W220 s400CDI vs s500 buying advice
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
W202 C200
W220 s400CDI vs s500 buying advice
Greetings, I am looking to buy S400cdi or S500.The two cars I found are both are in similar price range(400cdi is priced 1k euro more than s500),mileage(230k km) and both have maximum equipment available. But the differences are in age-s500 is 2002,while s400cdi is 2004. I heard that the v8 diesel is problematic but that they fixed some of the issues on the later models,while m113 is bulletproof. Also didn't mention that S500 has LPG system installed,for which almost every gas station in my country has the LPG filling station available.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 428
Likes: 96
From: Houston
001 s600, 94 sl600
You should run a COLD COMPRESSION TEST on the CDI to check engine condition. Low compression means worn-out, needs rebuilding. Automotive Diesels MUST have more frequent oil changes with proper oil or they wear out. The start-stop, short trip, cold-hot stop duty cycle is not conducive to long life. IF they are properly serviced, they will last almost as long as a gasoline engine in this service. NOT LONGER. With 240K km, I would expect cylinder wear of 0.008" or more---at max service limits needing reboring with new pistons, rings, etc.
Generally, engines run on LPG don't wear out unless run at high power, high speed , which does 'burn away' cylinder walls and piston top rings. LPG does not have any cylinder lubricating properties. Unless the engines are designed to 'leak' a little oil past valve stem seals and oil control rings on the pistons, the cylinder walls can wear from lack of lubrication. A borescope examination of the cylinder walls is needed to check for wear. In the 50's and 60's when farm equipment was converted from gasoline to LPG, a system known as 'Inverse Oiler' was developed to feed Marvel Mystery Oil into the engine as a top cylinder lubricant with excellent results. Engines never wore out with it. As engine load increased (manifold vacuum decreased), the device fed more top cylinder lubricant--hence the 'inverse' oiler.
Generally, engines run on LPG don't wear out unless run at high power, high speed , which does 'burn away' cylinder walls and piston top rings. LPG does not have any cylinder lubricating properties. Unless the engines are designed to 'leak' a little oil past valve stem seals and oil control rings on the pistons, the cylinder walls can wear from lack of lubrication. A borescope examination of the cylinder walls is needed to check for wear. In the 50's and 60's when farm equipment was converted from gasoline to LPG, a system known as 'Inverse Oiler' was developed to feed Marvel Mystery Oil into the engine as a top cylinder lubricant with excellent results. Engines never wore out with it. As engine load increased (manifold vacuum decreased), the device fed more top cylinder lubricant--hence the 'inverse' oiler.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
W202 C200
You should run a COLD COMPRESSION TEST on the CDI to check engine condition. Low compression means worn-out, needs rebuilding. Automotive Diesels MUST have more frequent oil changes with proper oil or they wear out. The start-stop, short trip, cold-hot stop duty cycle is not conducive to long life. IF they are properly serviced, they will last almost as long as a gasoline engine in this service. NOT LONGER. With 240K km, I would expect cylinder wear of 0.008" or more---at max service limits needing reboring with new pistons, rings, etc.
Generally, engines run on LPG don't wear out unless run at high power, high speed , which does 'burn away' cylinder walls and piston top rings. LPG does not have any cylinder lubricating properties. Unless the engines are designed to 'leak' a little oil past valve stem seals and oil control rings on the pistons, the cylinder walls can wear from lack of lubrication. A borescope examination of the cylinder walls is needed to check for wear. In the 50's and 60's when farm equipment was converted from gasoline to LPG, a system known as 'Inverse Oiler' was developed to feed Marvel Mystery Oil into the engine as a top cylinder lubricant with excellent results. Engines never wore out with it. As engine load increased (manifold vacuum decreased), the device fed more top cylinder lubricant--hence the 'inverse' oiler.
Generally, engines run on LPG don't wear out unless run at high power, high speed , which does 'burn away' cylinder walls and piston top rings. LPG does not have any cylinder lubricating properties. Unless the engines are designed to 'leak' a little oil past valve stem seals and oil control rings on the pistons, the cylinder walls can wear from lack of lubrication. A borescope examination of the cylinder walls is needed to check for wear. In the 50's and 60's when farm equipment was converted from gasoline to LPG, a system known as 'Inverse Oiler' was developed to feed Marvel Mystery Oil into the engine as a top cylinder lubricant with excellent results. Engines never wore out with it. As engine load increased (manifold vacuum decreased), the device fed more top cylinder lubricant--hence the 'inverse' oiler.
