Diff. Change on '80 240D
 

My 240 has the oh so rare 4-speed tranny and due to excessive rpm at highway speeds,which translates to more fuel consumption not to mention the noise. I was wondering if it was possible to change the differential to achieve lower rpm at higher speeds (70+ mph) ?

read............
this
there are many threads on this out there.........

It is possible but the gains will not be much. The RPMs will be lower but the engine will have to work harder.

My mechanic says that I can replace the differential with one from a 300TD wagon and improve MPG at highway speed (lower RPM) but will pay the price on low end acceleration. Personally, at 65 to 70 I turn up the stereo.

You don't want the turbo motor car rear end. Its too high.

The 346 is as tall as you really want.

The taller one just won't work.

Tom W

Personally, have never seen alot of mileage variation at different engine speeds. "Oh so rare 4-spd 240" of mine always pulled 28mpg no matter how it was driven.

Mr. Dog has apparently not been calcualting carefully. Engine speed and car speed have everything to do with it.

Tom W

Really?? I always reconnoitred vast variations in diesel mpg to be nothin but lies and rumors - mostly carried over from gasoline logic, say V-8's gettin anywhere from 8-18mpg. Never seen more than 2-4mpg variation in any diesel I've owned, and then its more due to fuel differences and additives than engine speed.

And then there's those luggin their cars like slugs, building carbon deposits on piston crowns and combust chambers constantly driving at really low rpm. "Claiming" better fuel efficiency when in reality they're creating an engine incapable of complete combustion as proven by the amount of smoke produced. Like granny's diesel that soon wont be able to git outa its own way on account of engine performance robbed and humbled.

Yup, someone slept through physics 101. :D