MPG
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C230
MPG
I picked up my 2004 C230k Sedan in mid Oct 2010 with 67k
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
I picked up my 2004 C230k Sedan in mid Oct 2010 with 67k
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,073
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From: North San diego
C320 2002
I picked up my 2004 C230k Sedan in mid Oct 2010 with 67k
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
It was purchased from a dealer which did a B Service before I received it.
Within the first 30 days standard warranty I wanted to make sure all was good and took it on a 3.5hr roadtrip. I did about 25mpg...
My last few tanks are city and I've been getting 17-20mpg, WTF! My current tank is on a Lucas Oil fuel treatment, a few tanks ago I used a Prestone fuel system cleaner too.
What can I do to increase this? I'm doing under 300mi/tank (I don't stay in yellow too long, so fill ups are under 15gal)
EWWWW gross dude.. Don't use any other fuel treatment's besides Chevron with techron. Don't let anyone at the counter sell you other cheap crap that isn't even made for a benzo.. Stick with what everyone uses and has proven to work. Make sure 91 is the only gas you put in. Make sure to stay away from cheap gas stations... That have water in there gas..
If chevron doesn't work maybe a new fuel filter is on its way. Do you know when anything was changed?
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From: New Joisey
13 Jeep JKU Sahara w/4" lift Kit & the works,2015 Toyota Sienna XLE,2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
25mpg is good IMHO...........I am getting 23-24 in mixed city/highway driving on my C280 4matic...........am I OK I think it is low too.....should be around 27-28pmg's atleast...........I drive 65/70mph on an average.........anything worng on my ride or any maitenance item I should look into.............I am using premium gas.......and ofetn drop in a Cheveron techonr fluid on a full tank but still no improvement.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
The M271 that the OP has should be much more efficient that the 2.5L M272 in the V6 230s. Something is definitely up with it. Look at the basics, make sure your tires are all correct pressure, check air filter, is the car warming up to normal temp? My mileage went way down when my thermostat failed.
I averaged 27.6 MPG in February over 2,869 miles and am at 105k miles.
I averaged 27.6 MPG in February over 2,869 miles and am at 105k miles.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 818
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
Yeah, something doesn't sound quite right... I run about 22 mpg on my commutes (38 miles each way, mix of freeway and surface streets). I can get them up to about 27, if I try.
The on the highway it sees between about 28 and 32 or so, depending on the type of highway and my driving. Of course I have the M111.
Oh....and definitely Techron, Techron, Techron.
The on the highway it sees between about 28 and 32 or so, depending on the type of highway and my driving. Of course I have the M111.
Oh....and definitely Techron, Techron, Techron.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2010
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C230
Sorry for the tilted pictures. All were straight when working on them before it hit photobucket. Although it was done with my iPhone4 and my work computer that doesn't even have flash.
Stuff I've done to the car:
-35% tint all around (looks like 50%, I guess due to the grey interior?)
-AMG style grill
-w204 hood badge
-55w 6k HIDs with error cancellors
-Yakima roof rack for my bike
-Carbonfiber AMG style trunk spoiler
Future Plans
-Navigation?...suggestions on which?
-Lowering springs and that's probably it..suggestions?
Stuff I've done to the car:
-35% tint all around (looks like 50%, I guess due to the grey interior?)
-AMG style grill
-w204 hood badge
-55w 6k HIDs with error cancellors
-Yakima roof rack for my bike
-Carbonfiber AMG style trunk spoiler
Future Plans
-Navigation?...suggestions on which?
-Lowering springs and that's probably it..suggestions?
Last edited by NOCSUCOW; Mar 4, 2011 at 07:52 AM.
Thread Starter
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C230
More about this tank's Lucas treatement.
I was running late for work this morning and couldn't let the car warm up as I usually like to. It was also about 35deg out. My gauge never dropped below ~20mpg as opposed to the 17.x I'd normally get, so there is definitely progress. However, the true test is my odo at next fill up.
I was running late for work this morning and couldn't let the car warm up as I usually like to. It was also about 35deg out. My gauge never dropped below ~20mpg as opposed to the 17.x I'd normally get, so there is definitely progress. However, the true test is my odo at next fill up.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Warm up the car?
35F is not cold enough to need a warm up. Give the oil pressure time to stabilize, drive gently till it is warm. I do 30 seconds and go. Always have. If your car spends time idling trying to get warm it will be running open loop, this can cause fuel dilution in the oil and will decrease your fuel economy (0MPH = 0MPG). Also, the car will be calculating idle time in the average fuel economy that the MFD is telling you. If I let my car idle for 10 minutes, the AVG MPG figure is 14.1. It takes a long time for that to come up.
There may be nothing wrong with your car after all, it might just be how you were using it. Long warm up periods will definitely decrease your fuel economy. It's just not necessary, at least not at 35F.
