R320 CDI loses power on snowy highway.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21
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S550 4Matic, R320 CDI 4Matic, Dodge Ram Daytona Edition, BMW M5
R320 CDI loses power on snowy highway.
Hi,
My wife was driving our diesel R from CT to Boston in today's blizzard. It was running fine on the highway one minute and the next it is slowing down despite pressing the pedal almost to the floor. We pulled over and idled for a while. When we press the throttle in park, it wouldnt go over 3k. It is shifting ok. Any thoughts before I take it to the dealer? No CEL. Your opinions are appreciated. Thanks
My wife was driving our diesel R from CT to Boston in today's blizzard. It was running fine on the highway one minute and the next it is slowing down despite pressing the pedal almost to the floor. We pulled over and idled for a while. When we press the throttle in park, it wouldnt go over 3k. It is shifting ok. Any thoughts before I take it to the dealer? No CEL. Your opinions are appreciated. Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 563
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From: The Villages, Florida
2006 E320 CDI
I think that the fuel is starting to gel. You are having some nasty weather up there. Try putting some anti gel in the tank. If you park it inside for the night, I bet that it would run fine until things start to freeze again.
Mike T.
Mike T.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,035
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From: Northern NJ
2009 C63
Sorry to be Capt. Obvious but are you sure the loss of power wasn't because of the traction issues or slipping? You did mention it was a snowy highway. Also, not sure about the R class but I know my car has a rev limiter in park.. Does the R320?
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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2011 R350 BlueTec
If the traction was engaging, then there would be a light flashing on the dash and there would be a noise too. Since nothing was mentioned, I'll go with diesel fuel gelling.
I too got bad fuel one winter day, pulled off, put the Power Service Anti Gel in the tank, and I was fine by the time I got back to the highway.
MB will never recommend using anti-gel, but I don't trust fuel stations to have my best interests in mind.
I too got bad fuel one winter day, pulled off, put the Power Service Anti Gel in the tank, and I was fine by the time I got back to the highway.
MB will never recommend using anti-gel, but I don't trust fuel stations to have my best interests in mind.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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S550 4Matic, R320 CDI 4Matic, Dodge Ram Daytona Edition, BMW M5
Thanks guys for your thoughts. There was no lights and traction control was not kicking in. I didn't think it was gelling since I drove it through Canada and MI a month ago while temp was in the early teens and diesel didn't gel. But you never know the composition of the current batch in the tank. I was wondering if it is the fuel pump in the tank, not pumping enough fuel for the highpressure pump. But now it's in the heated garage. Let's see what today brings. Thanks again !
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21
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S550 4Matic, R320 CDI 4Matic, Dodge Ram Daytona Edition, BMW M5
Air filter was changed 2k miles ago. It started and revved without issues yesterday. Today I am going to drive it and see if the problem comes back.
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
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R320L CDI
I had same issue and problem was in air filter. Snowdust glogged airfilter and "breathing" become hard. I cleaned filter and filterbox from snow and everything works well. It happened for me several times. Specially when i have driven behind of some trucks, who bring up from road this "snowdust".
