Hypermiling
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Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
From: Barrie, On
GL320 / R350
Hypermiling
Hey Merc friends. I thought I would make a hypermiling post here. I have a GL320 and an R350. Moving from Nova Scotia to Ontario I was able to get 6.9L /100km while towing a small trailer. After some time and a better understanding of how the vehicles operate. I am average 6.7L/100km going to work everyday (31km). I got down to 6.5 a couple of times. My personal record was 6.1 on this trip to work. Not sure that counts though cause engine was in limp mode due to a faulty DPF pressure sensor.
Pretty good for seven passengers.
Anybody with better mileage please feel free to post some tips.
Pretty good for seven passengers.
Anybody with better mileage please feel free to post some tips.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
My best tank to date, no passengers but several hundred pounds of photography gear in my 06 W211 320CDI was 43.7 actual, calculated miles per gallon (US Gallons}/and 908 miles on a single tank in one sitting. Wasn’t really trying too hard, just driving my typical 5mph over posted limit across the southern Rockies driving between Austin and Reno Nevada for the Air Races in 2013. Average speed for that tank was 54 mph but almost zero stops, traffic, AC use...etc. normally 34-38mpg Highway.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 205
From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Wow. Your numbers are not even close to my 
ML 350BT averaging 23.5 MPG.
On highways driving 70-80 getting 25MPG
The best result was when I was driving between 35-45 MPH was able to get around 36 MPG.
ML 350BT averaging 23.5 MPG.
On highways driving 70-80 getting 25MPG
The best result was when I was driving between 35-45 MPH was able to get around 36 MPG.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
From: Barrie, On
GL320 / R350
Update my last.
I just achieved 6.4 L/100km this morning coming into work in my R350. Not bad mileage for a midsize sedan let alone a 7 passenger beast.
According to an online calculator that 36.7mpg
Micah your mileage is fantastic!
I just achieved 6.4 L/100km this morning coming into work in my R350. Not bad mileage for a midsize sedan let alone a 7 passenger beast.
According to an online calculator that 36.7mpg
Micah your mileage is fantastic!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Mine is a smaller/lighter sedan with 215k miles on it now and fully modified and reprogrammed to get most out out of minimal revs with zero remaining emissions controls. I have a similarly prepared 06’ Jeep Liberty CRD and 26-27 calculated mpg under similar highway driving conditions is the best it will do, closer aerodynamics to a GL at least at say 65-70mph average speed. Aerodynamics at highway speed and air density actually make a massive difference in drag and therefore fuel economy.
My record tank on the W211 was summertime temps, averaged around 6k feet AGL base altitude for that leg getting as high as 9400 feet on a fairly warm and humid day in early September. No AC going as it felt great compared to Central Texas where I’d left from. Reality is that air density was perhaps only 15-20% of my normal value, no traffic etc. Had a borrowed Golf TDI manual for a bit, got consistent 44-48 mpg full tank averages out of it in summer driving. My daily commute is close to a hundred miles round trip and I don’t turn on AC till around 105F outside air temp in the Benz unless I have passengers which is rare.
I dont practice the hypermiling bible style of driving, I try to stay very near speed limit or slightly over in most road conditions traffic allowing, I do coast a bit protracted to stops (getting ready to replace original rotors at 215k miles lol and only 2nd set of pads), I typically do not drive with MB cruise control active as it brakes down hills to maintain preset speeds and I prefer to coast those and build up a little surplus energy to get me started on the next uphill section. Typically accelerating I do not exceed 2500 rpm and am usually in C not S mode. I accelerate as traffic allows but bump shifter for lower rpm gear changes when possible as my car spools the turbo early and quick with current mapping and mods.
When i I have loaned car to realtor buddy to show clients around for week I logged my worst tank ever, 22.5mpg! When the wife drives it for a week typically 27-29 mpg, about the same as she usually gets in my Kia Optima SXT, slightly better than Kia but not much. When I drive Kia I typically log AC use full tanks of 28-29 mpg and milder weather pure highway 32-36mpg, it’s a high compression, turbocharged gasoline direct injection motor and auto trans. Driving style and ability to stay moving and tolerate life without AC here in Texas reaps big fuel economy rewards in all my cars except F-250 Ford truck which is 16.5-18 mpg AC or not in pure highway use, taller tires overdrive 5.5% but it’s crappy either way but old 7.3 turbodiesel is reliable and very capable off road.
