Is it me or does my car LOVE gas ?

[chillcat]

I was quite surprised as to how quickly the gas tank dissapears while driving the 500 sl--I know the gas tank is smaller than my corvettes, but still seems like it goes through gas--ALTHOUGH the car is a blast to drive!!! this thing is Fast. Car is a 91 and has 93k miles on it, just bought it from someone 2 hours away from me, not sure, but it looks like car has original plug wires. Is there anything I should do, tuneup..to keep the car up to par. I have no idea what was done on the car before I owned it and nor did I think to ask the lady these things. Suggestions ? I spose I can take my car to any trusted mechanic--doesn't have to be a MB authorized I guess.

[truckinik]

My cars will drink up a whole tank of gas, over a weekend, but drive around on fumes for a week after that...I can't figure that part out. Been that way forever. Even my friends cars were like that, back when we were in high school years ago. We used to have competitions, to see who could drive the longest on an empty tank in a week of back and forth to school. My 88 Olds Custom Cruiser Wagon, was pretty good at it, but not compared to my buddies 90 Ford Ranger P/U. Once I started driving my 70 Nova to school, I really fell to last place, and lived closer to the school than a lot of the others.
We had so much fun, in those days. Thought we had problems, too. I wish I had the problems now, that I had back then.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by chillcat

I was quite surprised as to how quickly the gas tank dissapears while driving the 500 sl--I know the gas tank is smaller than my corvettes, but still seems like it goes through gas--ALTHOUGH the car is a blast to drive!!! this thing is Fast. Car is a 91 and has 93k miles on it, just bought it from someone 2 hours away from me, not sure, but it looks like car has original plug wires. Is there anything I should do, tuneup..to keep the car up to par. I have no idea what was done on the car before I owned it and nor did I think to ask the lady these things. Suggestions ? I spose I can take my car to any trusted mechanic--doesn't have to be a MB authorized I guess.

Well the first thing you should do is actually check your gas milage, then get back to us with your driving conditions. This car should do at least 19 highway.

John Roncallo

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by chillcat

I was quite surprised as to how quickly the gas tank dissapears while driving the 500 sl--I know the gas tank is smaller than my corvettes, but still seems like it goes through gas--ALTHOUGH the car is a blast to drive!!! this thing is Fast. Car is a 91 and has 93k miles on it, just bought it from someone 2 hours away from me, not sure, but it looks like car has original plug wires. Is there anything I should do, tuneup..to keep the car up to par. I have no idea what was done on the car before I owned it and nor did I think to ask the lady these things. Suggestions ? I spose I can take my car to any trusted mechanic--doesn't have to be a MB authorized I guess.

You bought it without getting any service history? Call the lady back and ask if there are any books and records you could have. No harm in the asking. If you don't want to drive 2 hours to get them, send her a letter with a $20 bill for "expenses", that usually works....

Can't hurt to have the plug wires changed if the car has 93k on the clock
(use Beru wires to replace them) and take out the plugs and look at them.

Having the books and records will indicate how recently other recomended services, such as coolant, brake fluid, brakes, automatic transmission fluid, etc have been done, otherwise, you might need to assume it needs a lot of maintenance, and you might need to start a service history from the date of your purchase and establish a baseline that way for your car

You can check the "Good shops" section for suggestions of good mechanics
in your state.

These cars weren't designed for--or sold to, economy minded buyers, when they were new, but they were fun, solid highway boulevardiers, great long distance cruisers, and not GT sports cars or econo cars really. The 500, rather than the 300 or the 600, was the ideal motor for them...

No question, Mercedes was still building cars with superb build quality and durability back in 1991.

But they Do enjoy sipping that persian perrier

[truckinik]

In reality, the lady likely never did a thing to the car, beyond changing the oil. Many people, are like this. They think changing the oil, and washing the car, is maintainence. I guess, as long as it sounds like it's running well, and she doesn't drive it far enough at a time to be able to tell how bad the fuel mileage really is, than that must have worked well for her.