More mpg (posted by Klaus in the older forum)
More mpg
November 5 2003 at 12:55 AM Klaus (Login gd3006)
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On Gwagenowners Club application it says: Do you get 37.53 mpg. No, I don't. I own a GD 300, Series 463, with a turbo from Turbo Lancaster. Does anyone know, how to get a better mpg from this 6 cylinder diesel?
The engine is running perfect and since reconditioning did only 7000 miles.
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Jesus
(no login)
Re: More mpg November 5 2003, 10:40 AM
How much are you getting now? It's very difficult to say with a non-original engine. With my N/A diesel 463 series SWB I get some 21 mpg on city/motorway/off-road mix
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Klaus
(Login gd3006)
more mpg November 5 2003, 8:06 PM
It is an original Mercedes engine. The engine has been reconditioned at 123000 miles because one piston broke. The reason for that was (I think) that the previous owner put in 1998 a turbo from Turbo in Lancaster. As a result of this the engine run on a higher temperature (around 95 degrees or more, because the intercooler is the same size as the radiator and therefore airflow to radiator is lesser and air is already warmed up) and in the long run this caused the damage (this is supported by Mercedes Engineer in my home town). Since the engine has been reconditioned in April this year I done about 7000 miles. I did contact Turbo Lancaster and they advised me to put in a "tropical thermostate" (opens 5 degress earlier than normal) and this solved the problem. Nevertheless I am still getting only around 20 mpg and just wondered what can be done to achieve over 37 mpg (as stated on club application form), but I have to say even achieving only 20 mpg I am very happy with the performance of my gwagen and if nothing can be done so be it. To me it is a brilliant vehicle.
Klaus:
What I meant with non-original is that MB never marketed the OM602 with Turbo in the same configuration as the naturally aspirated OM602. i.e. with 2 valves per cylinder. Obviously the OM 602 35 LA (i.e. the 350 GDT) is basically the same engine but with its capacity enlarged.
I think that you are getting pretty much the right consumption. The 37 mpg in our application form was obviously a joke which I hope will continue attracting new members to the club!
Hello Jesus,
I didn't join the club because I wanted increase the mpg. I joined the club to talk to like minded people and hopefully organize trips abroad (i.e. Norway, Finland but also South of Europe). Diesel abroad is cheaper anyway. I like my gwagen very much and mpg's doesn't bother me too much.
All the best
Klaus
Ive got a 280 petrol and get near single figures and 12 -14mpg at best,I had andold 5cylinder diesel that did about 15-18mpg which is why I went back to petrol.So what is the true figure for the 6 cylinder Diesel as I am about to buy one? I need a diesel because i go to Italy alot and Diesel is much cheaper there.
Andy
I am like you I travel a lot to Germany and my turbo g does about 22 to 24 mpg on motorway at around 80 mph. And yes diesel is cheaper on continent than in UK.
All the best and good luck with your new G
Klaus
The Diesel I had was a conversion I did several years back and the engine was from a 1980ish 300td car without the turbo and was automatic. I must admit I tend to cane my cars a bit,and my cars always seem to gain in performance after the 1st 6 months.
I get about 150 miles out of 50 litres of petrol and 180 miles out of 50 liters with the Diesel.
Say Klaus, I always touch Germany on my way to Sicily .I take the route through Belgium,Luxembourg,France ,some times Germany, Switzerland to Italy. Im off there again for Christmas and am going in my G.
What top speed do you get out of your 300 D?Im toying with getting a 6 cylinder diesel rather than going in my petrol.
Andy
Top speed is (depends where the wind comes from and the police speed controls are ...) between 95 - 100 mph. Since my G has been converted to Turbo (by Turbo in Lancaster) it has now 145 bhp and that makes all the difference.
When I go to Germany, beginning of January 04 (I have to stay in the UK during Christmas, because of my job) I usual travel to Dover, take the crossing to Dunkerque (I get this for free!) and then from there into Belgium (I think it is the E42) towards Liege and by Aachen into Germany, than southwards to Cologne - Frankfurt and from there East towards Nuremberg and than Northeast towards Bamberg and finally Kronach (where I come from, Upper Frankonia -North of Bavaria-). It takes me from Liverpool about 18 to 20 hours, depending on traffic. This includes also the ferry crossing. Distance about 800 miles. After that I am ready for plenty of Beer and Schnapps ...