I lost a ton of fuel economy data going back many years in an iOS upgrade crash last year sadly, it had my old 750iL e38 BMW V12 which typically did 18-21 mpg pure highway (and as bad as 11 in real estate duty)and 92 NSX which typically was 26-28 mpg in commuting or highway trip driving. I’ve also got a V8 Audi D3 A8L 4.2 gas that gets 20-22.7 pure highway and commuting and often drive wife’s Genesis Coupe and get 25-27.5 mpg from it. I’ve tracked fuel economy on pretty much every car I’ve owned since about 1990 when I started driving...bit OCD perhaps but it’s often an early warning sign of trouble to come.
My record tank on the W211 was summertime temps, averaged around 6k feet AGL base altitude for that leg getting as high as 9400 feet on a fairly warm and humid day in early September. No AC going as it felt great compared to Central Texas where I’d left from. Reality is that air density was perhaps only 15-20% of my normal value, no traffic etc. Had a borrowed Golf TDI manual for a bit, got consistent 44-48 mpg full tank averages out of it in summer driving. My daily commute is close to a hundred miles round trip and I don’t turn on AC till around 105F outside air temp in the Benz unless I have passengers which is rare.
I dont practice the hypermiling bible style of driving, I try to stay very near speed limit or slightly over in most road conditions traffic allowing, I do coast a bit protracted to stops (getting ready to replace original rotors at 215k miles lol and only 2nd set of pads), I typically do not drive with MB cruise control active as it brakes down hills to maintain preset speeds and I prefer to coast those and build up a little surplus energy to get me started on the next uphill section. Typically accelerating I do not exceed 2500 rpm and am usually in C not S mode. I accelerate as traffic allows but bump shifter for lower rpm gear changes when possible as my car spools the turbo early and quick with current mapping and mods.
When i I have loaned car to realtor buddy to show clients around for week I logged my worst tank ever, 22.5mpg! When the wife drives it for a week typically 27-29 mpg, about the same as she usually gets in my Kia Optima SXT, slightly better than Kia but not much. When I drive Kia I typically log AC use full tanks of 28-29 mpg and milder weather pure highway 32-36mpg, it’s a high compression, turbocharged gasoline direct injection motor and auto trans. Driving style and ability to stay moving and tolerate life without AC here in Texas reaps big fuel economy rewards in all my cars except F-250 Ford truck which is 16.5-18 mpg AC or not in pure highway use, taller tires overdrive 5.5% but it’s crappy either way but old 7.3 turbodiesel is reliable and very capable off road.
I lost a ton of fuel economy data going back many years in an iOS upgrade crash last year sadly, it had my old 750iL e38 BMW V12 which typically did 18-21 mpg pure highway (and as bad as 11 in real estate duty)and 92 NSX which typically was 26-28 mpg in commuting or highway trip driving. I’ve also got a V8 Audi D3 A8L 4.2 gas that gets 20-22.7 pure highway and commuting and often drive wife’s Genesis Coupe and get 25-27.5 mpg from it. I’ve tracked fuel economy on pretty much every car I’ve owned since about 1990 when I started driving...bit OCD perhaps but it’s often an early warning sign of trouble to come.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
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Ml350
2010 ML 350BT (Tuned)
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
From: Barrie, On
GL320 / R350
Update from my last update.
I thinks I must have had a good tailwind because I just achieved 5.8 L/100km this morning coming into work in my GL. Not bad mileage for a midsize sedan let alone a 7 passenger beast.
According to an online calculator that 40.5mpg
Trying to attach a picture but it is not uploading.
I thinks I must have had a good tailwind because I just achieved 5.8 L/100km this morning coming into work in my GL. Not bad mileage for a midsize sedan let alone a 7 passenger beast.
