Does giving the Merc a High Speed Run Cause Damage to the Engine?

[Matt_EClass]

All, I have a 2001 W210 220cdi with 118,000 miles, I know I'll probably get a right royal flaming for this thread but if I do, I do! Question for you all.....tonight, I had to stay late at the office, so when I fianlly busted out of there and got on the road, I do about 3 miles of slow driving from the office out to the M3, blast down M3, about 8 miles and then onto the M25 for about 40 miles and then back on normal roads to the house, yes I watched out for the variable speed cameras! I dont drive the car hard, town driving is a relaxed affair, no traffic light grand prix's and my normal driving speed on the motorway is about 65mph to 70mph to conserve fuel etc but sometimes when I get on the motorway I like to give the old girl a good blow through, so tonight it was about 8 miles doing 90mph to 105mph and then the same for 40 miles on the M25....yes it was pretty clear and when there was a bit of traffic around I backed off abit. the car is kept serviced and tyre pressures are checked weekly.So my question, if you do a high speed run like that, does it damage the engine?

Thanks

 

[Xtractorfan]

This is probably the best way to keep an engine in good tune and prolong its life, any car that is well serviced will find that style of driving beneficial..

 

[Uncle Benz]

Often referred to as an "Italian de-coke". Have a look at your fuel computer. I reckon she'll return a better average 'till she soots up again!!

As long as the engine is properly warm before the hammer goes down, you will do no damage. More engine damage is caused by labouring in the wrong gear than high speed work. If you think you have given her a good thrash, get out to the Nurburgring with some friends of mine at www.northloop.co.uk and see what some people do to their cars...

 

[television]

When I lived in Sweden the MOT tester would drive the car locked in second for a few kilometers to get my 300TE through the test

 

[jubhi]

Always good to get rid of the cob-webs, I did so with my bike on the weekend after finally getting some decent weather lol

 

[jberks]

about 8 miles doing 90mph to 105mph and then the same for 40 miles on the M25....

You reckless lunatic - you should be banned for such lunacy.
is that enough flaming? ;-)


Mine spends a lot of time 70-100 - seems to run very well on it.
Mercs were built for the autobahn which is why they're so happy and stable at silly speeds.

 

[Seeker_UK]

If you think you have given her a good thrash, get out to the Nurburgring with some friends of mine at www.northloop.co.uk and see what some people do to their cars...

Great pics at that link - some real loonies heroes on there. This guy is particularly brave:

Sod taking one of those out.

 

[mercman123]

Hi mate. I know this is not merc realated but my missus was having trouble with her 1.9 diesel megan starting in the morning. I took it for the classic "blow out", and hammered it in every gear down a nice very quite 6 mile dual carriageway near me. I red lined the vehicle in evey gear and as i looked in the rear view mirror noticed that i was filling the road behind me with some very nice black smoke !! Since the onslaught, the car has run like silk and seems to start better. Ive also noticed that when hard accelerating the black smoke is no more.!! Who needs a mechanic.... Just hammer the living daylights out of it... Job done

 

[jberks]

I did this with the Wife's Rover one Sunday (many years ago...). Took it gently out of the estate and once on the main road, foot to the floor, red line in 2nd, red line in 3rd - pop - blew the exhaust off. Spent the afternoon in Kwikfit.
fun.

 

[st4]

Nah, good to run the engine @ high speed. 105mph isn't really fast for a 220cdi engine so you're concerns of high speed aren't valid :mrgreen: for I have seen 135mph+ on mine (not saying where) and at about once a week will do 100mph+ (again not saying where) and the car is fine and runs well.

The engine doesn't even run any hotter @ an extended 100mph+ run so there is no harm, just its turning over a bit faster and using more fuel.

 

[hairyg]

My wife's Audi A3 1.9 Tdi has it printed in the User Manual. Give it a high speed run now and again, especialy after a number of shorter journeys.

I can't see any way that 105 mph down the motorway is going to damage the engine as long as there is enough oil and the engine is warm before the speed builds up.

 

[sweeper]

All, I have a 2001 W210 220cdi with 118,000 miles, I know I'll probably get a right royal flaming for this thread but if I do, I do! Question for you all.....tonight, I had to stay late at the office, so when I fianlly busted out of there and got on the road, I do about 3 miles of slow driving from the office out to the M3, blast down M3, about 8 miles and then onto the M25 for about 40 miles and then back on normal roads to the house, yes I watched out for the variable speed cameras! I dont drive the car hard, town driving is a relaxed affair, no traffic light grand prix's and my normal driving speed on the motorway is about 65mph to 70mph to conserve fuel etc but sometimes when I get on the motorway I like to give the old girl a good blow through, so tonight it was about 8 miles doing 90mph to 105mph and then the same for 40 miles on the M25....yes it was pretty clear and when there was a bit of traffic around I backed off abit. the car is kept serviced and tyre pressures are checked weekly.So my question, if you do a high speed run like that, does it damage the engine?

Thanks

Best way to drive, without a doubt, keeps everything hot and clean, and lets face it 90-105 isn't really thrashing it.

 

[Dosco]

and lets face it 90-105 isn't really thrashing it.

Try telling that to the Beak

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

Does high speed damage engine.

in general terms the answer is NO, as many have pointed out in your posting. just a couple of points you may find interesting, the first one, cleaning out the combustion system, if you add one litre of vegioil or alternatively one third of a litre of standard twostroke oil to a full tank, then go for a high reving run, needent be on m/way at high speed, this is a real tonic. the second thing, i am involved in car repairs at a local garage and you pick things up, many engines are trashed due to the cam belts breaking, i am aware most mercs have chains to drive the camshaft, but we have engines trashed because of motorway overheating due to the driver only realising he or she has a problem (car starts to lose power very gradually) by this time the damage is done, especially on a diesel , and how many drivers keep watching their temp. gauge. on an older car corroded water hose clip or a small radiator leak can land you with a ruined engine. at a minimum a new head gasket etc. to avoid this happening on my e300 td which i cruise down from scotland in i fitted a bi-metal heat sensor to the engine on a falling relay and connected to the horn, above 95 deg, the horn sounds, giving me those few minutes to save my engine. herbiemercman.

 

[alanuk400]

i fitted a bi-metal heat sensor to the engine on a falling relay and connected to the horn, above 95 deg, the horn sounds, giving me those few minutes to save my engine. herbiemercman.

That is a very good idea.

Alan

 

[popuptoaster]

That is a very good idea.

Alan

its gotta be easier to just keep an eye on the gauges, i do it out of habit cos all mine are old. an oil pressure gauge is really usefull.