After a few months of hard driving, (at operating temperature) the engine longer has incomplete combustion. No more smoke at cold idle , no more shake either. I have 3 levels of city driving.

Level 3 Basically in the city, when possible I floor it (I stay in the speed limit).


Level 2 Here's an interesting one, I floor into kick down to build boost, but JUST before it kicks down and goes bonkers I let off of it just enough to disengage kickdown but remain at full rack. Essentially nearly full power at higher gears.


Level 3 full rack no kickdown.

I drive normal on the highway. No more babying it, because babying it will kill it.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Wonder what that type of driving on a regular basis does to your tires, transmission, and brakes, and drive train???



One of the greatest factors affecting the efficiency of a diesel engine, or any engine, is how you drive. By developing good driving habits you can greatly increase your engine efficiency and mileage per gallon.
You should avoid sudden acceleration or braking. Both these things eat fuel. The more smoothly you drive, the less diesel you’ll use. Similarly, driving fast might get you somewhere faster, but you’ll pay for it with a less efficient engine. Find the cruising speed that uses the least fuel and don’t go faster than that.

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96 E300d

The recommendation to "drive it hard" doesn't mean "continuously". That means to take it out from time to time and give it a good thrash. ANY engine needs to be driven hard from time to time to promote even cylinder wear, break down any varnish, and burn out any carbon deposits.

Driving like an A-hole all the time is just wasteful and destructive to your car's drivetrain.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Oh, I took it to literally. All's well that end well yeah.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I'm done with the frequent hard driving but my brakes where not affected much, because I would always allow room to coast.

I never accelerated and jammed on brakes, always to 40 or 45 and coast at 45.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I don't think you've done any damage.


I see people driving some NA diesels and babying them. That's not good for them.


Driving them at higher speeds for an hour with all accessories in use plus AC on will clear out any carbon. If the temperature goes up a bit, that cannot hurt. As long as the vehicle doesn't overheat and blow a hose.


If you haven't already done so, I would consider doing a citric acid/other flush to keep the cooling system in top condition. That makes running the engine hard easier and more effective to clear out items.


These cars respond well to preventive maintenance.
If applicable, don't forget a yearly valve adjustment!

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I think one of the best things is to take it out and give it a good sustained run at highway speed. Just drive it and let it clear itself out. A quart of rislone now and then if you think its getting gooed up.

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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.

Driving it well doesn't mean flooring it and running it up to max. RPM's with every shift, it just means don't drive it like your Granny's Caddy .

The open road runs @ 75 + MPH really do help keep the engine healthy and if you have good brakes / tires / etc. running it as fast as it'll go once in a while is good for it too .

I drive my vehicles _all_ of them, spiritedly ~ I never thrash them because I have to fix them and I don't like wasting $ .

Certainly after less than 100 miles my Lady's 300TD is running better ~ she never drives it on the freeway, I like to cruise @ 75 ~ 80 MPH and the car loves it too .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Diesels respond well to working under load, this is what I did to run in my C250D after engine rebuild and new rings, honed bore.

Long steep gradient, high gear, low revs forces rings out on each stroke seating them well - car did many miles subsequently with at least two other owners.

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

I bought SWMBO a gray market 300TD a few years back low ~ mileage, direct imported to California when new, it ran like a scalded cat when I first gave it to her, she's a 76 Y.O. Lady who's afraid of the freeway so it mostly putt-putts around town, I don't drive it much .

As I've had the car two weeks for tinkering, service and cleaning it's been running better and better, once again it's significantly more powerful than my '84 Coupe .

Friday evening just for giggles I pinned the throttle from a dead halt getting on the freeway, allowing the engine to run up to forced up shifts 1 & 2, it was passing 75 MPH in 3rd when I lifted the throttle a tiny bit and it smoothly shifted into 4rth gear and was very quickly going 100 MPH ~ time to ease off, I don't normally drive with more than 1/2 throttle at any given time nor do I exceed 80 MPH, I was pleased to see NO SMOKE and the engine continues to idle glassine smooth .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I've never been one to baby these cars around but still hoof it when I have to.
Actually yesterday I did a 10h road trip in the '77 with a trailer full of stuff (moving house) and had my foot on the floor for hours on end...if that didn't clear it out I dunno what would

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

? How fast did it go at full throttle ? .

I'm chicken to go much more than 100MPH because things happen too fast .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I caught this pic, seemed appropriate at the moment.

Drive it like you stole it.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

That ain't happening in an 81 240D, 6500 red line or the 120mph.