Some of you know me from the ctg N.J. 2005 I have a 84 300d turbo now with 262k miles.
We are all in the middle of the highest fuel prices ever recorded in the us. All of us diesel owners drive diesels for the fun of owning a quality auto with the best reliability bar none and of coarse in most cases, almost all diesel vehicals get better mpg than their gasoline equals. I have been on a personal qwest to get even higher mpg as I do not like supporting imported oil and the fat rich american ceo's of this country.
I would like to dwell on a finding that I noticed on both of my round trips to Denver Colorado, one trip in 2002 and the second just this past oct. 2005.
I have owned my 300d since 1997 and have always gotten 23,24 mpg around town, and 26,27 onthe high way before any work. the engine ran ok but had a bad idle. In 2000, I decided, after several attempts of different parts and settings, that my ip needed to be calibrated. Could not be calibrated because all of the delivery valves were worn at 199,000 miles. Ok, new rebuilt pump, engine runs ok, no bad miss off the highway ramp ,, problem solved.
Before 2002 trip to Denver, new rebuilt nozzels, my tips were mushroomed, and new nozzels cut down on smoke alittle. Trip to denver, no problems, I am getting my usual 26,27 mpg and sometimes almost hitting 28 mpg all while doing 70-75 mph 50% use of a/c.
Now comes the kicker. Leave Limon Co., fill up at the flying J and head to denver to stay for 4 days and leave sunday am to head back to ny. I drive in and around dever, drive up to ft. collins, back to denver, over to boulder, back to denver, over to golden back to denver. I was driving 50% city and highway. Fill up at the flying j in aurora near the airport, this cannot be right I get 30. something mpg almost 31 mpg in the high altitude of colorado and I made sure I sqeezed it in.
I was never able to duplicate this higher than usual mpg again until I went back in 2005.
I did speak to a diesel owner out in denver in 2004 at a station and told him of my findings, and he said it was the altitude and that the alda was cutting back on the fuel because of the thin air. Ok seems logical, well if the thin air of the rockies can get you better mpg, could we here at sea level trick are alda's into high altitude and cut back on air into the engine to get better mpg.
My engine ran fine out in co. with really no power loss. So is there a way to replicate this as we could not only save fuel, money and less pollution, be of only the few to realize an added benifit to owning a mb diesel.
Any suggestion guys, as I think this is a worth while subject to follow.

Peter
1984 300d 262k miles