Any genuine merit in Eco-teks?

[simon fenn]

Altho' i love my 2.6 190E it's petrol consumption around town is appalling - circa 16 mpg :x

I have asked my mechanic for his view and he claims "waste of money - don't bother" On the other hand, it is recommended by many posters on another (non M-B) forum - especially for the urban crawl.

What is the current consensus for the 2.6 straight six? would I be better saving my dosh and putting it towards more petrol?

Thanks,

 

[dave elcome]

I fitted 2 to my 300 as per instructions.

Vedict:- Total waste of money!!

 

[simon fenn]

Vedict:- Total waste of money!!

I thank you Dave :lol:

Anymore comments ? I'd like a nice broad spectrum of opinion

 

[kid-jensen]

Eco-teks

Simon,

Yes, they are a waste of money, spend it instead getting your engine tuned, 16 mpg is way too low, even in traffic.

 

[fuzzer]

I get around 18-19 with my 2.4V6 just town driving. 16 sounds not bad .. depends on how heavy your foot is i suppose.

 

[piestore]

fuel

consider LPG conversion

35p per litre
no cold start wash
reduced engine wear
clean

 

[simon fenn]

Re: fuel

consider LPG conversion

35p per litre
no cold start wash
reduced engine wear
clean

Interesting suggestion piestore. Hadn't thought about that. Is it not now relatively cheap if you take into account the govt. rebate/allowance. Any idea of final cost?
BTW what's "cold start wash"

 

[Andy]

Hi Simon,

Sorry to have report for some reason them 190e2.6 engines are very poor on fuel consumption. I had one for a shourt while and I was foever putting fuel in it.

You would think that a 2.6 in a small body would give a reasonable fuel consumption. But no. They are worse than if it was fitted in a 124 body. I know this does not help you. But the 300e gives significantly better fuel consumption than the 260e. All I can suggest is that the emissions are checked.

If the engine has been using oil it could be coked up. But either way whether it would be economical to remove the cylinder head just to decoke I an not so sure.

Do not consider LPG conversion. Unless you want more problems.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[piestore]

eko teks

cold start wash is when the fuel at cold start together with extra fuel via auto enrichment does not attomise, neat petrol is poored into the cylinder removing oil from the bores

this age of vehicle is ideal to convert to LPG as it has a simple engine management system. cost would be below £ 1000 which would soon be recovered the system can also be transfered between similar vehicles when you come to sell.

I would like to know what problems Andy thinks this may produce. For further info Try the LPG assosiation

 

[Andy]

Hi Piestore.

In my experience the older vehicles running with KA & KE injections systems very rarely are fitted in what I would call a proffesional manner. The back up offered by the fitting dealer is seldom of a high standard. The vehicles donot run satisfactory. Whether due to the fitment of the LPG or setting up of the system. The backfiring which seems to be caused from the transfer from Petrol to LPG causes breather hoses to be blown off. Thereby leaving the customer stranded. As the vehicle won't start due to the excess air it is receiving. On the later HFM\ME vehicles,the backfiring causes the airmass sensor, the vane in the inlet manifold on the 6 cylinder engines and general poor running.

In my experience the customer who has this fitted. Then is lumbered with a vehicle which is then unreliable for the forseeable future till all the problems are rectified. The LPG fitter holds his hands in the air and says "nothing to do with me mate" so who is left holding the baby?

I personally have had customers who have been using my services for years. The car has been reliable and not seen it in our workshops besides for normal routine servicing. Then he has LPG fitted and then there is a catalouge of problems. Starts blaming me as I am the only one who will listen. The LPG fitter has gone with his money. And he wants me to fix it for next to notthing. This scenario I have had on more than one occasion.

I for one while LPG fittment is still in its infancy and while one kits fits all will never advise my customers to have LPG fitted. Unless he realises that MAYBE in the future he will be receiving large bills from myself.

The best way will be when the manufacturers start fitting LPG to the vehicles from the factory. Only then will there be a high standard and a good back up when parts are still available after the 1st owner has disposed of the vehicle. Then if its original fittment. There is a chance that the LPG manufacturer won't of gone bust. Or into receivership. Once he has made his money.

Sorry but most of the cases I have come across have ended in financial tears.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[dave elcome]

Andy.

I recently read an article in a motoring magazine, on the subject of the afore mentioned conversions. In a nutshell it was recommending that any conversions be done at approved centres, rather than back street outlets probably along the lines that you are describing.

The second part of this article stated that the trading standards people in the Birmingham area had recently done a survey of 20 LPG intallations carried out in the area that they covered, of these 20, 19 were found to be dangerous!!

I think this underlines your view point.

 

[piestore]

LPG

Hi andy

yes I fully agree with you about the standard of fitting of these kits but there are some companys out there that do the job right and with these older cars there are many benifts.

 

[Andy]

Hi Piestore

As you and I and others on this forum will attest. Who do you trust!!!! I have no doubt that you have seen the problems which can accur. I know most dealers wont touch the vehicle with LPG add ons.

If you can reccommend anydealers in your area. Then the readers of this forum will be very interested.

Dave E, I don't suppose you know who was the one company in B'ham where there is less chance of the driver being blown to Kingdom come.!!!

(Maybe a slight exageration)


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com


PS. Great to see some lively debate!!!!!!!!

 

[dave elcome]

Andy.

Sorry the article didn't mention names, and if i tell you what i was reading you will take the P155!!

 

[fuzzer]

Re: fuel

Is it not now relatively cheap if you take into account the govt. rebate/allowance.

I don't think the government are handing this money out willy nilly to anyone who wants it done. Im sure there are a lot of conditions about what cars qualify for grants etc.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Caravan Monthly Dave.....it has to be

 

[david searle]

Andy - I've thought about LPG converstions for a while and done some research into some of the various fitters in the Manchester area.

It started when I was considering converting an M or N reg new shape Range Rover to LPG. But I heard lots of stories about backfire problems with fitting these kits to these cars. The problems related to the original injection systems (changed on later models) and the backfire caused the air intake to destruct. You could fit diaphrams to reduce the problem, but you had to be careful with the type of kit, and the quality of the instalation.

But the main cause of the problems was with the maintenance of the vehicle. I have been told that you need to change the plugs and leads before they start to breakdown (20,000 miles - 30,000 miles for leads and 10,000 miles for plugs), and you must replace them with quality parts. The spark plug arcs more easily in gas than petrol, and if there is a arc from one lead to another then the wrong plug may spark - and it is this that causes a backfire in another cylinder back into the inlet mainfold. This tends not to happen when running on petrol.

Poorly maintained cars running on petrol will eventually just stop running, but on gas it will cause a backfire. Many problems are because drivers are used to maintaining their petrol cars, and don't change what they do after converting to gas.

Therefore, if converting to gas, get the best system you can afford, and get it properly fitted and set-up. Then maintain the ignition system with quality parts replacing items before they fail. What are your views on this?

 

[Dave K]

Bear in mind that the government commitment not to put duty on LPG runs out in 2004. There is every chance that they will slap on duty from then onwards, although probably not at the same rates as petrol or diesel. Hands up who remembers the days when diesel was cheaper than petrol?

 

[piestore]

eko teks

hi

I think you will find that only new cars are qualifiying for rebate and yuo must apply for the rebate before you order the car.

The best installations I have seen were done by a company near YORK called AutoGas 2000. I don't know if they are still around.

Perhaps Andy might get involved I am sure he would do a great job and there should be plenty of demand on Mercs