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  #1  
Old 03-16-2007, 09:45 AM
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who got the most miles out of their eng.

As a reference to people buying old SL and a good sound bite for those selling them, I would like to know your facts about how many miles you got out of your SL prior to rebuilding the lower end (pistons and or crank)? Please state what model and year SL you have and how many miles you have on the short block. If you have real good numbers, maybe you can tell us what your secret is.

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  #2  
Old 03-16-2007, 11:27 AM
88Black560SL
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Earlybird View Post
As a reference to people buying old SL and a good sound bite for those selling them, I would like to know your facts about how many miles you got out of your SL prior to rebuilding the lower end (pistons and or crank)? Please state what model and year SL you have and how many miles you have on the short block. If you have real good numbers, maybe you can tell us what your secret is.
I have a 1988 560SL with 133K. Replaced left head gasket, timing chain and rails at 102K. It does not burn any oil and runs excellent.

I also have a 1986 560SL with 196K that I have absolutly no service history for. It ran really great but did consume oil. I only had it for about 3K miles and now the engine is out.

By the way the secret is Mobil 1. I just traded in a 1993 Ford Taurus with 230K miles. I had the car since new. It always burnt oil since new, not much but it was anoying. That engine was never opened. It ran as good as the day I got it and burnt the same amount of oil it did when new. On that car I changed my oil about every 8000 miles.

John Roncallo
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  #3  
Old 03-16-2007, 05:23 PM
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It's all about care and service...

My 1973 450SLC has 322,000 on it's original engine,it has never had the heads off and has had one new set of injectors,temp sensors, along with the usual plugs and points and hoses etc .All leak down readings are perfect,the oil pressure at 80C is 3 bar in drive at idle .
Top radiator hose is the original.
Trans has never been touched and I fitted a new left rear axle( axle boot had broken because the fuel pump cover had swung back onto it) and disc rotors last week.
I put 100ml of ATF to every 100 liters of fuel,this is a Daimler Benz reccomended practice that many have never heard of,but in my case ( I have several mercs) it has saved hundreds of thousands in parts costs .
So if you are only getting 100,000 from your car ,you are not servicing it properly.
I have seen a couple with close to 500,000 on the clock and both ran beutifully.
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  #4  
Old 03-16-2007, 06:14 PM
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My '85 500SL just turned 136,000 miles and the only engine repair has been a timing chain at about 95,000 miles. Doesn't use a drop of oil, but I have a valve that is a little noisy. Just bought nine quarts of Mobil 1 10W-30 and a bottle of Lucas Oil Additive. Will change the oil tomorrow and replace 1/2 quart of Mobil 1 with the Lucas.
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'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000
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  #5  
Old 03-16-2007, 06:15 PM
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I might add that I have been running Rotella 15W-40 and have opted to switch to the Mobil 1.
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Don
'85 500SL (Euro) - 186,000 w/a complete restoration and engine rebuild at 154,000
'95 C280 - 174,000
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  #6  
Old 03-17-2007, 12:21 AM
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Location: Barrie, Ontario
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M110 2.8 liter. 143K. Doesn't burn or drip. Regular fluid changes.
I will be changing the timing chain shortly.
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  #7  
Old 03-17-2007, 05:52 PM
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my 88 560SL's odo is broken and it read 234K. I've had it for more than a year and it runs super. I think it's in the upper 200's. New chain & such + valve seals and a bit of other stuff. Nothing major otherwise.

Last edited by MTUpower; 03-17-2007 at 05:57 PM.
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  #8  
Old 03-18-2007, 02:03 PM
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1992 500sl, 210k miles. runs purfect. passed ca smog with flying colors, best cae ive owned. i use mobil 1 20-50
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Old 03-20-2007, 08:28 PM
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ATF in gas?

Mercmad, I'd like to hear more about adding ATF to fuel.....
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  #10  
Old 03-20-2007, 09:20 PM
88Black560SL
 
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Well his 73 has no cats and it was a fairly common recomendation back then. There was this product called Marvel Mystery Oil, which looked like transmission fluid. They described it as an upper ring lublicant. I used to put it in occasionaly in my old 60's cars. How else are you goin to lubricate the upper ring except by going through the intake valve. I wouldent try it today with cats and O2 sensors but I really have no data to say good or bad.

John Roncallo
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  #11  
Old 03-20-2007, 10:23 PM
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my great uncle used to add one gallon of diesel fuel to each tank in his work trucks.

swore by it. said it kept the carbon burnt out.

tom w
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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #12  
Old 03-20-2007, 11:12 PM
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Now I remember a homemade remedy for so-called carbon buildup which involved pouring raw transmission fluid into the carb. Lots of smoke would come out the tailpipe. I suppose adding it to the fuel is the same - less drastic - idea.
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  #13  
Old 03-22-2007, 02:49 AM
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158k

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earlybird View Post
As a reference to people buying old SL and a good sound bite for those selling them, I would like to know your facts about how many miles you got out of your SL prior to rebuilding the lower end (pistons and or crank)? Please state what model and year SL you have and how many miles you have on the short block. If you have real good numbers, maybe you can tell us what your secret is.
My "rolling refurbish" has 158000 miles. No service history .
Runs better every time I replace something.
Gotta go replace something else.
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2003 4Runner 4.7L

To expect baseline results... You must have baseline conditions
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  #14  
Old 04-05-2007, 12:13 PM
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I have a number of late model sl and slc. I have a 1973 450SLC with 57k that has custom dual flowmaster 2.5 inch pipes with cherry bombs. She purrs like a lion. It has all it's papers and was sitting for 15 years. The papers show every oil change at the dealerships. I had a 1976 450SL that had 170k with a ruined cam that was taken good care of but had fallen on hard times with bad owners. Once I replaced one cam and bearing housings, I ran great. I have an 1985 380SL I picked up for 2K with 175K and it runs great. I don't have any history on it so I don't know what was done to it but it does burn trans oil from the vacuum modulator I think because it only hapens when the car is decelerated at high RPM for a long period of time and then smokes like mad when I get on it at the stop sign. I have a 1972 450SL that needs alot of work with 214k on it and it runs great but smokes all the time. I suspect the valve seals and maybe the guides. I will be checking that out at the end of this comming summer. I also have a 1976 280SL euro with 180K of city driving that lost it's front right control arm, it smokes also but It may be coming from valves and rings. I don't think it was taken good care off because of all the things that were neglected when I got it. I replaced the whole front suspension, center link, tie rod ends and sway bar links. Both front rotors and calipers were replaced and I an currently replacing rusted out headlight buckets. The oil was very black sludge and the twin cam 6 claters from wear and trash oil. Anybody out there with a 300k (or more) SL that has good service with no major repairs?
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  #15  
Old 04-05-2007, 06:15 PM
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Leaking from the modulator seems to be a common problem,I've never tried to change the seal on one yet,but the smoke is just trans fluid dripping on to the exhaust.I find Lucas trans conditioner fixes it for a few months ( I do big mileages so it usually starts leaking after 4 months or so) and helps the normal 380 trans flaring too...

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