How I regained 4 mpg
 

In another post I stated that the gas mileage of my 1996 E320 dropped from 21 mpg (which was already not the best) down to 17 mpg in mixed driving 35% city 65% freeway.

According to many tips from the forum I have replaced thermostat, air filter, spark plugs, ignition coils including ignition cables, O2 sensors, MAF (after cleaning the old one did not help) with no success.

Last week I did the following jobs:

- Fixed the auxiliary fan so that now both fans work fine instead of one.
- Changed the airfilter, although it still looked very clean with just 5000K.
- Tightened the air intake temp (AIT) sensor, which was a bit loose because a clamp was broken.
- Changed the oil with 5W-30 synthetic (instead of 0-40W).

The good news: suddenly I got again 21mpg like at the beginning of my possession. The bad news is I am at a loss as to which of the fixes above is the main contributor or the sum of them all?

My suspect is the AIT sensor, your guess?

Mpg
 

Hello.

I have a 300ce/1989 which has the m103 engine.

The manufactures [Mercedes] actual mileage when new was quoted as 15 to 21 mpg in city and 18 to 26 mpg highway.

If you get 21mpg then I think you are looking good!

Gavinbr:D

Hi Gavin,

the best I got was 21 mpg mixed and 26 highway. I was not unhappy with it until I read that many members have incredible mpg ranging 28-36 mpg on the same model, what I need to forget about :).

<that many members have incredible mpg ranging 28-36 mpg on the same model, what I need to forget about .
>

Those are the same guys who tell you their driveway is longer than yours..........

I can get 36 mpg on my 300E if I'm towing it! :D

I know one that got 35, but he always checked it coming home from work.. He worked on Mt Washington.

Yes.

Tom W

i loved the mt. vernon reply....