E300DT Economy

[dirtymonkey29]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section......

i have a 1999 'V reg E300 turbo diesel which is only returning 24-26 MPG....anyone got any ideas on how to increase the economy?....ive done all the usual service stuff, oil, filters, fuel filters.....i have even swapped to biodiesel which has made no real difference which i guessed wouldnt make any difference anyhow. Parkers guide was giving figures of around 35mpg lying little so and so's.

 

[joem]

I don't know for sure, but I would have thought 24-26mpg on a 300 DT would take some pretty aggressive driving. I would expect over 30mpg without having to try at all hard.

I get 30mpg in my Saab without particularly trying and that is a petrol Aero with 250BHP. The Saab must weigh close to an E-Class.

I'm sure someone who has a 300DT will be able to tell you for definite soon but either you have a very bad driving style or there is something amiss with your car!!

 

[clk200]

What type of driving do yo do, if its london commuting it would be about right. On my e320cdi on the way to work i can average 21 mpg. But on a run the 300td you should be getting 30-35 on mixed driving.

 

[230K]

Hi

Check your tyre pressures and make sure no bakes are binding. You need to be very easy on the right foot to get 35 mpg.
It really is down to the type of driving you are doing. If you are doing any amount of town driving at all economy soon drops below 30mpg from my experience.

230K

 

[Parrot of Doom]

On a long motorway run you should be getting 125 miles per 'mark' on the fuel gauge.

I easily get 500 miles to a tank on the motorway doing 70-75 with cruise. A few times I've stretched it to nearly 550 miles.

 

[dougjoy]

On a long run ( Canterbury to Glasgow) and back at 80 to 85 mph I return 34 to 36 MPG arround town it drops to middle 20s. For a car of this size and weight I think this is excellent. The old tank has 123K on the clock and still runs like a dream and uses virtually no oil.

 

[dirtymonkey29]

Think i best get mine in for a tune up then....im lucky to get 300 miles out of a full tank. one thing i have noticed though, i dont get into 5th gear till i hit 60mph or is that normal? also im going to do my brakes as i know they are a little warped so may possibly be binding a bit.

 

[dirtymonkey29]

anyone got any thoughts?

 

[dirtymonkey29]

ive put the gearbox back to s rather than w and it changes gear earlier now so hopefully that will help

 

[dougjoy]

I'd keep it in W when conditions are slippy, It lets you take away in second gear to aid traction.

I checked when my one changes up to fifth and I think you are correct, 50 plus, it seems to stay in fourth around town. I take it your tyre pressures are OK 30 front and 32 rear and your brakes are not binding, especially the foot/handbrake. I had one side stick and the brakes felt like a warped disk on the front, I think that something was trying to compensate for the braking instability and the fuel consumption dropped drastically.

Good luck with your endeavours.

 

[dirtymonkey29]

tyre pressure 32 all round. gears seam to change earlier in s and gets into top gear around 40-45. W seems to hold the revs longer and start off in a higher gear. from what i understand it only needs to be in W when ts icy or roads are really really wet. im positive brake discs are warped so that may be affecting things but ive order parts and will will get a diesel tune. cant hurt can it, i like my cars running sweet.

 

[sms78]

I have a e320 cdi on a 51 plate . what mode are you supposed to drive in ? I was told to keep it in w mode as s mode uses more fuel ? So what is it ? W or S ?