How much HP do our cars lose over the years?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mike690003 · #1 07-01-2003, 09:21 PM

Hello Board,

I was thinking, since cars tend to lose power over the years. How much HP does an average car lose over the years?Is the HP loss a great amount??

For example: My car ia a 1987 300E with 145,000 miles on it, the stock HP was 177. The car is now 16 years old. How much HP do you guys think my car is putting out now??

Larry Delor · #2 07-02-2003, 12:16 AM

Hard to say....I would think it would be dependant on how good your compression still is.

mike690003 · #3 07-02-2003, 01:04 AM

My car's compression was tested 2 weeks ago. The mechanic said my compression was great! I forgot the exact psi reading, but he has a 300E and he said my compression was a lot better than his own.
Is my HP still up to par??

#4 07-02-2003, 01:47 AM

I always thought cars got faster once they were really broken in. A lot of times the 0-60 speed times improve in the Car and Driver long term road tests.

Maybe there's a point where they reach their "sweet spot" and then decline after that.

The Warden · #5 07-02-2003, 02:29 AM

I would think that, as long as the fuel system, the intake system, and the exhaust system were kept optimal (oh yeah, also the ignition system on them g@$$er thingies

), as long as the compression was good, you wouldn't lose any power.

But, those things have to stay happy...keep restrictions out of the intake system, keep the fuel system clean (clean/replace injectors, etc), and make sure that the muffler isn't getting clogged up (probably not a problem on a g@$$er, but you can get soot clogging a muffler up on a diesel). Other than changing spark plugs and wires, I don't know how to maintain an ignition system...to me, the only electrical parts are glow plugs and the alternator.

Just my $.02...it is also my belief that, if the compression's happy, an engine can be made to run as it's supposed to. This is in repsonse to some idiot who tried to tell me once that my '65 straight-6 would never again run like new, even though it had less than 60K miles on it...

super SEC · #6 07-02-2003, 11:25 AM

Mine picked-up around 150 hp since it was manufactured. I think it is the K&N air filter..............attached to the supercharger!

blackmercedes · #7 07-02-2003, 12:33 PM

Our 1995 C36 had about 100K-miles on 'er when we took it to the drag strip. We managed to duplicate, and even beat, magazine test numbers. Now, there are some variables including track surface, etc. However, the car was pulling close to 100mph flat in the quarter, which would indicate that the engine was making at least all of the 268 factory-equipped ponies it was born with. Probably a few more, as the engine was nicely broken in, but not worn-out.

mike690003 · #8 07-02-2003, 02:24 PM

Well what about carbon build up that is in the older engines, does that affect performance?

blackmercedes · #9 07-02-2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike690003
Well what about carbon build up that is in the older engines, does that affect performance?

Haven't seen much of that in any MB engine I've owned. Did some top end work on the 16V at about 350K and it was pretty much carbon free. Use good gas with a good additive package and change your fluids and filters often, and make sure you don't take really short trips, and you should remain carbon free.

william rogers · #10 07-03-2003, 02:09 AM

they do up,stay that way for a while then go down just like life..........
William Rogers......

Eberhard Weilke · #11 07-10-2003, 06:02 PM

My car was on the dyno with about 235 tkm and had actually 1 kW more than at the time it was manufactured.

With good maintenance a good engine will keep its power.

Kind regards
Eberhard

#12 07-10-2003, 06:48 PM

Keep in mind that the performance depends on "rear-wheel horsepower" of which can vary, car-to-car.

Eberhard Weilke · #13 07-11-2003, 01:25 AM

Shure.

After the dyno-test they let the car spin on the roll. This way you can pretty much determin the lost of the the drivetrain.

Kind regards
Eberhard