240D Fuel Economy - Disappointing - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #31 04-14-2006, 11:09 PM

i think most diesel drivers have a heavy foot, especially if they are driving a 240. double if it is an automatic.

hard to find any information on fuel economy with light footed 240 drivers. same is true of vw beetle (old) drivers.

tom w

RegH · #32 04-20-2006, 01:26 AM

Sorry if I'm off topic, but I think you guys are discussing the same or similar engine that powers my 1975 motorhome. It was built by Motoroam company, of Galva, IL on a Mercedes truck frame. I think the truck is a one-ton design.
The chassis info plate says it's a 240 SL, but I think 240 D is more accurate.
Could someone direct me to a forum or website that could help me learn about this just-acquired vehicle?
BTW- It has an Allison 5-speed trans. Engine and transmission have been performing well during the 6 weeks we've owned it.
Lost the power steering pump (siezed bearings), but we're managing without it.
I think you can see a photo here...

Or maybe this link will help:
http://www.msnusers.com/MR-RV/_homepage.msnw

Thanks for your help

iNeon · #33 04-20-2006, 03:18 AM

That motorhome cannot possibly have an om616!! My Shlomo barely moves with the air conditioner running, how can this thing with a kitchen?!?

heh heh I also do not know what exactly the metal object you posted is? It does not look like anything I have seen under the hood of the 240D

As for economy, 24mpg is all I can get out of my automatic, I pretend its ok, but it really is not. Just like everyone says, though, you either pay more to insure it, pay more to repair it or pay more to own it... nothing is so cheap as a 240D is to insure, so it works out OK.

I figure that getting 6mpg less(assuming 30mpg) than a taurus, camry or accord while paying less than half of the insurance premiums is justification enough. Plus... they do not have the charm or battering rams on either end

Oh yeah-- Welcome, sorta neighbor

Angel · #34 04-20-2006, 07:55 AM

I am also a bit dissapointed with the fuel economy of my 240D - I bought it when I was in school so was ok with getting 24mpg from stoplight to stoplight. I've since graduated and found a job with a 90% highway commute 30 miles each way. 26mpg is becoming the norm. Between the noise and the "I could get better economy with a gasser" OM616, I'm getting ready to jump ship. Since no one is handing out free cars (unless you read craigslist too much...) my next car will be based more on price and quiet highway manners than anything else.

Last word in on the 240D - no Acura will run on vegetable oil =)
which is useless to me (not gonna do the work/conversion) but an interesting conversation point...

-John

R Leo · #35 04-20-2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RegH

Sorry if I'm off topic, but I think you guys are discussing the same or similar engine that powers my 1975 motorhome.

Sorry RegH, your RV has a much different engine than what we're pooping about...

It looks to me like you have an OM314 ...they're a normally-aspirated, 3L direct injection diesel engine of about 85hp (and bags of torque) and are pretty common in Europe as a truck engine in 1 ton to 3 ton chassis.

Little is known about them on this board. However one member, Kerry Edwards, has owned a couple of Benz-powered RVs and has some contacts on this side and the other side of the Atlantic. He may be able to help; you should look him up and send an e-mail or PM.

As far as your power steering goes, the German engineers are fanatics about 'cross platform' compatibility...so, it may just be that your steering pump is similar to or the same as one used in a Mercedes car of the same era and could be replaced with one from a car.

Additionally, many of the components on Mercedes engines and cars can be rebuilt fairly easily.

If it were me, I'd consider pulling that pump and find an 'old time machine shop' that might be willing to take on an unusual project or an independent Mercedes repair shop that's run by an old-timer (they're ususally named Klaus or Hans

) who might have some first-hand experience with that particular engine.

Good luck!

JDmills · #36 04-20-2006, 09:02 AM

My opinion in regards to fuel economy...

On a trip to Virgina from VermontT, I went with the speed of traffic, up to 70MPH = 28MPG

On the return leg, I kept the tach at about 2400RPM, and pulled down 34.9 MPG... which was running between 53-58MPH So do we want good to feel good about how far we go on a gallon of fuel/ or do we want to get there right now.....

t walgamuth · #37 04-20-2006, 09:15 AM

personally when i was driving 240s regularly i felt if i could cop 27 running 73 on the highway that was good enough. i want to get there. and not get run over by the trucks.

tom w

R Leo · #38 04-20-2006, 09:58 AM

I just found this source for parts for Mercedes-Benz 309D and similar trucks like the 408D, 508D.

http://www.jefflondon.net/

Here are some keywords for Googling:

OM314 OM352 OM312 Doka Unimog

rs899 · #39 04-20-2006, 12:46 PM

R Leo said:

Quote:

The five speed is a few inches longer...basically, it's a 4-speed with a different tailpiece.

