on the.tick gauge showed 1/4 tank ledt so i fill up .it took.14.7 gallons driving faiely fast.taking off.then leveling it.up thats 26.2 mpg.city driving.with ac on all the.time.so not.ised to is gauge yet so i got a 2gallon jug filled up in trunk now.looks like 550 is possiblemahbe tad.more will update.on half tank.right.now.with.230 on the tick.

Read 'em and weep:

550 miles on 17.311g

This is a bit higher than normal..........she's been doing 550 miles with 18 gallons routinely.

It makes me question whether they actually changed to winter fuel. Never in the last 10 years have I done better than about 25 in the winter.

I've pushed my 300D up to around 520 miles and 20 gallons (26mpg) on its standard 21.1 gallon fuel tank. This was a mix of city and highway driving, little to no AC use, to and from work (~40 miles daily), and when I really feathered the accelerator and attempted to get the best combined city/highway mileage I could get. Normally I get around 450 miles to ~ 18 gallons which equates to 25mpg.

Remember, a W126 will have a 25 gallon tank, a W123 sedan and coupe will have a 21.1 gallon metal tank and a smaller plastic tank (240D's have the plastic tanks), a W123 wagon will have an 18.5 gallon tank, a W201 will have a 14.5 gallon tank or the larger 18 gallon (70L) tank.

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You won't find any 617 powered W126's with a 25 gallon tank. 600 miles would be easy in that case..........but, it doesn't exist.

Really? I thought they had the 25 gallon tanks. What size were their fuel tanks (300SD w126)? I know it's bigger than the W123's which is 21.1 gal.

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Cannot recall the precise value, but it's very close to 21 gallons as well.

I've never been able to put 20 gallons in this one. It will start to suck air through the pickup screen at about 19.5............find diesel fuel...........fast.

I hear ya. Last time I pushed it, the car started sputtering and I was just about to pull in to fill up

I'm guessing maybe 23 gallons for the SD...?

When I refuel and fill up the whole tank, my 300D sits slightly lower in the back. And when it's nearly empty, the back sits way up than when it was full.

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The SD definitely holds around 20.5 gallons..........not more.

The weight, approx. 150 lb., directly on the rear axle, also lowers the SD by about 1". It sits just slightly lower then level with full fuel and about 100 lb. in the trunk.

My 91.560.sel has.a.23.5.gal. Tank wirh.res.

I drive.to work and.home.30miles.in my.300d i got.a.new way home.thats not.to much stop and.stop zo i think that pumped my up a few mpgs i got a.21.1.or.21.5 with res.