What cruising speed should I plan for?

Going a fair distance in the trusty 240D this summer. Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas, San Antonio, Laredo, and final destination of Monterrey, Mexico. Car is running great and it will go above 80 mph, but not sure I should keep that up for long.

Car is going to be living in Mexico for the next couple of years while I complete a work assignment down there. I’ll be using it as my city driver when I fly in and out, with an occasional highway run up to San Antonio etc. for a little shopping north of the border.

Any other thoughts, advice, suggestions, etc. welcome!

Thanks,

Clay

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

I kept up 85 mph in a 240 D from Cleveland Ohio to Houston, no problems.
70 mph might be better on your ears though.

__________________
TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

The 240 is the ideal third-world cruiser. Have fun and stay safe. BTW, the road between Laredo and Monterrey was semi-rough in the late 80's. We were warned only to drive it in the daytime. And that was then............

__________________
'82 240D Euro 68K and growing

between Laredo and Monterrey. Monterrey is over 5 million people now and in many ways far from a 3rd world location. But.......the driving is a bit rough and not a place I wanted to have my SDL. And the 240D will be the perfect car for exploring around the "real" Mexico.

Any more thoughts on a good target cruising speed that will get me there AND be OK for the car?

iPod enabled sounds already installed

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

at least you prolly won't get carjacked.

This is a sometimes contested issue, but if you put oversize tires on, you will reduce your rpms... at speed (80mph) I lowered mine approx 200 rpm by installing 205/70R15. I think it especially/only makes sense if you are a highway driver, like myself.

__________________
Cheers,
Robert

We haven't had any problems running it near flat out on road trips. It has been run over 80 MPH for atleast 30min-1 hour at a time though.

Assuming the road conditions and cops allow it, I suggest 75-82 mph. Keep checking the oil.

__________________
1976 BMW 2002- 100k
1995 BMW 325i 175k
1984 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel- 270,000 mi

1981 Mercedes Benz 240D- Estimated 300,000+ mi Returned to the earth

but I am thinking I will remove my hub caps. Anything missing from your car during the week, can be repurchased at the “Flea Market” on the weekends. A co-worker and I did that with the towing mirrors on his Suburban a while back.

You got that right! I am habituated to watching the temp and oil pressure gauges in this car.

Thanks for the responses so far.

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

Hello neighbor, I think you'll find engine speed and oil consumption are directly related. 240D of mine has been on couple of cross country trips. Anything under 72 feels like the engine is lugging. At/near 80mph seems to be best for long hauls. Oil comsumption increases at 85.

Great opportunity for serious radiator flush too. Drain the coolant and start out with straight H2O. Add Valvoline 8hr radiator flush when you hit the road and then drive all day like bat out of hell. Then you can douche the system at two-bit DIY carwash along the way..... and REPEAT the valvoline chem coolant flush treatment the next day on and on untill it flushes completely clean. No doubt you will want a fully operative, clean cooling system when you get there.

And when you get to Mexico watch out for narrow city streets. Farmers kicking their donkies and throwing their children in front of cars with American plates then claiming thousand$$ for damages. It's a notorious scam and cost a friend of mine hundreds of dollars in bribes at Mexican police station long time ago.

Good luck and keep in touch, wake up this thread with updates as the trip gets underway. Sounds like an excellent adventure.

I'm confused, If you are showing 80MPH on speedometer reading. With 15" tires you are actually doing 80+ unless you somehow changed the gear ratio on speedometer?

why not a citric acid flush then top off with MB spec coolant?

Leaving at 7 AM tomorrow for the trip to Mexico. Nashville I-40 to Little Rock, I-30 to Dallas, and I-35 to the border at Laredo.

Planning on taking 3 days, push hard the first day to Dallas, easy cruise the next to San Antonio, and then across the border and on down to Monterrey on Friday.

The 240D is running well, but it is a 25 year old car now. Wish me luck……or…….PM me your phone numbers if you are close to my route.

Hasta la Bye Bye, baby…..

Clay

Ps. Had a 75 MPH blow-out in the 87 SDL this weekend while flying through Memphis. Drivers front, on Michelins, of questionable age. It was like a NASCAR thing. Thought I avoided some road debris and then …….she-blamo! Smokin and throwin’ rubber up on the hood! Stayed straight and stable through the whole thing. What a car! Gave my 8 YO daughter a lesson on “even if you ruin the rim, drive on it until you reach a safe spot to make the change.” After a quick change, drove on over to the local Costco and had them put on 4 new ones. GREAT improvement in the ride of this car.

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

I hope your air conditioning is working properly.

Oil consumption does go up considerably with the higher speeds. Much of it due to an increased blowby effect that seems to be sufficient to push oil out the top of the valve cover, where it proceeds to get burned via the intake.

I need my 240D to last a long time and run economically, so for my part I would limit my speed on such a trip to 75 mph. Not so high on the revs and the fuel efficiency is good.

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Nashville to Dallas. Dunno exact total distance today, but something around 650 miles. Only MPG test was Nashville to Memphis, 183 miles, running around 70 through the hills west of Nashville, A/C on for the last half of the distance. 6.33 gallons used, so just short of 30 MPG, which I found hard to believe. Will check again tomorrow, Dallas to San Antonio.

Non-working Odo., so this will make a great Ebay car some day. Speedo runs about 4 MPH higher than actual, so you can feel like you are going faster! Ran all day 70 to 75 MPH (74 to 79 on the gauge). Faster than that and it is really screaming, which I don’t want to do.

Car ran great; no oil used that I could tell and only had to turn off the A/C on those long hills. Ran over what turned out to be a valve stem somewhere around Memphis. Noticed a slow leak on the left rear, stopped a couple of times to top it off and finally went to a “real” gas station in Little Rock. $9 later and all is well. I guess that valve stem caused 2 flats, the original and then me.

Only one question today. A couple of Harley guys at the rest area wanted to know what year it was. I told them and they said "nice car, they don't make them like they used to." I said "Right, now they make them with working cruise control." He said, "well, at least it's got some chrome!"

If you do not like to pay attention and participate in the driving experience, this is not the car for you. Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead……….or you will either get run off the road, or spend a lot of time in the truck lane. As long as you keep the momentum up, you are good to go.

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.

Those Harley guys like their chrome.

I agree, my 240D is happy at about 70-75 mph, any faster sounds like you're beating it up. I drove mine on a 2000 mile round trip a few weeks ago (the 300D was broken), and it's definitely all about conserving momentum.

Well, I have been in Mexico for more than a week now. The trip went well, with no issues at all on the old 240D. I kept the speed in the mid 70’s on the highway and really had no problems, just need to keep the momentum up.

A few tales along the way, but it seems long ago now. Diesel is not available in residential areas here, just out on the main roads leading away from the city. I have not seen any other diesel cars, and no old MB’s. Quite a few new ones around, Monterrey has the highest per capita income in Mexico, and at least 2 dealers in the city that I have seen.

If anyone is interested in bringing a car to Mexico, past the 25 mile “free trade zone” send me a PM and I will tell you how to do it. It is not hard, but you do have to have the right documents and follow the rules. Hopefully we will just keep sailing along, but it’s nice to know the resource of the forum is here. Here is a pic from the trip:

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
2002 E320 Sedan 93K Designo Mocha Black Metallic!
1995 E320 Wagon 205K Black Wagon
1982 240D 183K SloPoke

I believe each of these cars are the final production year for that model.