Just got this on the road and am not getting the mileage I had been expecting, pulled around 23MPG on the first tank. It has been primarily flat hwy going 60MPH. What should I be expecting for mileage with this type of driving?

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

I don't own one of these but your mileage seems a bit low - my cousin has an 87 300D wagon and as I recall he is getting 27-29MPG on the highway without A/C use.

B100 is also not quite as fuel efficient as straight Diesel fuel, as I recall its was about 5% less that Diesel? That might account for 1 MPG or so...

Have you checked the timing and chain strecth? How does it run?

Tim,
I realize the B100 will reduce my mileage somewhat, but it shouldn`t account for this much. It seems to run well, although my experience with these cars non-existent. Seems to be a little slow getting up to speed... compared to our peppy VWs. TDIs act like this with a clogged intake, could this be the culprit?

I`ll have to check the chain stretch and timing.
BTW, there is 162K on the odometer. Seems to be in good condition otherwise and to have been run on relatively clean fuel under previous ownership. This mileage reading is w/o A/C use also.

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

I get from 25 (around town) to 30 (conservative highway) MPG using dino-diesel in mine.

It should not be slugish at all.

I have about the same miles showing (171K now).

It could be a number of things (turbo not functioning, waste gate stuck open, fuel supply, injectors clogged, timing chain).

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current Benz
'87 300TD (white) 168K (on the odometer as of 15 April 2004)
past Benz owned & miles I put on them
'62 190D 20K (white)
'63 190D 20K (beige)
'65 190D 35K (white)
'73 220D 175K (metalic green)
'79 300D 135K (metalic blue)

driving a Benz diesel since'77

Ron

I can come down there sometime if you want an independent "seat of the pants" feel for the acceleration, I've driven quite a few OM603's in the W124 chassis.

I also have a boost guage and the tools to check/set the IP fuel delivery timing on the OM603, I also have the tools to check valve timing.

Clogged line to the over boost protection switch could cause a no-boost condition. The OM603 in the W124 chassis is pretty quick - I'm not up to speed on the VW Diesels but I would expect it would be pretty close to a VW Diesel with 0-60 times in the 11-12 second range.

Tim

Thanks Tim, that`s awfully kind of you. I`ll take you up on that offer and make it at your convenience. The umph seems to be nowhere near that of the TDIs, which are chipped you know. It`d be great to hear your prognosis and meet up with you just the same.

We`ve got a new carriage house here in Berlin to work in or I could come your way, your call.

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

The more I read about the 87 603's acceleration being somewhat impressive when compared to all the other diesel benz's, the more I become aware that there must be something not right with mine.

While it is no slouch when I have nailed the pedal, turbo boost is hardly noticable and I know my 740 GL (non-turbo Volvo) will beat the pants off it!

It does not seem to matter what kind of driving I do, (city or hiway) it always gets exactly 31.4 mpg. You could time a watch by it!

At some point soon I plan to take it to a MB specialist that really knows these engines and can access the situation accurately.

Does anyone know of a good diesel benz mechanic south to the Cape from Boston?

My SDL will out accelerate a stock TDI, and it's bigger than your 300TD... so you're probably having a boost problem. However, I always get 22 - 24 MPG, so you're not far off from me.

31.4 MPG for a OM603 in a W124 chassis is exceptional, I don't know if I'd mess around with it if it was returning those numbers.

Ron

I'll drop you and e-mail and we can set something up.

Tim

The turbo is very noticable in mine at 2400 rpms. You could have a malfunctioning over-boost protection valve, or perhaps a clogged line to the ALDA.

Consistant high fuel economy could be an indicator that your ALDA isn't adding more fuel to the fire as it should... something to check into.

Ron, I get about 24-25 mpg depending on the driving, I guess. I don't notice an effect from the B20, and haven't checked the B100 numbers. These are w/o air also.

JustComp,
Shouldn`t we be expecting closer to 30MPG on a flat highway going 60MPH? Both Mrs. soypwrd and I try to milk this thing for mileage, I`ll not settle with this until I find out all is well.

Tim,
I sent you a private msg here. In case you didn`t get it my E-mail is rcascio@beachin.net. Looking forward to getting together. You can fill up with B100 if you come this way. :p

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

EPA site says the car has estimated mpgs of 23 city/27 hwy/25 combined.

Ron, there was (is) an 87 300td at OC Imports (not white). Know anything about it - for sale/parts/etc?

Thanks, I`m looking for the 27 at least. My wife drives this from West OC to Snow Hill, flat road at 59 MPH and I believe this car should be getting the 27 or close to it, not 23.

If you are refering to the champaign 300TD that has been spending some time there, I know the owner and I do not believe it is for sale. It has over 325K and is his daily driver, but he also has a late model 300D. Stop by and ask Josh to be sure.

Where are you located????

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

I thought about what Tim said about not messing with what could be considered a good thing, on the way into work today.

I wasn't aware that my mpg was on the higher side. Given the fuel cost lately, I'm paying $1.87, I may just leave it alone.

I guess my engine is running mostly in a naturally aspirated mode and with little or no turbo boost. It would be nice to get all that power though, but the car does have enough power to not get in anybodies way as it is. It would be neat if you can rig a device that would turn on, and turn off, the turbo at will!!!