Forgot to turn off my car....12hrs later... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ya Mar · #1 05-17-2011, 03:35 PM

Hello All,

This winter the battery died on my w123 so I jump started it and left it running and went inside.

Completely forgot about it. Went out to the barn the next day and found the car still running smoothly as could be. No overheating or anything!

I think that's the longest my engine has ever been run!

Now I have the confidence to take the car on a longer road trip!

Stretch · #2 05-17-2011, 03:38 PM

Nice - how many gallons did you burn during that time?

Ya Mar · #3 05-17-2011, 03:52 PM

i have no idea! honestly, I don't think it burned that much gas. the tank wasn't below 1/2.

kerry · #4 05-17-2011, 04:17 PM

Probably better for the engine that it not burn any gas

kerry · #5 05-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Sounds similar to the thread that someone posted where they flew out of town and left the car running in the parking lot, which it did for several days before the cops turned it off.

tomscat1 · #6 05-17-2011, 04:26 PM

I had a different issue a few years ago.... my 1975 W115 300D has a vacuum issue particularly with the injection pump... which means I have to manually shut it off each time I drive it. Attendees of the Rhode Island Chowdah Q can verify this, as it has helped me earn the Jalopy Award at the picnic on two occasions. A Dubious Distinction, perhaps, but .... a Distinction nonetheless.

Anyway, a few years ago when the problem first began, I arrived at work one day at 7:30am, as usual. I would normally shut the key off, exit the car, and head into the office, ----engine still chugging along---- and by the time I reached the building 20 steps away, the engine would shut down by itself.

One morning, my secretary arrived about 9am, and, upon seeing me, asked if I was going to a meeting that morning. I responded "No.... why do you ask?"

"Well, she said, "I was just wondering why your car was running outside!"

One and one-half hours running while the key was off and in my pocket!

You can't kill these things!

I do have a spare shut-off valve, btw, but I just haven't gotten around to replacing it. I plan to do so as part of the rebuild/restore project that I am about to begin.

Even though it may mean the end of my string of Jalopy Awards!

Jeremy5848 · #7 05-17-2011, 04:35 PM

It has been said here that residents of Upper Snow Country sometimes leave their diesels idling in parking lots when they work at places where plug-ins are not available for the block heater. It's the only way to have a drivable car at the end of your shift.

As far as fuel usage goes, we have a ScanGauge on our '96 E300D (W210, OM606). In addition to scanning for and resetting codes, the readout can display many different kinds of engine parameters including fuel consumption. At idle, the normally aspirated OM606 burns about 1 US quart (~ 1 liter) of diesel per hour. That's probably a good guesstimate for any recent Mercedes diesel car engine.

Jeremy

sjh · #8 05-17-2011, 05:18 PM

When we lived north of the 45th parallel in Michigan and the block heater wasn't installed the 300D NA would run all night. Hardly any fuel (I've been known to slip and call it gas) would be gone the next morning.

Jeremy's estimate sounds about right.

pawoSD · #9 05-17-2011, 09:02 PM

What is it with all the diesel owners accidentally leaving their cars running?

1qt per hour.....massively more efficient than a gasser.....they chug gas at idle.

Skippy · #10 05-17-2011, 09:28 PM

I was driving my 240D to Atlanta last year when the starter began giving me problems in Oklahoma. My temporary solution was to disconnect the shutoff actuator so that I could start the car once in the morning and then lock it up while still running when I stopped for meals and such. This way it ran about 11 hours a day until I got it to my dad's house and got a replacement starter.

layback40 · #11 05-17-2011, 10:24 PM

We regularly make 18 hr trips north of here. The car is always left running, even when refueling. I have been caught too many times with a no start after a refuel a 1000 miles from home. Leaving it idling for hours isnt the greatest. I hope it got an Italian tune after.

1980sd · #12 05-17-2011, 10:55 PM

Not you, your car. You fail...

12 hours without a hitch!

kerry · #13 05-17-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

We regularly make 18 hr trips north of here. The car is always left running, even when refueling. I have been caught too many times with a no start after a refuel a 1000 miles from home. Leaving it idling for hours isnt the greatest. I hope it got an Italian tune after.

I do the same thing on road trips.

Palangi · #14 05-17-2011, 11:29 PM

Years ago when I lived in Michigan, I knew an old farmer with a 190Dc. (This was back in the days of 30 weight oil). He would start the car in December and let it run until March. He said it used about a gallon a day idling. He was using untaxed farm tractor fuel, so, probably about a dollar a week for fuel.

pawoSD · #15 05-17-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

We regularly make 18 hr trips north of here. The car is always left running, even when refueling. I have been caught too many times with a no start after a refuel a 1000 miles from home. Leaving it idling for hours isnt the greatest. I hope it got an Italian tune after.

Why would you be caught so many times with a no-start? Sounds like you need to spend a bit more on battery/starter maintenance!