Gas Saving Tip!!
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From: SoCal
C350
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 291
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From: SoCal
C350
Cruise control will only save fuel in specific conditions - namely on the flat. When running up & down hills in undulating country it will actually use more fuel because it trys to maintain constant speed which requires some large throttle inputs. If you run the same piece of road at constant throttle allowing the vehicle to slow on uphills & increase speed on downhills you will use less fuel
i.e. Constant throttle opening gives better fuel consumption than constant speed.
i.e. Constant throttle opening gives better fuel consumption than constant speed.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes Carsy - absolutely. In the crazy days that I had a whole string of Alfas they had a manual throttle which gave really meaningful savings. This could easily be programmed in today's world with a safety kick out if you touched the throttle or brakes.
Constant throttle gave even better savings on carburettor vehicles because it stopped you activating the throttle pump in the carb/s.
Constant throttle gave even better savings on carburettor vehicles because it stopped you activating the throttle pump in the carb/s.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Oct 23, 2009 at 05:30 AM.
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C350 Elegance
Gas saving is the art of driving a vehicle the way you wish and enjoying it. So it is more a behavioral custom than a technique that we will start and cut off like a switch. A similar example would be to respect stop signs whether the intersection be clear or not.
This seems to me like the wrong forum for gas saving tips, because the smallest models come with a kompressor, the technology is based in sport drive-train performance, and the setup is for luxury late models quality. However, most conversations are about how expensive gas is and how to put the pedal to the metal or situations arising from situations like this. Oxymoron?
Cheers, JV
This seems to me like the wrong forum for gas saving tips, because the smallest models come with a kompressor, the technology is based in sport drive-train performance, and the setup is for luxury late models quality. However, most conversations are about how expensive gas is and how to put the pedal to the metal or situations arising from situations like this. Oxymoron?
Cheers, JV
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From: Carlsbad California
C350 and a Lightning.
Don't do this people.
And, at what point and speed are you shifting your transmission back into gear?
As said above, your fuel has been cut off at decel and your are in the highest gear.
Just not a good idea at all.
On my last road trip, I averaged over 30mpg. I didn't do anything special, just drove and enjoyed the car and picked up one speeding ticket so I obviously wasn't trying to get better gas milage, but how much more then that do we need?
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
On a recent 4000km trip around France our Citroen C 4 diesel manual achieved 50 mpg (US) .
Fuel is going to be very expensive again ( with possible refining shortages)soon when India, China, Brazil, & Russian economies start to grow quickly again .
I think the C Class is way too heavy at around 1600 kg. MB should put more effort into weight reduction. Fifteen years ago a bought a compact diesel car
which achieved 40 mpg US without any modern electronic aids. The reason for this was that it weighed 1130 KG . This car is still a daily driver & original except for fuel pump seals.
Imagine what fuel economy & performance the C Class could achieve weighing 1130 KG.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes - It's interesting. Some of the baby diesel Citroens achieve better economy than a Prius without all the gubbins - just honest good design.
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From: Carlsbad California
C350 and a Lightning.
At least our modern motors have been trying to keep up.
I mean a 270hp V6 motor that is found in a C350 would kick *** in a 65 Mustang.
But try running each of those cars into a brick wall at 40mph and see which driver lives to tell about it.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Puerto Rico
'08 C350, '05 Mazda 3 HB, '07 330i
This is a bad idea.
Don't do this people.
And, at what point and speed are you shifting your transmission back into gear?
As said above, your fuel has been cut off at decel and your are in the highest gear.
Just not a good idea at all.
On my last road trip, I averaged over 30mpg. I didn't do anything special, just drove and enjoyed the car and picked up one speeding ticket so I obviously wasn't trying to get better gas milage, but how much more then that do we need?
Don't do this people.
And, at what point and speed are you shifting your transmission back into gear?
As said above, your fuel has been cut off at decel and your are in the highest gear.
Just not a good idea at all.
On my last road trip, I averaged over 30mpg. I didn't do anything special, just drove and enjoyed the car and picked up one speeding ticket so I obviously wasn't trying to get better gas milage, but how much more then that do we need?
But then, i found out it's useless! ...It's true what Glym M Rock says that there's a fuel cutoff.. I knew about it but never took a moment to test it... i pulled out an old AEM A/F wideband i have from my Evo and connected it to the O2Sensor and drove around in it .. it really doesn't use fuel when you depress the accelerator!..
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Well, you can blame US crash standards on that. Cars are much, much more safer these days but yes, with that safety comes a huge increase in curb weight.
At least our modern motors have been trying to keep up.
I mean a 270hp V6 motor that is found in a C350 would kick *** in a 65 Mustang. But try running each of those cars into a brick wall at 40mph and see which driver lives to tell about it.
At least our modern motors have been trying to keep up.
I mean a 270hp V6 motor that is found in a C350 would kick *** in a 65 Mustang.
But try running each of those cars into a brick wall at 40mph and see which driver lives to tell about it.Also need weight to achieve the Mercedes ride feel. All will be overcome ultimately.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
I don't know whether I altogether agree here. The 1130 kg 1994 Peugeot 405 diesel has a great ride / handling balance & that is on 65 profile tyres. The suspension also feels tight & quiet & is not distracted by corrugations.
I would much prefer to ride in the Peugeot on a twisty & sharp rutted rough road than the W204 as it is more comfortable . But on a freeway or smooth good quality twisty road give me the W204.
Probablly the new Citreon C5 with its hydropneumatic suspension is the most comfortable car on rough roads but unfortunately is is front wheel drive & lacks traction on steep hills.
I would much prefer to ride in the Peugeot on a twisty & sharp rutted rough road than the W204 as it is more comfortable . But on a freeway or smooth good quality twisty road give me the W204.
Probablly the new Citreon C5 with its hydropneumatic suspension is the most comfortable car on rough roads but unfortunately is is front wheel drive & lacks traction on steep hills.
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
The conversation on the costs and benefits of weight are absolutely correct. However, the current car seems a reasonable balance. I wonder about the parasitic losses in the predominant automatic transmission. Note the average speed and fuel consumption with a manual, below.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I don't know whether I altogether agree here. The 1130 kg 1994 Peugeot 405 diesel has a great ride / handling balance & that is on 65 profile tyres. The suspension also feels tight & quiet & is not distracted by corrugations.
I would much prefer to ride in the Peugeot on a twisty & sharp rutted rough road than the W204 as it is more comfortable . But on a freeway or smooth good quality twisty road give me the W204.
Probablly the new Citreon C5 with its hydropneumatic suspension is the most comfortable car on rough roads but unfortunately is is front wheel drive & lacks traction on steep hills.
I would much prefer to ride in the Peugeot on a twisty & sharp rutted rough road than the W204 as it is more comfortable . But on a freeway or smooth good quality twisty road give me the W204.
Probablly the new Citreon C5 with its hydropneumatic suspension is the most comfortable car on rough roads but unfortunately is is front wheel drive & lacks traction on steep hills.
Better compromises will be achieved over time but you can't defy physics. Light spacious vehicles with variable spring rates & compromised damping will have to come. They won't, however have that feeling of solidity on the road that Benz owners cherish. The C Class already compromises this. Efforts to make them handle like a BMW 3 series are to blame.
EDIT - & 65 profile tyres help a lot with cutting harshness of ride.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Oct 26, 2009 at 06:18 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The conversation on the costs and benefits of weight are absolutely correct. However, the current car seems a reasonable balance. I wonder about the parasitic losses in the predominant automatic transmission. Note the average speed and fuel consumption with a manual, below.
