W123 was pre wind tunnel design.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Difference in the diesel fuel we get now has a lot to do with it.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

The fuel we get today is much better. Ultra low sulphur and higher cetane.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Gas is starting to climb in price reciently here again. So far diesel is staying down in price.


That there are troubles in the heavy trucking industry may be the reason. Their consumption of fuel will be down. Plus the have to be the largest overall consumer of diesel fuel by far. The economy is booming. Yet new heavy truck sales are down by about forty percent and many large carriers are on the verge of insolvency.


Some decent sized ones have already folded up. If that is the case then other carriers may be purchasing their newer used equipment. I watched a used heavy truck auction awhile ago. Prices did not seem that high. Even when they were still pretty current trucks.

Didn't the sulfur help lubricate the injection pump and injectors, and now that it's been lowered, it's causing premature wear on parts?

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Stop paying for animal enslavement, cruelty, and slaughter. Save your health and the planet. Go vegan! I did 18 years ago. https://challenge22.com/

DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

Only on pumps not designed for it.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My 115 240d 4 spd manual returned 30 mpg with a seized caliper and a failed bearing on the highway. My 123 300D NA Automatic returns 26 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway.

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Why I will never do business with "DieselKraut" again

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-used-parts-sale-wanted/378935-why-i-will-never-do-business-dieselkraut-again.html

Consider the vehicle we are referring to and re-think your statement.

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

US MPG or UK MPG? It matters what "gallon" you're referring to. Apples and oranges.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Not bad even if you are basing it on the imperial gallon. That 300d is doing really good. Imperial gallon is about 4.5 liters. American gallon 3.78 liters.

Imperial gallon is ~20% more than a US gallon. 1 Imperial gallon = 1.20095 US gallons.

26mpg Imperial / 1.20095 = 21.65mpg

36mpg Imperial / 1.20095 = 29.98mpg

Pretty much exactly what everyone else is reporting on their vehicles.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Fuel may be the lowest cost component of car ownership. It just is so frequently obvious that you are paying out money for it. That it seems important by just getting your attention.


I try to keep my actual total cost per mile as low as reasonably possible. Why I am not certain. My beater gets exceptional milage. At the same time it will probably undergo some pretty expensive work as the brand for that year has pretty serious issues that will occur.


I think I can repair them myself for about two thousand dollars when they occur. They will if I keep the car at some point. Add to that the timing belt change and water pump coming up in the near future. That is about three hundred for good parts.


There was a time where it was about an hour and twenty dollars. Same brand. This one will probably suck several hours. Plus you need special tools to change it to keep the engine in time. We stay away from brand new cars with rubber timing belts. I see many are going back to chains.

Royal gallons right?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

No need. I said what i wanted no mistake. This car's pump was not designed for no sulfur fuel.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My 1985 300D, which was meticulously cared for by its PO would average 25.7 mpg on the dot for 100% highway driving.

Anyone who says a stock auto 300D gets 30mpg is either lying or using royal gallons.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.