Mercedes gasoline engines vs. Diesel. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lorainfurniture · #1 11-16-2012, 01:25 PM

Ive been thinking about this for a while. I see a few nice 300d's pop up from time to time, and I get tempted to buy them. Then I think, are they really THAT much more reliable than my M103?

Sure the gas engines have spark plugs, etc. However, we don't have to do valve adjustments, timing chains, or glow plugs.

With my 300e approaching the quarter million mile mark, I realize that I have not done ANY engine repairs or maintanence (less oil changes) in about a year or two.

Please discuss.

aklim · #2 11-16-2012, 01:29 PM

Depends on your driving and what you are trying to do. If you are hauling heavy loads, you have no real choice but diesel. Same as if you are traveling long distances. For my Toy Hauler or when I was driving 200 miles a day, diesel was the only answer. Now that things have changed, I'd go gas all day long. Why?

1. Don't have to be 2nd class citizen at the pump
2. Clean pumps as is the floor around them instead of having diesel all over
3. Every fuel stop sells gas. Not every one sells diesel
4. Price fluctuation from one and another one down the block (5-20 cents)
5. No fear of gelling or need additives
6. Oil is not as dirty in gas

HuskyMan · #3 11-16-2012, 01:52 PM

many years ago, a friend of mine knew a man who had a Ford F350 diesel truck. Seems diesel man was flying down the road without his seat belt and got into a head on collision with a Honda car. Honda man died instantly, while diesel man lived. The cop who answered the call told diesel man had it not been for that rather heavy Ford diesel engine, he might have died.

Air&Road · #4 11-16-2012, 02:03 PM

I drove MB diesels from 1977 to 2000. Including the ones my family drove, I have something real close to a million miles experience with them. In the days of carburetors the advantage of diesels over gas was considerable. Once pulsed fuel injection came onto the scene the advantages of diesel over gas drastically decreased. The fact that diesel fuel became more expensive than gasoline didn't help the situation.

My 300E is closing in on 325K miles. The K Jetronic has not been perfect, but it has done well enough to keep it running all this time.

When you move past the K -Jetronic into the common modern fuel injection on most all engines these days coupled with much better built engines below it, the advantage of a diesel all but evaporates IMHO.

Don't get me wrong, I have diesel fuel running in my bloodstream and always will. I LOVE rattle motors, but from a practical standpoint, they just don't bring the wide advantage gap over a gas engine that they used to.

Keep feeding that M103 and it will serve you a LONG time.

E150GT · #5 11-16-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Depends on your driving and what you are trying to do. If you are hauling heavy loads, you have no real choice but diesel. Same as if you are traveling long distances. For my Toy Hauler or when I was driving 200 miles a day, diesel was the only answer. Now that things have changed, I'd go gas all day long. Why?

1. Don't have to be 2nd class citizen at the pump
2. Clean pumps as is the floor around them instead of having diesel all over
3. Every fuel stop sells gas. Not every one sells diesel
4. Price fluctuation from one and another one down the block (5-20 cents)
5. No fear of gelling or need additives
6. Oil is not as dirty in gas

I dont consider myself a second class citizen at the pump. I feel superior.

lorainfurniture · #6 11-16-2012, 02:39 PM

Thats what I have been beginning to think. As much as I would like to have a car that would belch out a gnarly black cloud every once and a while, I'm beginning to think that the "diesels run forever" statement is dated to the 70's and 80's.

My father in-law had a Chrysler van that just hit 185k before I bought it. It makes me think that a well maintened gas engine could easily last as long as a comparable diesel.

E150GT · #7 11-16-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorainfurniture

Thats what I have been beginning to think. As much as I would like to have a car that would belch out a gnarly black cloud every once and a while, I'm beginning to think that the "diesels run forever" statement is dated to the 70's and 80's.

My father in-law had a Chrysler van that just hit 185k before I bought it. It makes me think that a well maintened gas engine could easily last as long as a comparable diesel.

they do run forever, but so do gas motors

lorainfurniture · #8 11-16-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

they do run forever, but so do gas motors

Right, I guess it would be safe to say that back in the 70's, when gas engines where carbed, and problematic, a diesel would be the superior engine.

Now, gas engines are right up there if not better than diesels. The slight fuel economy advantage is lost (mostly) to the higher price of diesel. Lets not forget the premium that is paid for diesel cars in the beginning also.

I was looking for a while for a 90 ish 300d, but after doing the math, my 300e is the better value. The 300e is not too far off from the D fuel economy wise, and the cost to maintain is very similar as well.

aklim · #9 11-16-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

many years ago, a friend of mine knew a man who had a Ford F350 diesel truck. Seems diesel man was flying down the road without his seat belt and got into a head on collision with a Honda car. Honda man died instantly, while diesel man lived. The cop who answered the call told diesel man had it not been for that rather heavy Ford diesel engine, he might have died.

larger object hits smaller object and larger wins. Is the cop sure that a gas truck wouldn't do as well?

aklim · #10 11-16-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

I dont consider myself a second class citizen at the pump. I feel superior.

You can. consider anything you want but it doesn't make it true. Look at the gas to diesel pump ratio and diesel pump placement and discuss how you are looked on.

lorainfurniture · #11 11-16-2012, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You can. consider anything you want but it doesn't make it true. Look at the gas to diesel pump ratio and diesel pump placement and discuss how you are looked on.

when I fill up my box truck, I have to go in and give my card because the stupid diesel pump does not even have a card reader. The gas pumps have tvs playing the news.

E150GT · #12 11-16-2012, 02:58 PM

Why would I wanna be like everyone else?

aklim · #13 11-16-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E150GT

Why would I wanna be like everyone else?

Ask the black folk from the past about being equal.

Air&Road · #14 11-16-2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorainfurniture

Thats what I have been beginning to think. As much as I would like to have a car that would belch out a gnarly black cloud every once and a while, I'm beginning to think that the "diesels run forever" statement is dated to the 70's and 80's.

My father in-law had a Chrysler van that just hit 185k before I bought it. It makes me think that a well maintened gas engine could easily last as long as a comparable diesel.

I am of the opinion that most any car made today can hit the 300,000 mile mark if given basic maintenance. Even with marginal maintenance 200,000 is within VERY easy reach.

t walgamuth · #15 11-16-2012, 04:24 PM

If you want a "classic" mercedes like a 123 a diesel is the only way to fly because of fuel consumption. The 110 injected gas motor is as durable as the 617, my 84 500SEC v8 was also, but both of them used lots of fuel.

I still like a diesel but my Dodge needed at 140,000 new injectors and a lift pump at 100K. very expensive.

For day to day driving I have to agree with Larry.