Hey all, I'm kinda concerned about my mileage I'm getting with my 300D. Is there anyone on here who has a similar car who can tell me if what I'm experiencing is in the ball park. It is a '76 so '77's don't count as mine is NOT a 123. It does NOT have a 4 speed tranny it is only a 3 speed. So bearing that in mind, I'm only getting about 22mpg. U.S. average. Sometimes it's 21.6 sometimes 23.2 etc. I'm sure warmup times make some difference as does the misty leak coming from the primer pump. ( it wont be long and that will be fixed, the kind folks at the Benz-Bin and I got it all worked out) BTW I believe they have put the other part number into their system, so if anyone needs the "old style" pump the part number is 000-091-11-90. It's not an "in-stock" item but they will get it for you pretty quick. So, is my consumption about right for the car? Tom

Fryer:

You won't know until you fix the leak. About 28-30 is normal for these cars in good shape, and the primer leak will at least make up the difference.

22 with a serious fuel leak wouldn't upset me -- the 220D dropped to 22 or so with leaking injector return lines, so did the Volvo (29 in town, 30 highway normal). The 220D is running about 29 mpg at present, but I tend to drive it much too hard!

And you do have a four speed unless you replaced the original with a three-speed -- you only get first gear if you get the kickdown switch closed before you get to 5 mph from a stop. Makes you think it's out of gear, but does improve low speed acceleration!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I got around 30 in my '75 300D.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

I guess I'm really confused now! I knew my '84 300TD had a 4 speed in it, because when I kicked it down from the line I could count 3 shifts. The 300D on the other had only shifts twice if I really nail if from a stop it will shift at 30 and again at 50. A normal start and it shifts the first time at 22-25 and the second time between 30-40. Also when I reach cruising altitude I feel that the 300D is running much higher rpms than the TD is. Another thing is that reverse in the TD is geared much lower ( it will really haul in reverse) and the 300D is MUCH higher, I think even on the floor that thing wont back up half as fast as the wagon will at half throttle. Wasn't there a change part way through the model year? I now KNOW the primer pump changed partway through the year I had a real cool little book that I got with my wagon that talked about the progression and changes in the different models. NOW I can't find it. Maybe, if this really is a 4 speed tranny, I don't have the top gear? I get from 0-40 pretty quick! Tom

Tom:

Look at your speedo -- max speed in each gear should be marked by the appropriate # of red slashes.

Sounds to me as if you don't get first -- try starting off in L rather than D as see what happens -- you should start in first, shift to second, and stay there until you move the leve to 2 or S, then shift to third and stay there until you move the lever to drive.

If the car sat for any length of time, the shift valves have gotten sticky. This will usually cure itself with time.

You may also have a bad kickdown switch or solenoid -- but you are shifting up at the correct top speeds.

I don't think MB ever used a 3-speed in the diesels -- only the big gas v-8's.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

fryerpowered,

This most important element you did not mention. What kind of driving do you do? Highway, stop and go, combination?

If it's stop and go in heavy traffic, I'd say that's not bad. If it's highway, it sounds really bad.

Good luck,

AWWWW! Larry you are NO FUN! I have checked both and I come up with the same ballpark figure. 21.6-23.1mpg I've checked it on a hwy trip and came up with 22.2 and that was a 200 mile round trip with an additional day of paper routes afterward. Then again I came up with the high figure above after 3 days of just routes. It should be pretty close to an average "mixed" driving figure. When I was using the Rabbit, I got a rock solid 46mpg. It didn't matter if I took a 400 mile trip or used it on the paper routes, I still got exactly 46 mpg. Except in the winter when I only got 44, warmup time does eat a little! Tom

However, I live in New Jersey and spend at least 1/2 of my 40 mile commute in stop and go or crawl traffic.

I don't think I have ever gone as high as 30, but usually never go below 25 MPG