Crap. I wish I had had a better mental image of these. I was in Ukraine a few weeks ago and I am pretty sure I saw two of these in a boneyard. Whether I would have gone through the trouble of getting them back.....hmm, no I don't think my wife would have wanted to carry one.

jdmills said:

Quote:

On the return leg, I kept the tach at about 2400RPM, and pulled down 34.9 MPG... which was running between 53-58MPH So do we want good to feel good about how far we go on a gallon of fuel/ or do we want to get there right now.....

The last time I checked, I was getting an honest 35/36 MPG on my 4 speed. That's on my daily commute which is 45-55MPH and very little stopping. For what I do with this car, it it fine, but if I am going interstate, I pick up a different tool (read OM617).

Rick

R Leo · #40 04-20-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Crap. I wish I had had a better mental image of these. I was in Ukraine a few weeks ago and I am pretty sure I saw two of these in a boneyard. Whether I would have gone through the trouble of getting them back.....hmm, no I don't think my wife would have wanted to carry one.

Crap. I wish you'd checked with us first. Here are some pictures for your next trip; you know, the one where you're bringing back the five-speeds.

Please note that neither of the boxes in the attached pictures will fit an OM616 or 617...the Getrag (one-piece alloy) is for the OM60X block (starter wart on the wrong - left - side. And, the Iron box has a flat top and won't mate to the alloy bellhousing found on the 123.

However, I'm pretty sure that the fifth gear tailpiece is the same so, if you came across a 'long' Getrag that had the wart in the right place or a 'long' iron box with the sloped top...chances are it's a fiver...be sure to grab the shifter too...

RegH · #41 04-20-2006, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the kind reply Leo, I'll follow up on the info you supplied

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Sorry RegH, your RV has a much different engine than what we're pooping about...

It looks to me like you have an OM314 ...they're a normally-aspirated, 3L direct injection diesel engine of about 85hp (and bags of torque) and are pretty common in Europe as a truck engine in 1 ton to 3 ton chassis.

Little is known about them on this board. However one member, Kerry Edwards, has owned a couple of Benz-powered RVs and has some contacts on this side and the other side of the Atlantic. He may be able to help; you should look him up and send an e-mail or PM.

As far as your power steering goes, the German engineers are fanatics about 'cross platform' compatibility...so, it may just be that your steering pump is similar to or the same as one used in a Mercedes car of the same era and could be replaced with one from a car.

Additionally, many of the components on Mercedes engines and cars can be rebuilt fairly easily.

If it were me, I'd consider pulling that pump and find an 'old time machine shop' that might be willing to take on an unusual project or an independent Mercedes repair shop that's run by an old-timer (they're ususally named Klaus or Hans

) who might have some first-hand experience with that particular engine.

Good luck!

rs899 · #42 04-21-2006, 06:30 AM

Randy-
Thanks for the pix. I know the two I saw lying in the snow had the proper "warts". I do not recall the shifter arm in the rear. I couldn't remember what was different about the 5-speeds- all I remembered was the picture in the Haynes manual. But this place that had them also wanted about $100 US for a pair of W123 Euro lights- and this was in a country where that is a good month's wages. So, something was wrong - if they were 5-speeds they might not have been so cheap....

Rick

Ken300D · #43 04-21-2006, 08:49 AM

I can only speak for the manual transmission car, but I think there's a real sweet mileage spot in the range between 55 and 60. Whem I'm off the Interstate the fuel level never seems to move down. Now I am trying to limit the speed on I-95 to about 70 mph and that seems to be helping. Overall it doesn't make much difference in the commute to work between going 70 and 77 or so.

Another thing I notice is how well the car coasts in neutral. It will really roll a long way. Recently the car received a new master brake cylinder and its obvious the brake calipers are not sticking in any way. Those of you with less mileage might do a "coast" test - not sure how to compare measurements with you but it should feel like you are coasting a long way.

Ken300D

Brian Carlton · #44 04-21-2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken300D

I can only speak for the manual transmission car, but I think there's a real sweet mileage spot in the range between 55 and 60. Whem I'm off the Interstate the fuel level never seems to move down.

If you really want to find the sweet spot........slow down to 45 mph.........but..........don't get run over now.........

boneheaddoctor · #45 04-21-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

i think most diesel drivers have a heavy foot, especially if they are driving a 240. double if it is an automatic.

hard to find any information on fuel economy with light footed 240 drivers. same is true of vw beetle (old) drivers.

tom w

you can't drive a 240D lightfooted and still get out of a pot hole....