anomalys in owners manual ?

[lurtch]

Hello All - - - Two years after beginning my 230SL restoration I decided I might as well go ahead and get the reproduction version of the owners manual.

After carefully reading through it, three things seem to be out of kilter:

#1  - -  "Average fuel consumption approximately 23.5 - 13 m.p. US Gal."

#2  - -  "Average oil consumption - approximately  2.6 - 4.2  US qts. per 1,000 miles."

#3   - - "Due to the compression ratio, the engine requires "ethyl" or premium fuel to
operate "knock"-free.  The octane rating should be minimum of 96, based on the RON method."

   
Questions arise - -  

Do any of us EVER get gas mileage approaching 20 mpg?

The high end of the oil consumption range  would mean we need to add one quart of oil every fill-up?  Does this seem correct to you long-time owners?

How many of us are actually burning premium grade gasoline? Isn't mid-grade good enough?

Comments ?   - -  anyone?


Regards, Larry in CA

[J. Huber]

Hey Lurtch. I recall discussions about this stated amount of oil consumption. The amount struck everyone as high but I believe we agreed it was the maximum end of allowable usage.

Personally, these are my answers to your questions:
1. My car gets an average of about 16. However, if I do a straight shot of highway driving, I have eclipsed 20 easily.
2. I have to add a 1/2 a quart of oil about every 1000 miles (I think).
3. I have always used the highest octane I can find in California (almost always 91).



James
63 230SL

[rwmastel]

Do a Search on fuel milage, gas milage, oil consumption, and the like.  You'll get lots of hits and have lots of reading.

- I get about 16mpg (US) in mixed driving.  I've never measured highway-only fuel milage.
- I do add a quart every other fill-up, but my engine is a high-milage non-restored engine with low compression and high oil consumption.
- I use premium, 91 to 93 depending on brand.  Remember, your owners manual states RON method.  Here in the US we measure by (RON+MON)/2.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Jonny B]

Just to add some further data.

Mileage 15-16
Oil - ~1 qt in 1000 miles
Always use premium unleaded.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Cees Klumper]

Gas mileage varies significantly between city and highway, and then again (city or highway) depending on speed driven. My average is 16 MPG but I would fully expect to be able to get 20 if I would drive on the highway at a steady 55 MPH.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Ed Cave]

I always use the highest octane available at the pump typically referred to as "premium" and generally fill up at either BP, Chevron or Shell. I've recently calculated consumption with mixed driving conditions at about 14.8 mpg. I've driven my car just over 1,000 miles since completion of the restoration and it has consumed approx. 1 to 1 1/2 quarts of oil.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA


1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0
2006 GS430