35F is not cold enough to need a warm up. Give the oil pressure time to stabilize, drive gently till it is warm. I do 30 seconds and go. Always have. If your car spends time idling trying to get warm it will be running open loop, this can cause fuel dilution in the oil and will decrease your fuel economy (0MPH = 0MPG). Also, the car will be calculating idle time in the average fuel economy that the MFD is telling you. If I let my car idle for 10 minutes, the AVG MPG figure is 14.1. It takes a long time for that to come up.
There may be nothing wrong with your car after all, it might just be how you were using it. Long warm up periods will definitely decrease your fuel economy. It's just not necessary, at least not at 35F.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 818
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
My personal car gets warmed up for 2 minutes each morning (exactly the time it takes to crank the car, come back in and feed the cats).
However, I know of several cars at work that have over 5,000 hours of idle time (of course those are MB's). Any modern engine management system should be able to handle idling as well as it can handle a constant speed on the highway.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
It takes a long time for my car to idle itself to normal operating temperature. I'm not saying it will hurt the car (though obviously you don't want a lot of fuel in the oil) but I don't do it. It's a total waste. I was saying that if he's having fuel economy issues he might need to re-evaluate the "warm up".
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,212
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From: Pasadena, CA
2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
How terrible! Geez, when I am driving like a dorkmeister, I can get 26 mpg with a mix of city and highway driving. I can do 31-32 mpg on the highway all day long. If I start to hypermile or get serious, I can push that to 34-35 mpg. In the city I never get below 24 mpg. Now that I am driving on the 110 through DTLA I am seriously having to get the most out of my MPG.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
How terrible! Geez, when I am driving like a dorkmeister, I can get 26 mpg with a mix of city and highway driving. I can do 31-32 mpg on the highway all day long. If I start to hypermile or get serious, I can push that to 34-35 mpg. In the city I never get below 24 mpg. Now that I am driving on the 110 through DTLA I am seriously having to get the most out of my MPG.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Orange County, CA
GMC - Miata - Trek - P-Car
How terrible! Geez, when I am driving like a dorkmeister, I can get 26 mpg with a mix of city and highway driving. I can do 31-32 mpg on the highway all day long. If I start to hypermile or get serious, I can push that to 34-35 mpg. In the city I never get below 24 mpg. Now that I am driving on the 110 through DTLA I am seriously having to get the most out of my MPG.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
I didn't know that the 1.8 boys got such poor mileage.
My 16-gallon tank barely goes 250 miles with the Mrs. lollygagging around town. Almost certain she seldom goes past half throttle.
*off topic*
How’s your new place treating you?
Thoroughly enjoyed living on Los Robles (between California and Del Mar) in the ‘90s. Sure don’t miss that 110 commute, although the Arroyo Seco Parkway section can be a kick when not congested! Less than a year after finding gainful employment in the South Bay, it occurred to me that I was either living or working in the wrong end of the city. Just dumb luck to have bought a modest shack when it was affordable.
Trust you know you’ve an open invitation for beverages and barbecue when next you’re down this way.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
In my opinion ,it is an absolute waste of fuel warming a fuel injected cars engine . In fact it is adding to the wear as it is warming the engine up more slowly than necessary.
The most wear to an engine occurs when it is cold because the oil is not circulating at the optimum temperature & the moving components are expanding at different rates so not at optimun clearances. .
If it was a carburettored engine with a poor choke system I could see the point.
You should start the car & drive with no heavy accelleration or high reving until the engine has reached reached operating temperature which is about 7 to 8 Km.
People who keep their cars for short periods will not be interested. I enjoy my vehicles for about 15 years & they become like comfortable old slippers !!
The most wear to an engine occurs when it is cold because the oil is not circulating at the optimum temperature & the moving components are expanding at different rates so not at optimun clearances. .
If it was a carburettored engine with a poor choke system I could see the point.
You should start the car & drive with no heavy accelleration or high reving until the engine has reached reached operating temperature which is about 7 to 8 Km.
People who keep their cars for short periods will not be interested. I enjoy my vehicles for about 15 years & they become like comfortable old slippers !!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1 - And to the OP - Those roof racks do a nice job of messing with fuel consumption as well. Especially on a car with a CD of 0.27.
Fuel consumption is so use dependent it can be misleading. As has been said - if you are using the on car consumption readings. Standing still & not clocking any miles screws up the averages.
If you think you really have a problem get the car onto an exhaust gas analyser. That will soon tell you if your state of tune is screwed up.
Fuel consumption is so use dependent it can be misleading. As has been said - if you are using the on car consumption readings. Standing still & not clocking any miles screws up the averages.
If you think you really have a problem get the car onto an exhaust gas analyser. That will soon tell you if your state of tune is screwed up.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Kissimmee/Orlando FL
2005 c230 kompressor
Damn that's crazy. Hauling tail on the highway with the cruise control set to 85 mph I get about 30 mpg I have gotten up to 35 mpg in my m271. I thought that was really high so I took a picture of it.
