Dave M. wrote:
I have a few of each (see signature), and I much prefer the diesels,
assuming
we're talking OM60x diesel engines compared to M10x/M11x gassers (late
80's,
early 90's). My 300E has odd intermittent running problems (idle
misfire, hard
starting, etc) that are nearly impossible to diagnose without throwing
$$$$ at
replacing parts via 'shotgun' method (assuming you don't have a
warehouse full
of OE dealer diagnostic tools). There are forum threads out there with
people
trying to track down M103 idle problems, who just about went berserk and
eventually gave up.
The gassers are nice when they run right, when they don't, they're a
major PITA.
I'm pretty sure over the long term, the diesel will be cheaper for both
maintenance and operating costs.
The bottom end of Mercedes engines (diesel and gasoline) are very robust
and both can last a VERY long time, but the top end of the gassers can
rarely go more than 200-250kmi before they need to be reworked. Then
there's trhe maintenance of the ignition and emissions systems on a
gasser that IS expensive (the newest diesels MAY require much more
maintenance than we are used to).
As far as the bottom end goes, most gassers WILL wear faster because
excess gasoline washes away any oil film and increases cylinder
wall/ring wear, while diesel fuel (even in tiny quantities present in an
indirect injection diesel) doesn't wash the cylinder wall down like
gasoline and might even provide a little lubrication! A well maintained
Mercedes gasser that hasn't been abused (oil is changed BEFORE it's
dirty) may still have factory markings on the cylinder wall after 500kmi
and diesels commonly do! Many gas engines do wear out, few diesels do -
they usually break!
Marshall
--
Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions)
"der Dieseling Doktor" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
'87 300TD 181Kmi,'87 190D 2.5 199Kmi, '84 190D 2.2 227Kmi, '85 190D 2.0
159Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 234kmi
Diesel Technical Advisor MBCA, member GWSection
http://www.dhc.net/~pmhack/mercedes/mbooth1.htm
