[W126 Coupe] Economy gauge: 1990 560 SEC

[Andrew Sporner]

Oops I neglected to say that this is at the stoplight.

On Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 6:01 PM, Andrew Sporner <asporner at googlemail.com>wrote:


> Well I have a new Benz and I think the older method was better.

>

> In the new one (at least on my car) the consumption goes to maximum

> (20l/100km)

> and on the old car it really reflected what the engine was using at the

> time.  I would

> think they could have handled a "special case" so that the minimum fuel

> usage would

> be displayed.

>

>

> Andy

>

> On Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM, <FPecar4525 at aol.com> wrote:

>

>>  In a message dated 10/2/2009 5:49:18 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

>> rkhallberg at mindspring.com writes:

>>

>> Lou,

>>

>> Based on how the "Economy" gauge on my 91 560 SEC behaves, I believe it

>> is simply a manifold vacuum gauge.  If my assumption is correct, the

>> correlation with fuel economy is very crude and basically yields very

>> little past a bit of cockpit entertainment.  These cars, I think,

>> predate accurate/inexpensive fuel flowmeters used in many of current

>> vehicles to furnish data for the calculation and display of true fuel

>> economy.

>>

>> Running in 3rd gear, I think, would keep the engine in a sweeter spot of

>> the power curve, but would probably average out to be considerably less

>> economical than running in 4th gear and letting the transmission decide

>> when a downshift is needed.  These cars are designed for autobahn use

>> and tend to be a bit sluggish below somewhere around 80, at which point

>> they come alive and perform effortlessly.  My opinion is that they

>> primarily should be enjoyed, so, when in the hills, drive it in 3rd if

>> it makes you and the car feel better.

>>

>> Party On!

>>

>> Richard

>>

>>  *I agree with Richard*.  *In the "old" days I remember other

>> "efficiency/economy" gauges on other vehicles which were merely measurements

>> of vacuum at the manifold.  At the time, they were a new way of expressing

>> efficiency but once microcomputers began to be introduced into the

>> automotive world, went the way of "high button shoes and buggy whips".  That

>> said, I love looking at that gauge on my '89 560SEC and yes, sometimes I

>> actually alter my acceleration pattern based on what it tells me.*

>> **

>> *Frank Pecarich*

>> **

>> Frank Pecarich

>>

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>>

>

>

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