Saving gas
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From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Saving gas
This probably will not appeal to many, but if you want to save gas - drive the speed limit. I used to drive about 5 MPH over the speed limit and used cruise control whenever practical. Now I drive the speed limit and use cruise whenever practical (same amount of time). Overall I am getting 8%+ better gas mileage than before. Has been as high as 10% on some trips that I have repeated at both speeds. This is long term, not short time or distance test.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
This probably will not appeal to many, but if you want to save gas - drive the speed limit. I used to drive about 5 MPH over the speed limit and used cruise control whenever practical. Now I drive the speed limit and use cruise whenever practical (same amount of time). Overall I am getting 8%+ better gas mileage than before. Has been as high as 10% on some trips that I have repeated at both speeds. This is long term, not short time or distance test.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Not for me.
I am statistic freak and I record each fill up on fuelly.
My diesel will make 60 mpg @ 60 mph, but I never had patience to test it on long run, as I am satisfy with only 40 mpg, while averaging above 80 mph.
The very high mpg happens to me when sometimes I take streets route. Las Vegas main streets do have 45 mph limits, so if I get lucky to drive few miles without red lights, my trip meter goes very high. Not that I would make it statistic as those are just short trips at those speeds.
I am statistic freak and I record each fill up on fuelly.
My diesel will make 60 mpg @ 60 mph, but I never had patience to test it on long run, as I am satisfy with only 40 mpg, while averaging above 80 mph.
The very high mpg happens to me when sometimes I take streets route. Las Vegas main streets do have 45 mph limits, so if I get lucky to drive few miles without red lights, my trip meter goes very high. Not that I would make it statistic as those are just short trips at those speeds.
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
As for saving gas at 40mph, that's probably at the highest gear and the lower the speed, the less wind resistance so the better the gas mileage. There are some local parkways where the speed limit is 35 and if you do 40 in top gear, the gas mileage is pretty good.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Yeah, I would think most people wouldn't buy a Mercedes if they wanted to save money on gas. It needs gas, I put it in, don't even really look at the total.
As for saving gas at 40mph, that's probably at the highest gear and the lower the speed, the less wind resistance so the better the gas mileage. There are some local parkways where the speed limit is 35 and if you do 40 in top gear, the gas mileage is pretty good.
As for saving gas at 40mph, that's probably at the highest gear and the lower the speed, the less wind resistance so the better the gas mileage. There are some local parkways where the speed limit is 35 and if you do 40 in top gear, the gas mileage is pretty good.
Mercedes diesels are the cheapest cars to drive from about 20 brands I did own. Obviously I don't buy them new to take initial depreciation heat.
For years, when I was buying older models, I was actually making money driving them as after 2-3 years of use, I sold them for more than I paid for.
My E250 BT will not hold the 7th gear below 60 mph, but amazingly the highest mpg comes on lower gear.
Air drag is what affect the fuel consumption at very high percentage. It increase with square of speed, meaning at 60 mph it is 9 times higher than at 20 mph.
Last edited by kajtek1; Nov 3, 2022 at 08:00 PM.
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W212 FL
Driving too slow also kills MPG or not as efficient as cruising at a set speed either. I take it you should not exceed 2000 RPM when driving and keep a constant speed as the traffic allows. I like to see an extended range, but fuel economy is not my top priority either. However, driving the car without spoiling the driving pleasure is and having an extended range is a cream of the cake to me
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Driving too slow also kills MPG or not as efficient as cruising at a set speed either. I take it you should not exceed 2000 RPM when driving and keep a constant speed as the traffic allows. I like to see an extended range, but fuel economy is not my top priority either. However, driving the car without spoiling the driving pleasure is and having an extended range is a cream of the cake to me
I don't recall what it turns at 75mph, but I drive 600 mile trips on the interstate frequently. I can rack up the fuel mileage on the center display at 70mph for several hours (33-35mpg), and watch it predictably fall when I purposefully push the cruise to 75mph for the next hour or so.
Last edited by DFWdude; Nov 4, 2022 at 10:24 AM.
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2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
One thing I forgot to mention is that the price of gas is based on three factors: supply, demand and greed. Can't do anything about greed, but the less gas people use, the greater the supply becomes. Therefore the price of gas (and diesel) will go down. Just sayin'
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
"POLITICAL DONATIONS" or "presidential campaign contributions"
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2012 E350 4Matic
The tires themselves have an impact on fuel economy as well, different tread patterns and compounds have different amounts of rolling resistance. Winter tires especially with both an aggressive tread and softer compound have an adverse effect on fuel economy, but the safety benefits outweigh the small amount of extra fuel burned.
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From: North of San Francisco
14 E550, 07 E550, 69 Mach I, 65 Hipo, 66 Fairlane GTA Conv, 66 Fairlane GT
My commute is 88 miles each way, four times per week, so I watch my fuel consumption closely.
I have a chipped E550 and my Fuelly mpg is 23.8 for the last 40,000 miles (25.9 on the dash gauge), and I always make sure to get a few full throttle blasts each trip.
I avoid being the lead car on the freeway and try to find someone with a stable MPH to follow even if it's a few MPH below my target.
Forty years ago I had a Ford with similar horsepower (428 with 3/2's) and was getting 8 MPG so getting three times more MPG seems unreal. Thank you, Mercedes.