I guess in your case it is Vino and Grappa ....
All the best
Klaus
I go to Messina in Sicily and it is 1600 miles and takes me 25 hrs doing about 100-110 although a few years back I used to drive much faster and was a bit quicker.I now sleep for a few hrs on the autostrada.
Then it is not vino and grappa but Vino and limoncello.
I must admit I am looking at putting the E300td engine and box in my G to leave down there.I had a 98 E300td and they fly.I believe 200 hp and more is easily achievable with very mild chipping! I have also been told that LPGing a diesel engine increases performance by 10-15%.I have no idea how that one works.
The problem I have is that Ryan air is so cheap now that it is making the drive unviable.The problem with Ryanair is that I then have to hire a car, and that cancels out the savings as Im there for 3-4 weeks, so my solution is to buy a Diesel G and take it down there.
Andy
I don't know about LPGing a diesel, and being a diesel fan, I don't think I will ever do it. It is an interesting idea to put a E300TD with box in your G, but does that mean you lose 4wheeldrive? How does it work?
Anyway, I am very happy with my turbo G, but I have to admit I have my eyes on a new G400 CDi (V8, 250 bhp). May be Father Christmas reads this too ....
All the best
Klaus
I must admit I am looking at putting the E300td engine and box in my G
That seems like a lot of work,,, unless you have a scraped E300td around....
G300td's start at around £16000,,, up to around £25000 for a 2000 model :D ,,, lhd only though...
Andy
but I have to admit I have my eyes on a new G400 CDi (V8, 250 bhp). May be Father Christmas reads this too ....
Klaus
Yes,,, they sound supurb,,, a bit on the thirsty side for me though.... Why MB missed the 320cdi option out,, i don't know... The 320cdi is a lovely engine,, and seems a perfect match of economy and power,, would be ideal in a G...
Why MB missed the 320cdi option out,, i don't know... The 320cdi is a lovely engine,, and seems a perfect match of economy and power,, would be ideal in a G...
The 320CDI does not fit into the G engine bay by three inches without having to redesign the bulkhead!!! Naturally MB decided that being able to fit the V8 400 CDI whoever wants more power than that delivered by the 270 CDI has this option anyway. But I agree that it is a shame because this would perhaps be the option which makes most sense (320 CDI)
Ahhh,, of course.... Same with the M class... It's understandable that it doesn't fit in a G wagen,, but unforgivable that it doesn't fit in the M class,,, what a cock up... A huge breakdown in communication,, i remember reading about it in the late 90's
I believe the class E300td is a very similar engine to the 300 in the G so that may go strait onto the G gearbox witha bit of extra wiring, It wont affect the 4x4 as the transfer box is behind the gbox ,unless the e class box is extra long.
I know the E300 td flys and is a blinding engine and I know it will sit at 130-140 all day.
There again I may be completely wrong.
Another thought is the 2.9 td merc engine from the now dismally cheap Ssangyong Musso
Would that engine fit straight into my 300gd 463?
If yes, are there any other mods I would need to do?
I saw one of these Musso things for sale the other day at the car market, for 5000 bucks, it had a huge dent in the side of it.
Martin.
Would that engine fit straight into my 300gd 463?
If yes, are there any other mods I would need to do?
I saw one of these Musso things for sale the other day at the car market, for 5000 bucks, it had a huge dent in the side of it.
Martin.
I am pretty sure that it would be a straight fit, but what would be the point? That engine is basically the same as fitted to your car, minus one cylinder plus turbo and intercooler. Yes, it has 280 Nm @ 1,900 as opposed to 191 Nm @ 2,700 but you could better fit turbo and intercooler to your existing engine instead.
If you want to go for the Musso route, check that what's under the bonnet is the OM602 DE 29 LA engine (Sprinter van or G290 GDT engine) because plenty of Mussos and Korandos are fitted with the 2.3 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine (M102) instead.
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Andy:
I'm quite surprised about the figures you quote for your 5cyl diesel. I had a 460 300GD SWB Manual for 6 1/2 years and over 25,000 miles and I fastidiously recorded every mile and litre of diesel used. Doing the school run, commutting, travelling long distance and, of course, off-roading, it averaged 22.4 mpg.
Now I run a 461 series 6-cyl 300 GD SWB manual and I am getting 20.6 mpg.