According to an online calculator that 40.5mpg
Trying to attach a picture but it is not uploading.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
No wind, just downhill. Oddly enough, the 99.9 is end of the scale as going down the mountain for 10 miles I had to do way better. The car makes 60 mpg on flat driving if I go slow
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
From: Barrie, On
GL320 / R350
These stories are fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing your numbers. It is a fun game of energy management for me.
Kjtek1: your getting 60mpg? Zoiks! I may have to drop the R class for an E.
Kjtek1: your getting 60mpg? Zoiks! I may have to drop the R class for an E.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
60 mpg @ 60 mph, but who wants to drive MB that slow?
I average over 70 mph on freeways, so E250 BT makes 42-45 mpg (5.2 l/100 km) at those speeds. For comparison older E320 BT makes 30-31
Than I am talking California freeways, where left lane huggers cost solid 15% higher fuel consumption.
I average over 70 mph on freeways, so E250 BT makes 42-45 mpg (5.2 l/100 km) at those speeds. For comparison older E320 BT makes 30-31
Than I am talking California freeways, where left lane huggers cost solid 15% higher fuel consumption.
Last edited by kajtek1; Feb 6, 2019 at 02:17 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
You like in a high desert area right? Check local airports ATIS for true or absolute barometer for any given day, lower air density equals less drag, requiring less power, the turbo more than makes up for this on power side, but driving in say 27” mercury for an atmosphere vs say 30.2 the way it often is here is significantly different. Drag goes up as the square of speed so 10% less air pressure is like 20-30 % less aero drag.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Las Vegas has 1600' elevation, so don't think air is that thin. Than we don't have flats here and that cost you measurable mpg, beside mentioned left lane blockers.
Most driving in California is close to sea level anyway. Over the years I develop driving style where I don't touch brakes for hundred miles, so that makes slight difference.
But anyway, it is what it is and when I don't drive for fuel savings, I buy cars who save it for me.
Most driving in California is close to sea level anyway. Over the years I develop driving style where I don't touch brakes for hundred miles, so that makes slight difference.
But anyway, it is what it is and when I don't drive for fuel savings, I buy cars who save it for me.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,234
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From: Montreal/Cape Coral FL
2012 X6 35i Sport, 2013 ML 350 BT, 2019 4Runner TRD Pro, 2020 CRV-AWD
My bud in Florida owns a Prius and frequents a Prius forum where the owners are always trying to beat the top mpg that's been posted.
They've gone as far as;
- Cutting power to the gas engine to get honest figures
- Installed side-mirrors that fold automatically on the highway unless the turn signals are actuated
- Pumping up the tire pressure to reduce rolling resistance
- Lowering the vehicle to reduce resistance
- Shedding excess weight (spare tire, rear seat etc...)
- Believe it or not, waxing the vehicle to help it "glide" thru the air easier LOL
Point is, all the tricks are fun but as Kryzystof said, it is what it is...
They've gone as far as;
- Cutting power to the gas engine to get honest figures
- Installed side-mirrors that fold automatically on the highway unless the turn signals are actuated
- Pumping up the tire pressure to reduce rolling resistance
- Lowering the vehicle to reduce resistance
- Shedding excess weight (spare tire, rear seat etc...)
- Believe it or not, waxing the vehicle to help it "glide" thru the air easier LOL
Point is, all the tricks are fun but as Kryzystof said, it is what it is...
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 148
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles/Vegas
2004 E55 AMG
Las Vegas has 1600' elevation, so don't think air is that thin. Than we don't have flats here and that cost you measurable mpg, beside mentioned left lane blockers.
Most driving in California is close to sea level anyway. Over the years I develop driving style where I don't touch brakes for hundred miles, so that makes slight difference.
But anyway, it is what it is and when I don't drive for fuel savings, I buy cars who save it for me.
Most driving in California is close to sea level anyway. Over the years I develop driving style where I don't touch brakes for hundred miles, so that makes slight difference.
But anyway, it is what it is and when I don't drive for fuel savings, I buy cars who save it for me.
