[diesel_mercedes] Fuel Economy Peaks & Tweaks

 


Thanx Conrad .

You make a very good point : the rolling resistance is critical .

At least once a week I have reason to push the car a few feet to maximize available parking space so I'm always aware if there are dragging brakes etc.

I also try to keep a sharp eye on the tire pressures because most tires are under inflated and this is a serious safety issue as well as fuel economy robber .

Not a puff of smoke ever emits ~ the rear bumper is shiny clean , no Diesel smoot on the car at all .

This road trip I'm at slightly over 1/2 tank and 300 + miles, that looks better -but- this fuel gauge tends to move faster the closer it gets to empty so we'll see .

Checking the obvious and basics is always wise .

-Nate
LIVE in the world as it is, WORK to make the world as it should be


    Conrad wrote :

 

Y'know, it never hurts to check the obvious.  I had been wondering about my gradually declining fuel economy on my 300D.  Working on the brakes for what I thought was a simple pad and rotor change turned up the fact that I had a mildly frozen caliper.  I hadn't felt that in my driving at all and was genuinely surprised..  Changing that out, plus getting a fresh 4-wheel alignment, improved my fuel economy by 3 MPG.

...Don't even get me started on the impact of tire age/tire pressure.  You would think that hotter temperatures would increase tire pressure and decrease rolling resistance, but it hasn't worked that way for me.  Makes me wonder if the hotter temps = lower air density, so I'm not getting as much power out of the engine?  However, my motor hasn't been regulated anywhere near the levels at which you've set yours.

--Conrad J.

 

__._,_.___
Posted by: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1)

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

Re: [diesel_mercedes] Fuel Economy Off

 

Y'know, it never hurts to check the obvious.  I had been wondering about my gradually declining fuel economy on my 300D.  Working on the brakes for what I thought was a simple pad and rotor change turned up the fact that I had a mildly frozen caliper.  I hadn't felt that in my driving at all and was genuinely surprised..  Changing that out, plus getting a fresh 4-wheel alignment, improved my fuel economy by 3 MPG.

...Don't even get me started on the impact of tire age/tire pressure.  You would think that hotter temperatures would increase tire pressure and decrease rolling resistance, but it hasn't worked that way for me.  Makes me wonder if the hotter temps = lower air density, so I'm not getting as much power out of the engine?  However, my motor hasn't been regulated anywhere near the levels at which you've set yours.

--Conrad J.

 

On 6/24/2020 11:24 AM, Nate vwnate1@yahoo.com [diesel_mercedes] wrote:
 

Thanx Mark ;

This same car used to get 27 ~ 29 MPG in town and 30 ~ 32 MPG's traveling the same routes it does to - day .

I wish I knew what to change/adjust/fix .


__._,_.___
Posted by: Conrad Jacoby <conrad.jacoby@gmail.com>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (3)

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

Re: [diesel_mercedes] Fuel Economy Off

 

On 6/24/2020 11:24 AM, Nate vwnate1@yahoo.com [diesel_mercedes] wrote:
 

Thanx Mark ;

This same car used to get 27 ~ 29 MPG in town and 30 ~ 32 MPG's traveling the same routes it does to - day .

I wish I knew what to change/adjust/fix .

I'm in Nevada right now, fully loaded and running the AC flat out as it was 113* F the day we arrived and has been 108* every day since and forecasted to remain this hot until we go home again .

? Is your 29 MPG combined or in town driving or what ? .


Combined. It improved considerably when I set the timing with a drip tube kit. More power too and easier cruising, with better lower end torque. It was off by a good 10 degrees.


--   Mark L. Bardenwerper, Sr.  Technology...responsibly, thoughtfully  http://citroen.cappyfabrics.com

Virus-free. www.avast.com

__._,_.___
Posted by: Mark Bardenwerper <citrogsa@charter.net>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (2)

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] AC EVAPORATOR CLEANING

 

Interesting ~ I've been pondering cleaning the in dash evaporator and this article has brands and so on .

-Nate

Inside temperature at the vent - 35 deg F. Outside temp today - 98 deg F. How is that?

A lot of us struggle with sub par AC Performance. About a year ago, I had cleaned the condensor fins till they were squeaky clean. Then charged the system with Enviro Safe. Cooling was OK but still not enough to make me happy.

So about a week days back, I decided to order:

1) Kool It Evaporator and Heater foam Cleaner - it comes with a hose that you can introduce through the condensate drain and spray foam cleaner into the evaporator.
2) Since I work occasionally on Home HVAC systems, I had a new can of Nu Calgon Evap Foam and Rinse. Nu Calgon is the very gold standard for HVAC products - though expensive.It was a gample. I wanted to clean out the evap with the Nu Calgon product because it is excellent and works. But I could use it only if the Spray tube from the Kool It product would fit the New Calgon can. It did.
3) I planned on cleaning out the evaporator and then adding some more Enviro Safe as there were bubbles in the sight glass. But just for kicks, I decided to draw a deep vacuum and go back to R134 to see how that would work. Changed the Schrader valves while I was at it.

After doing all of the above, cleaning out the evaporator and reverting back to R134, the AC is cooling to 35 deg F on a 98 deg F day - while car is
20200619_182146.jpg
standing and aided only by the airflow provided by the fans.

Thought I would share this. I was thinking of switching to a parallel flow condensor. I need cool AC no matter what it takes. It is Florida and it gets hot. Here are pictures of the products.
 

__._,_.___
Posted by: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1)

.

__,_._,___
No comments:

[diesel_mercedes] Fuel Economy Off

 


Thanx Mark ;

This same car used to get 27 ~ 29 MPG in town and 30 ~ 32 MPG's traveling the same routes it does to - day .

I wish I knew what to change/adjust/fix .

I'm in Nevada right now, fully loaded and running the AC flat out as it was 113* F the day we arrived and has been 108* every day since and forecasted to remain this hot until we go home again .

? Is your 29 MPG combined or in town driving or what ? .

TIA,

-Nate
LIVE in the world as it is, WORK to make the world as it should be


      Mark wrote :.


I get 29 with my 77 240D

--   Mark

__._,_.___
Posted by: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1)

.

__,_._,___
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)