Getting very, very low mileage...
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Getting very, very low mileage...
I always thought it to be my fault when I saw that I was getting 17-18 mpg because sometimes I drive real hard in the city but this week I conducted a test. Driving at fairly decent speeds on both highways and streets (mostly highway), it still displays 18.xx mpg. Can this be a problem with the car, and if so, what could be the problem? Car is fairly new with just less then 6000 miles on it. I always fill up on super and have automatic.
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Re: Getting very, very low mileage...
Originally posted by 02Impressor
I always thought it to be my fault when I saw that I was getting 17-18 mpg because sometimes I drive real hard in the city but this week I conducted a test. Driving at fairly decent speeds on both highways and streets (mostly highway), it still displays 18.xx mpg. Can this be a problem with the car, and if so, what could be the problem? Car is fairly new with just less then 6000 miles on it. I always fill up on super and have automatic.
I always thought it to be my fault when I saw that I was getting 17-18 mpg because sometimes I drive real hard in the city but this week I conducted a test. Driving at fairly decent speeds on both highways and streets (mostly highway), it still displays 18.xx mpg. Can this be a problem with the car, and if so, what could be the problem? Car is fairly new with just less then 6000 miles on it. I always fill up on super and have automatic.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Did you even reset the display when you started the test? Otherwise it averages your harder driving in there too. Try getting on the highway and setting the cruise at a decent speed and then resetting the display. If you do this, you should see at least 25+ MPG.
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Re: Re: Getting very, very low mileage...
Originally posted by Lynn
The display is often wrong, but it is usually the other way, showing mileage to be better than it is. I think you might want to repeat the test, but the old fashioned way of dividing the gas added to fill the tank by the miles driven since the previous fill. That is the only way to accurately determine your mileage.
The display is often wrong, but it is usually the other way, showing mileage to be better than it is. I think you might want to repeat the test, but the old fashioned way of dividing the gas added to fill the tank by the miles driven since the previous fill. That is the only way to accurately determine your mileage.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
With all the mods I have and a relatively heavy lead foot I get a consistant 20 mpg overall with maybe 1/3rd city/traffic and 2/3rds highway. Pure highway if I reset the trip computer while I'm cruising at 72mph and then hold it there for an hour I get 32mpg. Realistically with 3 people in the car on a 4 hour trip with rest stops I get about 28 mpg, mostly because I'm going faster, probably 80mph average.
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Re: Re: Re: Getting very, very low mileage...
Originally posted by 02Impressor
I filled the gas tank on super to all the way. Then drove about 215 miles all together but mostly on the highways (from Brooklyn to Bayonne, NJ). That was a total of about 150-170 miles and the rest was in the city. In the end it was determined to be only 18 mpg. That is very, very low when the car is supposed to average 28 mpg on highways and 19 city. That averages out to 23.5 miles at the least. I'd be happy to get 20-24 but 18 is verrrryyyy low.
I filled the gas tank on super to all the way. Then drove about 215 miles all together but mostly on the highways (from Brooklyn to Bayonne, NJ). That was a total of about 150-170 miles and the rest was in the city. In the end it was determined to be only 18 mpg. That is very, very low when the car is supposed to average 28 mpg on highways and 19 city. That averages out to 23.5 miles at the least. I'd be happy to get 20-24 but 18 is verrrryyyy low.
18mpg from Brooklyn to Bayonne in February is probably pretty close to what you'd expect.
This car wasn't built for efficient gas mileage. On top of that, we pay a premium for premium !
Go on a long trip, all highway and see what mpg you get. If you can't get more than 20mpg on a 300 mile highway trip, bring your car into the dealer.
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Re: Re: Re: Re: Getting very, very low mileage...
Originally posted by Jerry MB230K
If you drive alot of short distances, the car's engine never completely warms up , and your mpg might even be lower.
18mpg from Brooklyn to Bayonne in February is probably pretty close to what you'd expect.
This car wasn't built for efficient gas mileage.
If you drive alot of short distances, the car's engine never completely warms up , and your mpg might even be lower.
18mpg from Brooklyn to Bayonne in February is probably pretty close to what you'd expect.
This car wasn't built for efficient gas mileage.
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I was also surprised when my new MB with a 4 cylinder engine got only 12mpg in the city during the winter.
On the other hand, I got 28mpg on a 300 mile trip during the summer.
On the other hand, I got 28mpg on a 300 mile trip during the summer.
Last edited by Jerry MB230K; Feb 9, 2003 at 07:36 PM.
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I try not to rely too much on the display for my fuel economy; however, it has become my little personal game to try and get the lowest fuel consumption per 100km every time I get in the car because I set my dash to display those stats.
