Amazing 28-30MPG 380SL! (NOT)

[Strife]

Auction 260439805994 on eBay shows a 30MPG 380SL. All I can guess is that is going downhill with a 50MPH tailwind while drafting a truck. MAYBE at 222K miles, the friction losses internal to the engine go down (a LOT).

I've actually seen this a lot in used car ads. One good thing I will say for the EPA is that they have a gas mileage database on their website. Interesting, the 380SL (1985, as far back as they go) shows only 14/17, and I think I do a little better than that, maybe 16/18-19. But the "Revised" data, using the new methodology extrapolated to older cars, seems to be lower.

[POS]

I've found that my SL can get 30mpg if I fill it up, reset the odometer, drive down the tank, then fill it back up again WITHOUT reseting the odometer, and drive down that second tank. I'm in the high 20s mpg that way.

[Tims450SL]

I am gettin a good 15mpg all day long- I dont care since I got rid of my 750 IL sure beats 10mpg...LOL

[B.Bear]

I got 22mpg on my last all day drive, all highway, and a couple of mountian climbs. Of course I had just gotten all the injectors replaced, and I had to use the mileage from Google since I still haven't replaced my odometer gears (but I did order them today). But I think it was probably close.

85' 380Sl

May have been calculated with Imperial Gallons, can't remember now

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Strife

Auction 260439805994 on eBay shows a 30MPG 380SL. All I can guess is that is going downhill with a 50MPH tailwind while drafting a truck. MAYBE at 222K miles, the friction losses internal to the engine go down (a LOT).

I've actually seen this a lot in used car ads. One good thing I will say for the EPA is that they have a gas mileage database on their website. Interesting, the 380SL (1985, as far back as they go) shows only 14/17, and I think I do a little better than that, maybe 16/18-19. But the "Revised" data, using the new methodology extrapolated to older cars, seems to be lower.

Very simple explanation.

http://users.penn.com/~tomwflye/gas.htm

http://www.wisebread.com/can-acetone-dramatically-increase-your-gas-mileage.

http://www.tornadofuel-saver.com/?gclid=CK6horen25sCFQxM5Qod3iqbAg

Also I have the Brooklyn Bridge for sale.

[coleyjf]

Hi

Mm, interesting - perhaps they were using UK Gallons ( about 15% more fuel to the gallon) and non-US emmission treated car - (the cat alone must take a bit plus the other stuff to enable low grade petrol ( sorry gas!) to be used. It all adds up I think.

My UK handbook gives:

300SL manual - Urban 14.5 litres per 100km - 90kph 8.1 litres per 100km - 120kph 10.2 litres per 100km

300SL Auto - Urban 14.0 litres per 100km - 90kph 9.4 litres per 100km - 120kph 11.6 litres per 100km

420SL Auto - Urban 14.9 litres per 100km - 90kph 9.4 litres per 100km - 120kph 11.4 litres per 100km

500SL Auto - Urban 15.9 litres per 100km - 90kph 9.5 litres per 100km - 120kph 11.5 litres per 100km


Perhaps someone can work it out in MIles per US Gallon!

Cheers

Jim

[dugald]

10 litres per 100 km = 23.5 mpg (US)

[Skippy]

30 mpg in an SL? Easy. All you have to do is yank the gas engine and put in a 61x diesel in its place. Of course, I'm told the engine doesn't fit under the hood, so you'd have to modify the hood, and I'm sure a couple other modifications would have to take place.

[Mike D]

Ummm, METERS per gallon?

[mach4]

Originally Posted by Skippy

30 mpg in an SL? Easy. All you have to do is yank the gas engine and put in a 61x diesel in its place. Of course, I'm told the engine doesn't fit under the hood, so you'd have to modify the hood, and I'm sure a couple other modifications would have to take place.

I stumbled on this old thread doing a search and I can definitively say that a diesel SL will get well over 30 mpg...and the engine fits under the hood just fine.

I just got back from a road trip coast to coast from San Diego, CA to Wilmington, NC and averaged 31.23 mpg over 5778 miles. '85 380SL with a 617.952 engine.