08 C220 cdi

[Just Dave]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and would like to get some help. I own a 08 C220 cdi and it chaos diesel like crazy...my full tank doesn't even last a mere 30km(meaning my gauge would've shifted from the full mark in just 30km) as that's the distance from my place to town. What I've also noticed is that my temperature fluctuates and is never steady and the temperature light would come on but my coolant is full and no leaking hose. What could the problem be?

 

[MinionBob]

Let me get this right..50-60 litres of diesel does not last 30kms (20 mile). That seems impossible for an engine to actually drink that volume of fuel in that time. Do you actually drive 30km, then put in 50-60 litres of diesel, then repeat..?

Seems more like a faulty fuel sender or gauge.

 

[Just Dave]

No no. What I meant is that by just going to town and back which is 60km, from full tank it will leave me at quarter full. I go to town and back again the next day then I'm sitting on half tank

 

[John Laidlaw]

So you'd be getting c240km on a full 60 litre tank? Unlikely even at worst case- as above the sender is possible faulty

 

[steveq]

It does seem to be using a lot of fuel but you need to be more specific and give more details.
Do an accurate tank full to tank full calculation. Use the trip counter and the actual amount of fuel that you put in.
What style of driving ? Boot to the floor? First gear all the way?
Has the Kms per tank full suddenly changed?
Are there any warning lights on the dashboard?

 

[Just Dave]

I drive normally. The only warning light I have on my dash is the temperature, it comes on for like 5 seconds then disappears, temperature rises when I'm stationery drops when I'm on the move

 

[John Laidlaw]

so you might have mentioned this before? How long has the car been like this and can you hear the fan running (at all!)
How long you had the car and when (was?) it last serviced.....

 

[steveq]

It is difficult to know the sequence of the photos or what distance you have covered when you took them, but if those are in sequence and you had travelled >10 Kms when you took them, then your thermostat is faulty.

That would account for your high fuel consumption

 

[John Laidlaw]

It is difficult to know the sequence of the photos or what distance you have covered when you took them, but if those are in sequence and you had travelled >10 Kms when you took them, then your thermostat is faulty.

That would account for your high fuel consumption

Exactly Steve...wish I had read the initial post properly doh!

 

[steveq]

Your temp gauge should go up to approx 90degC in the first 10Kms (might take longer if the weather is cold).
It should stay at that temp all the time and it shouldn't matter whether you are stopped or moving.
The second photo in the sequence shows you driving at 91Kms but the temp has dropped to about 60degC.

 

[steveq]

Exactly Steve...wish I had read the initial post properly doh!

I agree.

I should also have added that it might be more wrong than just the thermostat.
The last photo shows the temp light and the gauge showing over 100degC.
That's not good.
Check the coolant level and it is also worth checking the water pump.

 

[Just Dave]

I agree.

I should also have added that it might be more wrong than just the thermostat.
The last photo shows the temp light and the gauge showing over 100degC.
That's not good.
Check the coolant level and it is also worth checking the water pump.

Coolant level is ok. My mechanic says it's the temperature switch which delays sending the signal to the fan

 

[John Laidlaw]

I agree.

I should also have added that it might be more wrong than just the thermostat.
The last photo shows the temp light and the gauge showing over 100degC.
That's not good.
Check the coolant level and it is also worth checking the water pump.

I am wondering when the coolant was ever changed? Hence my servicing question.

 

[Just Dave]

so you might have mentioned this before? How long has the car been like this and can you hear the fan running (at all!)
How long you had the car and when (was?) it last serviced.....

I bought the car on the 22nd of Jan this year...it does have a full service history. My mechanic says it it's the temperature switch. I'm going to replace it, will let you know how it goes

 

[John Laidlaw]

Forgot to say 'Welcome'

 

[mattkh]

The dashboard is faulty, does not show the correct level of fuel in the tank. It shows the wrong temperature. It does not show the mileage.
Using so much fuel in such a short distance must produce clouds of some sort out of the exhaust.

 

[mioba]

Doubt its the dashboard buddy as that clearly work. I am inclined to say its the stat.
A temp switch would show on star a stat not

 

[Chrishazle]

If your mechanic does not have Star/Xentry, look locally for an indie that does. In my area it's the local taxi firm who run a fleet of E220's and have their own maintenance arm and have the diagnostics, fixed a major dashboard fault for me not too long ago - dashboard had lost its programming somehow! However, reading your post my first thoughts, like others, is thermostat.

Would help if you put your approximate location in your profile, as then members could suggest a respected local indie to help. For example, if you're in East/South Kent I can recommend 2!