Anyway, I do my fuel economy calculations by hand. I am getting 10.5L/100km on average, and I do mostly highway driving. Unfortunately, my fuel consumption doesnt seem to be inline with EPA or Transport Canada estimates.
Anyway, I do my fuel economy calculations by hand. I am getting 10.5L/100km on average, and I do mostly highway driving. Unfortunately, my fuel consumption doesnt seem to be inline with EPA or Transport Canada estimates.
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C230, C2, C7, Leather
I am getting about 23MPG. By the way what was the mileage at your first Service A (or what is current FSS interval for first Service A)? I am at 12,900 miles for FSS interval for first service A.
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
It's not that I'm relying on the computer to tell me my mileage. What alarmed me was the fact that I fill up the car to full and after x amounts of drives here and there, not really long distrances, it is drained almost 1/4 all within a few miles of driving.
I am just under 6000 miles and according to the computer my Service A is due in 4400 miles.
Originally posted by MBSJ
I am getting about 23MPG. By the way what was the mileage at your first Service A (or what is current FSS interval for first Service A)? I am at 12,900 miles for FSS interval for first service A.
I am getting about 23MPG. By the way what was the mileage at your first Service A (or what is current FSS interval for first Service A)? I am at 12,900 miles for FSS interval for first service A.
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
impressor: are you sure it's just not a fuel gauge problem?
Yeah, I was a bit freaked out the other day... full tank at the station (I just fill it til it stops), then headed for the onramp... about 7 minutes from the gas station and the needle drops to 7/8... i was like "hmmmm o_0"
by the time I get to school (some 30 kms later) the needle falls to 3/4 i was like WTF??
but then for the next two days it remained at the 3/4 mark (which seemed right).
Yeah, I was a bit freaked out the other day... full tank at the station (I just fill it til it stops), then headed for the onramp... about 7 minutes from the gas station and the needle drops to 7/8... i was like "hmmmm o_0"
by the time I get to school (some 30 kms later) the needle falls to 3/4 i was like WTF??
but then for the next two days it remained at the 3/4 mark (which seemed right).
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Originally posted by Lynn
Gas gauge problems are very common on these cars.
Gas gauge problems are very common on these cars.
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Its Winter...I'd wait till spring before you panic.
Yeah, your mileage is low...I can hit 21-23mpg on the highway with my wifes V8 GC. My Coupe is averaging about 25mpg...that's up from when brand new...it only got about 22.
Yeah, your mileage is low...I can hit 21-23mpg on the highway with my wifes V8 GC. My Coupe is averaging about 25mpg...that's up from when brand new...it only got about 22.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
If you push hard from every stop, and drive hard,
your mileage will suffer.
Best mileage I evet got was with my sig other driving.
She's got a light foot.
I've gotten anywhere from 12 to 29.9 mpg.
And when it was new, I only got about 20 average driving from San Diego to the Bay area via Big Sur.
Now it's more like 23 combined.
if you lay back on the throttle, you will get better mileage.
your mileage will suffer.
Best mileage I evet got was with my sig other driving.
She's got a light foot.
I've gotten anywhere from 12 to 29.9 mpg.
And when it was new, I only got about 20 average driving from San Diego to the Bay area via Big Sur.
Now it's more like 23 combined.
if you lay back on the throttle, you will get better mileage.
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From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Getting very, very low mileage...
Originally posted by 02Impressor
This car is a 4 cylinder so it should be pretty efficient when it comes to burning gas. Getting less then 20 mpg is pretty ****ty for a v4.
This car is a 4 cylinder so it should be pretty efficient when it comes to burning gas. Getting less then 20 mpg is pretty ****ty for a v4.
Also, don't forget that our cars are quite heavy, so any driving mode other than steady highway cruising at 60-75 mph is going to result in rather average fuel efficiency. 20 mpg is not so bad for this car in winter.
(BTW, this is not V4, but I4 (inline) engine
)
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From: Canada
05 CLK 500 cab
Originally posted by Outland
Its Winter...I'd wait till spring before you panic.
Its Winter...I'd wait till spring before you panic.
Try taking a longer trip. When the engine shows normal operating temp on the MFD, zero your 'at start' readings and see what you are getting.
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From: NYC
2008 E 350
Originally posted by lars
I agree. The engine gets pretty poor mileage when it's cold, easily in the teens. If you make mostly short trips, and it's cold outside, and the engine never really warms up, your mileage will be bad.
Try taking a longer trip. When the engine shows normal operating temp on the MFD, zero your 'at start' readings and see what you are getting.
I agree. The engine gets pretty poor mileage when it's cold, easily in the teens. If you make mostly short trips, and it's cold outside, and the engine never really warms up, your mileage will be bad.
Try taking a longer trip. When the engine shows normal operating temp on the MFD, zero your 'at start' readings and see what you are getting.
