Ok, inspired by chetwesley's thread today,
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=228483
I want to ask opinoins about my 240D....

My 240D MPG (manual transmission) is about 20

So far I have:
replaced weepy fuel lines
valve adjustment
fuel filter change (both)
odometer repair and check (it is close enough for me using highway milage markers)

PO changed the AC to 134a, and I do live in Texas, so it is on full blast most of the year (especially right now)

To measure mpg, I reset the odo, fill to first stop, fill to second stop, then drive on. At the end of the tank, I fill as described above.

The car runs GREAT! No smoke (occasionally a brief puff of black smoke right at startup, but then never any more even upon accelleration), and while I am slower than traffic at takeoff, by the time I hit 2nd gear I have no problem keeping up. I am not scared to merge onto the highway, so as far as engine performace, I don't think it is compromised more than would be expected for a 240D with 250k+ miles

It does consume a bit too much oil - about 1 qt every 500-700 miles

I shift at the points noted on the speedometer, or just a bit before - I usually hit the limiter at the 2-3 shift point, but not really at the others.

What gives? Any ideas?

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

That's a bit low. I would check for timing chain stretch and if found correct it with an offset key then retime the IP. Valve timing and IP timing can have an effect on the overall effeciency of the engine.

My present W115 240D 4 speed burns motor oil at an alarming rate (Qt/150-200 miles!) yet still delivers 25-27 MPG routinely mostly around town driving.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I haven't driven my 240D much. So I don't know what type of milage it should get. Just a few question, what type of driving is this, city, highway, mixed, country roads?
I'm not an expert on A/C stuff. Still, from what I gather the A/C compressor on these cars consume a lot of power. I think about 10-15 hp. On my Ford Contour I think I loose about 2 mpg on the highway with the A/C on. I think the newer A/C compressors use about 3-5 hp. Also, using 134a has higher head pressure on the system, so more power needed to run it. At least that's what I'm told.
So if you running A/C a lot 15/5= 3 3 X 2 mpg = 6 mpg loss. If the 134a uses more power to run it, then it would be more than that. From what I read the 240D is about 26 city and 30-32 highway. So if your driving city or a mixture then your probably down to low 20's.
Tom

The dots on the speedo are not the shift points, they are the maximum speed that its safe to downshift.

20mpg sounds about right for having the A/C on all the time and revving the crap out of it in each gear. That is severe service.

no wonder you get 20MPG.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

That is what the PO told me the dots were (shift points)....

So where are the (up)shift points?

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

In your mind, there are none. You upshift when the engine will still have enough torque (rpm) to maintain or accelerate the vehicle.

If you shifted at 3000rpm instead of 4500rpm you could regain a few mpg.

LOL

wouldn't want to lug the engine tho.....

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I was going to say stop driving it like you stole it and maybe you'll see an increase in mileage

__________________
For Sale: 1982 MB 300TD
1995 Chevrolet Suburban 6.5TD

Sold: 1980 IH Scout Traveler- Nissan SD33T Diesel

Try it out. You will quickly learn what speeds you can upshift at without lugging, you don't really need a tachometer to do it.

I'll try it on the way home today

thanks everyone -

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I shift normally at less than half the max rpm. The quicker you get into the top gear the better mileage you will get. The diesel engine is a torque motor so no need to max the rpm, just get in a rythm and relax.

I always got 20 town and mid to high twenties highway with my 240s. A bit less in winter or very hot weather when I tended to run the motor when parked. I don't do that anymore with the price of diesel.

It'll use less oil too.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My 83 240d gets 25 mpg during around town, stop and go, drive it as stolen. It's a 4 speed with over 235k on the odo. This is with only occasional AC use.
Oil consumption is probably around a quart every 500 miles, give or take.

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Barker

China gets between 25 and 30 with the AC on and mixed hwy/city. The Squash gets around 24-27 with AC.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I've gotten as low as 17 (all short in-town trips in cold weather) to as high as 25 (commuting-think country roads). I typically floor it and shift at the dots unless I'm in traffic when I slow down and shift sooner. Injectors are shot, secondary fuel filter leaks a bit. Valve lash adjusted recently, return lines replaced fairly recently. 224k on odometer may not acurately reflect actual mileage.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.