PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

tenknots · #3 04-08-2005, 02:53 PM

No worries, it'll be fine. My commute is 65 miles each way and about 20-30 minutes out of the 1.5 hrs is stop and go. Once you get the read of the traffic, you'll be able to adapt to it.

If you know the traffic is going to crawl at no more than 10 mph, leave the shifter in L so the trans can't shift. Too many harsh 1-2 shifts is not good. Saves wear on your brakes too. If the speeds are over 10, your only choice is S, which keeps the trans from going into 4th. I use it if I'm going to be going less than 25 or so. Coasting downhill in neutral is good if you can. My feeling is that most of the wear on a transmission is during shifting and I try to keep it to a minimum. Hans has nearly 180K on the orig trans. and it's doing OK.

I've had no problems with idle time, but then again, I'm nearly always moving, if slowly. If it's an accident and I'm not moving, I shut off the engine. Diesels do burn much less fuel at idle than gassers.

Make sure your belts and hoses are OK, you have new coolant and maybe replace the t-stat. Tint the windows if your state allows (unlike &%#@* Maryland)

My AC works OK at idle, but not great. I think it's because the recirc doesn't work. My wife's AC blows ice cubes at idle. Keep R-12 if you have it - it works much better in marginal conditions. Make sure your fan clutch works as well as your aux fan. Clean and flush your radiator inside and out. It may need to be replaced if it won't keep the eingine cool.

Remember, these cars are almost bullet-proof, this kind of driving is a piece of cake for your car - but not for you. Get XM radio for something to do besides listening to the news/weather/traffic. Relax. There is nothing you can do about traffic, don't get excited or frustrated. Let people in, wave when they let you in. Smile. Give yourself enough time so that you're not in a hurry like 95% of the other commuters and you can begin to enjoy riding in a superior vehicle, smug in the knowledge that you're getting better fuel economy in the traffic jam than that POS rice-burner.