fuel and oil consumption

[Cees Klumper]

In km per liter: my fuel consumption (1969 280 SL) averages around 7 to 7,5. That is not too good, but I have heard most owners quote just about the same. Cars in those days consumed a lot of fuel. Then, from earlier posts on the Yahoo! group, there have been claims of much better (and sometimes worse) mileage.

With oil consumption, I average around 1 liter per thousand km. That is quite a bit too, but I know my engine needs to be rebuilt. Upon deceleration, there usually is a puff of blue smoke. And if I don't clean the car for a long time, the right rear literally gets smudgy. Then, again from earlier posts on Yahoo!, there have been claims of no or almost no oil consumption.

So the actual experience is quite varied. After my engine rebuild, I am hoping for fuel consumption of around 8 km per liter, and oil consumption of maybe .2 liter per 1000 km.

Cees, 1969 280 SL

[Douglas]

cees,

are you running on the original, unrestored motor? i'm curious about putting those numbers into perspective with your car's mileage, age, etc.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
#11304410018260

[Albert-230SL]

Because of the differences when filling the tank, to get an accurate result is necessary to examine the data during a long distance, or consider some consecutive full tanks.

Last september I went from Barcelona to Luxembourg for the Mercedes-Classic Days in my 230 SL, covering 2.848 km in 5 days (= 308,9 fuel liters and 2,85 oil liters), so the results should be accurate enough:

Average fuel consumption: 10,84 liters per 100 km (=9,23 km per liter)
Average oil consumption: 1 liter per 1000 km
Cruising speed on the highway: 110-130 km/h

During the trip, partial consumption readings went from 8,86 to 12,85 liters per 100 km., so you can see the big influence of the tank refueling in short distances.

Some relevant data:
Model: 230 SL manual 4 speed, 3/75 rear axle
Tyre size: Original (185 HR14)
Engine rebuilt (and adapted for unleaded fuel) just 3.700 km before the trip
Oil: Castrol 20w/50
Fuel: Unleaded 98


Regards,

Albert de la Torre Chavalera
Barcelona (Catalunya/Spain)
Feb.'64 230 SL Euro 113042-10-002432

[Cees Klumper]

Doug - the engine in my car is a sedan (280 SE) one, so it is definitely not the first. I also have no clue as to the true mileage on the car or on the engine.

[Peter van Es]

My car is a 1970 280SL, imported from the US with automatic.

I've been tracking fuel usage for quite a while now. Most of my trips are non-motorway, backroads, and town usage. I'm currently getting around 6.6 - 6.8 kilometers per liter -- fairly consistently. But that is for fairly shortish trips usually, around 30km each time, and very little motorway usage. I expect that on the motorway I'd be getting closer to Alberts average.

My car uses no oil (that is, it needs no top ups after yearly oil changes at all). I do around 2000-3000 km per year only though (so far) -- but I'd like to get that up to 5000km.

I use Super with lead replacement.

Peter

Check out http://bali.esweb.nl for photographs of classic car events and my 1970 280 SL

[Cees Klumper]

Peter - you don't need to put in fuel with lead substitute. This was the outcome of a lengthy discussion concerning leaded vs. unleaded fuel on Yahoo a year or so ago, and here's what Achim among others posted on this:

"In Germany leaded fuel was discontinued several years ago. Many owners of old cars  were concerned and asked [this question]. Mercedes-Benz released several public statements in journals, on request and in the shops. They all say the same. You can run the [W113] car without any substitute additives. Mercedes even warned of any additives. You shouldn't use anything (to "clean" the valves, etc.). However, Mercedes-Benz recommends to check the free play of the valves twice as often as the normal intervals mentioned in their original technical manuals (owner's manual, shop manual, tables manual) and to adjust it if necessary. There is no need to exchange the valve seats."

[n/a]

i have just rebuilt my engine (acc orginal specs) and carry out very short trips ~30KM daily. my fuel consumption is as follows: ~7.4km per litre.