I have a chipped E550 and my Fuelly mpg is 23.8 for the last 40,000 miles (25.9 on the dash gauge), and I always make sure to get a few full throttle blasts each trip.
I avoid being the lead car on the freeway and try to find someone with a stable MPH to follow even if it's a few MPH below my target.
Forty years ago I had a Ford with similar horsepower (428 with 3/2's) and was getting 8 MPG so getting three times more MPG seems unreal. Thank you, Mercedes.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
My father's 1969 Buick Riviera was making 5-6 mpg.
I drove it couple of times and with tank range about 200 miles run out of fuel.
So the 40mpg at high-speed cruising giving me solid 700 miles on the tank are really appreciated.
Years ago I selling W124 diesel with over 200k miles. The buyer was a guy who just got job requiring long commute, so he figured out he needs diesel to make it economical.
The 5-banger in W124 was delivering close to 40 mpg, although the ca 130 HP was a bit sluggish. Why would anybody in his right state of mind spend $600 a month for fuel, when he could make it for 1/2 of that with the same comfort?
Not even trying to compare resale value, who likely would be even lower than 2-fold
I drove it couple of times and with tank range about 200 miles run out of fuel.
So the 40mpg at high-speed cruising giving me solid 700 miles on the tank are really appreciated.
Years ago I selling W124 diesel with over 200k miles. The buyer was a guy who just got job requiring long commute, so he figured out he needs diesel to make it economical.
The 5-banger in W124 was delivering close to 40 mpg, although the ca 130 HP was a bit sluggish. Why would anybody in his right state of mind spend $600 a month for fuel, when he could make it for 1/2 of that with the same comfort?
Not even trying to compare resale value, who likely would be even lower than 2-fold
Last edited by kajtek1; Nov 6, 2022 at 03:03 PM.
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Did you ever check how much oil industry participate in presidential campaign contributions?
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Ultimately it's the people who buy the cars. Not everyone cares about gas mileage is basically what the answer is. You've got to use Occam's razor. People put gas in their cars several times a month, you think the oil industry and the president is forcing those people to pay high prices for the gas they put in their SUV/trucks when they're the ones deciding on buying the SUVs/trucks in the first place? There are cars out there with small gas engines and hybrids that get good gas mileage. But guess what, after peaking a few years ago, Prius sales are way down. The US just has tighter emissions than Europe, always has. Nothing new there.
Prius sales are flagging because of the rise in Electric vehicles.
Today, there is a wide variety of vehicles with similarly wide variances in fuel mileage. But it's difficult to feel empathy for the 8 out of 10 clowns here in Texas who demand to drive 3-4 ton SUV/trucks with their 9-12mpg... then they are the first to biatch about it. No sympathy for the poorly educated.
I'm not convinced that American emissions standards are tighter than Europe.
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Prius in fuel economy is comparable to my E250, while delivering way lower comfort.
Giving econobox samples as why US citizens don't buy them is totally wrong.
Let's kick the politicians and start bringing 40 mpg station wagons to this country, who can seat 7 and tow 3 tons behind?
Let's see if SUV market will not make sudden swing?
Giving econobox samples as why US citizens don't buy them is totally wrong.
Let's kick the politicians and start bringing 40 mpg station wagons to this country, who can seat 7 and tow 3 tons behind?
Let's see if SUV market will not make sudden swing?
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From: Fredonia, WI
2012 E550 v8-Biturbo
I have a chipped E550 and my Fuelly mpg is 23.8 for the last 40,000 miles (25.9 on the dash gauge), and I always make sure to get a few full throttle blasts each trip.
Forty years ago I had a Ford with similar horsepower (428 with 3/2's) and was getting 8 MPG so getting three times more MPG seems unreal. Thank you, Mercedes.
Forty years ago I had a Ford with similar horsepower (428 with 3/2's) and was getting 8 MPG so getting three times more MPG seems unreal. Thank you, Mercedes.
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From: WA State, USA
2014 Cummins, 2014 E250 Bluetec
Back in the 60's all cars got 6-7mpg because that's all that was available. The invasion of Japanese imports brought some relief (although my stick-shift '77 Honda Accord got little more than 20mpg).
Prius sales are flagging because of the rise in Electric vehicles.
Today, there is a wide variety of vehicles with similarly wide variances in fuel mileage. But it's difficult to feel empathy for the 8 out of 10 clowns here in Texas who demand to drive 3-4 ton SUV/trucks with their 9-12mpg... then they are the first to biatch about it. No sympathy for the poorly educated.
I'm not convinced that American emissions standards are tighter than Europe.
Prius sales are flagging because of the rise in Electric vehicles.
Today, there is a wide variety of vehicles with similarly wide variances in fuel mileage. But it's difficult to feel empathy for the 8 out of 10 clowns here in Texas who demand to drive 3-4 ton SUV/trucks with their 9-12mpg... then they are the first to biatch about it. No sympathy for the poorly educated.
I'm not convinced that American emissions standards are tighter than Europe.
Prius IMHO are garbage but some like em. The standard ones dont get better then my 14' e250 on the freeway at 70mph and they dont acomidate 6'2" guys very well.
I think the USA emissions are more motivated by a direction the epa wants to go in like banning diesel. I would think its way more political on that front over here. Not sure though just my guess. Its all a big crap show.
