Griffin44

I think the problem for some of us with this thread is that it's trying to deal with at least two different issues: fuel efficiency and range. Although the two are directly related, they are different.

The mpg or litres/100km fuel efficiency can only be assessed by dividing a known quantity of gas consumed by a known distance travelled. You can't do that when asking "how much per tank?" because a tank is not a known quantity (it really is only how much of the tank the driver is willing to use before refuelling and can range from 40-60 litres).

With my motorcycle I calculate gasoline used each time I refill. I also make note of how low I came to actually being empty. Even when I thought I was on vapours I still had 1 litre left in a 16.5 litre tank.

I do make note of how much it takes to refill my Benz. Usually 50 - 55 litres. I haven't bothered to take note of the distance travelled though and make my estimate of consumption based on the car's computer.

eddieo45

If I've learned anything from this thread it's that there's plenty of fuel left in my tank when I (and the computer, evidently) think it's nearly empty. I doubt that will make any less stressed as I look for a station though....

Rudeney

There is a 2.1 gallon (8l) reserve. So, when your fuel gauge is on empty and DTE shows "FEED ME NOW!", you can drive some more. So really, the tank holds 18.5 gallons (70l). Now, when you get to empty, and you're averaging 20mpg, does that extra 2 gallons will give you another 40 miles? Well, probably not. The pump still needs some amount of fuel to remain primed, plus the level under the pump's pickups will vary with terrain and g-forces.

Yalin

Rudeney are you sure the tank is 70l? What i remember from the manual is 62l including reserve

Yidney

Yeah, after the single digits comes a pretty nice graphic of the front end of your car next to a gas pump. Sorta cute actually. I see it all the time.

Rudeney

My understanding is that it's 62l + 8l reserve. The fuel gauge and trip computer are calibrated for 62l. I once drove another 12 miles past dead empty and I pumped just over 17 gallons refill it.

CLK320skr

Man, you guys are over thinking this.

By TANK, I mean how many gallons did you fill up from 'empty'.. doesn't matter if it wasn't the entire 16+ gallons, it'd still give me a good idea of how many miles you got out of that 'tank' of gas, and what kind of driving it was city/hwy/mix.

I was simply trying to get an idea of how the V6 and V8 compared in terms of overall miles one averages from a tank of gas. It's far easier to get a cost idea from how many miles you get from a tank on average, because we know how much it costs to fill that tank.

Anyway..... at least eddie gets it.

eddieo45

I've said it before: we need a "like" button!

Yalin

In my opinion it makes a big difference mate. Anyway, even my clk is a 200 k i would right down the consumption values just for a comparison for you americans

I live in a relativeli midsize city with lots of stopping traffic. But never seen more than 13l / 100 km consumption. I
Generally drive nicely. 550kms a tank is what i mostly see on my tripmeter. On highway if i drive gently it never comsumps more than 7l. Mixed is i think 8-9l.

Another poin is: if you have experts like Rudeney you have many questions ti ask under every thread.

I would like to thank to him again.

Rudeney

Yalin - you are more than welcome. And thank you for your kind words.

Your 13l/100km is equivalent to 18MPG, and that's about what i get in my CLK550 in town - hills, traffic, large intersections. But 550kms/tank? That's about 340 miles/tank, and that's going to be better than 20MPG (assuming I have done all the math right!) I rarely see 300 miles per tank in town. On the open road, I can do much better. And speaking of highway cruising, I have found that my cabriolet gets better MPG with the top down, and windows and rear windscreen up. Also, it seems to get the best MPG around 80mph (just over 2,000 engine RPM). Anything over that and it starts to suck fuel to overcome wind resistance, but less than that and it's in a lower torque RPM band.

Fatz

Soooo, in addition to my wife's additional weight, the weight of her luggage and carry ons, I'm getting fewer MPG (and incurring higher travel cost) due to her nagging about staying below the speed limit; when I agree to us taking my car on trips!!!!!! Rudeney, I will make use of this fact; at my own risk of course.......

