When driving W202 on snow/ice, should I keep the fuel tank full, half-full, or low?
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When driving W202 on snow/ice, should I keep the fuel tank full, half-full, or low?
I've always been under the impression that keeping a couple bags or sand(or heavy items) in the trunk, just behind the rear axle, would somewhat improve tire traction in snow ice.
If I'm not mistaken, the fuel tank in a W202 is below the rear seats, which makes it forward of the rear axle.
Does this mean I should simply keep a couple bags of 50-lbs cat litter in the trunk and leave the fuel tank low?(maybe just 1/4 full)
Thanks for any advice! :}
If I'm not mistaken, the fuel tank in a W202 is below the rear seats, which makes it forward of the rear axle.
Does this mean I should simply keep a couple bags of 50-lbs cat litter in the trunk and leave the fuel tank low?(maybe just 1/4 full)
Thanks for any advice! :}
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From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
It depends on how far you want to go. You should leave enough fuel in the car as you need to drive.
The rationale for placing the heavy items behind the rear axle is a simple leverage issue. Weight placed farther out increases the pressure on points closer to the fulcrum. The gas tank, being closer to the fulcrum, affects weight on both axles rather than only on the rear axle, and any weight (not just at the rear axle) should help traction (if you believe that more weight on the rear axle improves traction).
There are multiple schools of thought having to do with the weight vs. traction in cold climates, and they don't all agree that more weight is better.
-s-
The rationale for placing the heavy items behind the rear axle is a simple leverage issue. Weight placed farther out increases the pressure on points closer to the fulcrum. The gas tank, being closer to the fulcrum, affects weight on both axles rather than only on the rear axle, and any weight (not just at the rear axle) should help traction (if you believe that more weight on the rear axle improves traction).
There are multiple schools of thought having to do with the weight vs. traction in cold climates, and they don't all agree that more weight is better.
-s-
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98 C-230
i would keep it full myself, you never know when you will need the heater. tires make a lot of difference too, high performance street tires, or even regular highway tread tires aren't good at all in the snow, and certanly not on ice. later.
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From: LI, NY
02 W163, 84 W123, 03 E39, 98 E39
Another reason to keep a full fuel tank....
The more fuel the less air. Air has moisture/humidity, which can percipitate out and put water in your tank. Less air, less chance of moisture/humidity in the air putting water in your tank.
During the winter, I try to keep my tank filled as much as possibe, so I put fuel in frequently, and don't let it go down very much.
During the winter, I try to keep my tank filled as much as possibe, so I put fuel in frequently, and don't let it go down very much.
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From: Maryland, USA
2007 CLK350 Sport, 2006 E320 CDI, 1978 Cessna 152
I found that on my old 190D putting a couple 50lbs of rice,detergent,sand etc in the trunk worked nicely. Without it the car wanted to swap ends insanely quick. With it, it barely got stuck. Since I live in North Carolina, we do not get much snow and I do not have snow tires. The summer performance tires I had did not help things when we did get snow. Luckily I do know how to drive on snow as I have spent alot of time in Colorado. Always good to hear what people do with their 202s here in the winter as this is my first winter with a 202.
Does the winter mode on the transmission help at all?
Does the winter mode on the transmission help at all?
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98 C-230
it's snowing enough here today that the salt trucks are out on the mountains here, so i thought i would post on this again. hope everyone's holiday rocks. btw runincolorado, i didn't know that there was a winter mode. do you mean the rocker switch next to the shifter? i always thought that ment wide for the W and sport for the S, i don't have an owner's manual but the S seems to take longer to shift out. i have had a few cars that had a N for normal and S for sport. call me hard headed but i would drive it in 1,2,or 3 like a stick, but when it's bad out i almost always drive my old toyota 4x4 instead. (288000 on the clock and still going) later. 
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From: LI, NY
02 W163, 84 W123, 03 E39, 98 E39
W & S
S = Standard, stays in lower gear longer for faster acceleration
W = Winter, up-shifts at lower RPM, so less tourqe to wheels, less chance to spin rear drive wheels.
W = Winter, up-shifts at lower RPM, so less tourqe to wheels, less chance to spin rear drive wheels.
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Out Of Control!!
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From: Maryland, USA
2007 CLK350 Sport, 2006 E320 CDI, 1978 Cessna 152
Thanks for the tips.. I have always hated driving a Benz in the South when there is snow and ice. Too many people use other cars as their brakes! Having just had my door replaced (guy hit me, 3k to fix) I am not in a hurry to have more work done! Too bad I dont have an old 4x4!
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98 C-230
thanks for the heads up sph17, yea runincolorado, there are a lot of people who don't know how to drive in the winter weather. where i live i got to have a 4x4. lots of dirt roads in arkansas, people act like i am crazy white trash when i tell them i want an m-class suv that's jacked up with huge mudders and glasspacks on it.ha ha maybe one of these days. btw how did your car turn out?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Maryland, USA
2007 CLK350 Sport, 2006 E320 CDI, 1978 Cessna 152
Its being fixed as we speak.. Im trying to find my old thread so I can post the pictures I took before it went to the shop on Monday. The guy promised it would be back before the holidays. The girlfriend has been driving me around. It sucks not to have a car (Im keeping the money that was for the rental car).
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From: cincinnati, ohio
1997 c280 sport
I have two 60lb bags of sand in my truck to help with traction. With the 16 inches of snow we had this last week, they were necessary. I had no problems getting around, but I did not drive the car until the lot was plowed enough for me to get out of my garage. It does want to lock up and slide a little on ice when you are stopping. I had a Mustang GT 5spd before this car though, and that thing was a nightmare to drive in bad weather.