Rudeney

See, I don't have to worry about the wife in my CLK - she won't ride in it. She definitely refuses to ride with the top down because it might disturb her hair, and she also says it's just too small and low to the ground. She's just used to driving SUVs (which, by the way, her Jeep jets much worse MPG than my CLK550).

Dimitri

Having 13-15 city and 19-25 highway 2004 CLK500. Winter time or cold weather city could be 10-13

Jerry Sommer

I have a 98 CLK 320 and a 03 CLK 430 that I am just starting to drive. I have used the 98 for about three years and I reset the mileage when I fill up every time. I think the most I have managed is 450 miles on a tank and when I fill up most of the time it is around 15 gallons. That is interstate driving at around 70. In town I get about 300 miles per tank full. Most of the time on the interstate it comes to around 30 MPG. I know the 430 isn't going to be quite that good. Jerry in Ohio

LeTenken

I usually get about 320 miles before I fill up in my 07 clk 550, usually it shows about 14~15 gallons at the pump.

I apparently have no idea how to drive my v8.... I once got 29mpg to show up on my trip computer on a 60+ mile trip

Rudeney

Easy - just put your right foot on the accelerator, press down as hard as you can, and hang on!

Jamesh11

I love this thread, this is hilarious!!

My average miles per tank will be worse than everyone else's.

From this we learn two things:
1) I love driving more than I should. I am a careful driver though and have never been in a car accident in 25 years of driving :-)

2) Miles per tank doesn't really matter unless you have a specific amount of dollars available on a weekly basis for gas and this has to translate into a specific distance travelled during that week and this is a constant ongoing process.

The real answer is to not exhaust your reserves in cash on gas. If the calculations are that important in choosing a vehicle to drive, you should revisit your monthly expenses. A reserve in cash is a must if you have kids, a wife, a girlfriend or even a fridge.....the damn things blow up at the most inopportune moment.

.....the fridge that is, even though a wife or girlfriend can tend to blow up at you as well :-)))

In answer to the thread....if people get 300 miles per tank in their CLK 550, I will certainly get 220 or less.

I fill up with a smile every time as I'm getting ready to enjoy my toy for another while

BTW I do understand that this is all about the conversation, just playing the catalist role a bit

fernmc

I'm surprised to hearing some of you have a 20 mpg with a CLK. I drive a 2004 CLK320 with 76,000 mile. What I get is 12 mpg in-town, and no more than 20 mpg on-road. Recently, I clean the MAF myself and did not get any improvement. Recently my two Catalitic converter broke in pieces, one a few month ahead of the other. I replaced them, but I suspect they busted because of a too rich-fuel mixture. Any discussion?

Yidney

You clearly have a problem of some kind. Did new cats improve mpg? I do better than 12 mpg in town even with a lead foot with an engine much larger than yours. Steady cruising I get 26-27 mpg. Whatever your issue is is costing you a lot of money every year so it's probably worth figuring out.

fernmc

I still have the window sticker that says 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. As I recall, I never get that or even closer. My memory may not be that good, but it seems the best I got was 16 mpg in the city and 22 highway. I have had about 12 mpg in the city for a while. Then, the left side cat converter broke and I replaced it. I didn't note any improvement in millage. Then, a few months ahead the other cat converter broke too. I noted a hole in the left valve cover where the bigger breather hose connects. I replaced the breather hoses and fix that hole with JB Weld. The hole was just at the neck of that connection. It may be sucking air through it. I notice a little improvement in the millage fuel consumption. Then, I decided to clean the MAF with CRC cleaner. I followed the procedures, but guess what, the millage per gallon became even worse, something like 9 or 10 mpg. Then, it improved a little bit as I drove, but as I said 12/13 mpg.

Rudeney

Sometimes cleaning the MAF sensor does not work - you have to replace it. Also, if your catalytic converters came apart, you really need to replace the entire exhaust since the molten material can flow downstream and clog the resonators and muffler.

fernmc

I appreciate your comments. When I replaced the cat converters, the pieces of the old cat converter flew to the exhaust pipe. We cut the pipe and blew all pieces out, then we welded the pipe back in place. It did work. Yeah, maybe it is a good idea replace the MAF. I keep this posted.