Approximate MPG of a 420SE?

[420SE]

Now, either my calculations are rubbish (quite possible ), or my 4.2litre V8 is quite thirsty. I am getting around 50 miles for a £10 worth of petrol on the damn thing, which I think is around 15mpg!

And this is driving very very gently, around town.

Is it supposed to be as bad as this or is this the norm for a 420 SE?

 

[KLP 92]

Now, either my calculations are rubbish (quite possible ), or my 4.2litre V8 is quite thirsty. I am getting around 50 miles for a £10 worth of petrol on the damn thing, which I think is around 15mpg!

And this is driving very very gently, around town.

Is it supposed to be as bad as this or is this the norm for a 420 SE?

The old school V8 were very heavy on fuel. Sounds about right, i had a 500 SEL which gave 42 miles to £10! You have to bear in mind the size/weight of the car as well!

 

[andy_k]

I can't believe anybody has bought a 4.2 litre car and is worrying about fuel consumption

surely it's going to depend on how you are driving - around town I'd calss that as more than reasonable but for a constant 56 mph on a flat road I'd say it was a bit low.

My old SD1 Vitesse (3500 V8) used to turn in around 10 mpg when it was driven "enthusiastically"

Andy

 

[KLP 92]

When i drive the E55 hard i struggle to get 30-40 miles for £10!
You're right, these cars aren't designed for people who worry about petrol bills.

 

[420SE]

thanks folks

well the 420 has its advantages. low on insurance, high on reliability and is just a lovely car all round. i love mine

i cant say i am that concerned, i was just curious more than anything. and for a 15 yr old car its actually quite nippy if you weld your foot to teh floor (but it doesnt like cornering much i can tell you! )

speaking of my 420, time to go and give it a hand wash and wax methinks!

 

[fwb44]

I can't believe anybody has bought a 4.2 litre car and is worrying about fuel consumption

surely it's going to depend on how you are driving - around town I'd calss that as more than reasonable but for a constant 56 mph on a flat road I'd say it was a bit low.

My old SD1 Vitesse (3500 V8) used to turn in around 10 mpg when it was driven "enthusiastically"

Andy

I used to get about 22 m.p.g. out of my 1979 3500 SDI if I nursed it a bit - also about 20 m.p.g. out of a 500 SEL of about the same vintage that I drove in those days. 15 m.p.g. does sound on the low side for a 420 - what sort of driving do you do? Cold starts & short runs will always clobber the fuel consumption. Also I'd check the usual things - air & fuel filters, MAF sensor, emissions for fuel injection settings - you might be able to tweak another 4-5 m.p.g. out of it which might make all the psychological difference!

 

[420SE]

I go to the gym, to the station, nip to the shops, so small runs of about 10 miles per go

whats the MAF sensor and how do icheck the fuel injection settings?

 

[LazyBob]

I get about 15-20mpg with my 420, but like everyone says, if you're worried about fuel consumption don't buy a two ton car with an engine as large as a Fiat Cinqecento.

I had a Mitsubishi Evo VI that never bettered 16mpg and would, with spirited driving i.e. end to end of the M40 in 40 minutes, drop to about 8 mpg. Ah...the joys of forced induction.

Fossil fuels are apparently the cause of everything evil in todays society so we should all be doing our best to use them up as quickly as possible so we don't leave such a terrible burden for our children to sort out.

 

[Subyland]

Now, either my calculations are rubbish (quite possible ), or my 4.2litre V8 is quite thirsty. I am getting around 50 miles for a £10 worth of petrol on the damn thing, which I think is around 15mpg!

And this is driving very very gently, around town.

Is it supposed to be as bad as this or is this the norm for a 420 SE?

You shouldn't complain too much. I am getting also 15mpg out of my 3.9 Range Rover and driving sedatly that is...

 

[andy_k]

You shouldn't complain too much. I am getting also 15mpg out of my 3.9 Range Rover and driving sedatly that is...

tee hee - I had an older Range Rover which started life as a 3.5 and ended up as a 4.2 with all sorts of engine tweaks and a huge Holley carb that never managed to get out of single figures

Was rather rapid though - between visits to the fuel station

Some cars just need enjoying - maybe they should sell them without a fuel guage - just a bleep when you get down to the reserve

Andy

 

[fwb44]

I go to the gym, to the station, nip to the shops, so small runs of about 10 miles per go

whats the MAF sensor and how do icheck the fuel injection settings?

Mass Air Flow sensor, also known as the air mass meter. Have your friendly local indy hook your car up to his diagnostic equipment to check state of injection system

 

[mark.t]

Now, either my calculations are rubbish (quite possible ), or my 4.2litre V8 is quite thirsty. I am getting around 50 miles for a £10 worth of petrol on the damn thing, which I think is around 15mpg!

And this is driving very very gently, around town.

Is it supposed to be as bad as this or is this the norm for a 420 SE?

Obviously before you purchased the car you did your home work and checked it out. what kind of MPG where you expecting...did you enquire or even research it this seams about normal having had a 2.5 auto Volvo which drank petrol like a well oiled alcoholic. ....I really fail to see what difference an extra mpg will mean if you have to drive like a nun everywhere..even when you have it all checked out which will cost you as well....you could buy a small Diesel for running around in and leave the 420 for long runs....

anyway just off to fill the old oil burning tank before a trip to blackpool just done 495 miles on just more than 3/4 tank with a heavy right foot the joys of motoring

 

[janner]

My boat does 1.8mpg, if that makes you feel better.

 

[guydewdney]

20 - 22 mpg (22 if i use super unleaded)

400 miles from a tank = 60-70 quid fill up

mpg = miles driven x 4.54 / litres

so 400 x 4.54 / 80 = 22.7mpg
or in your case = 50miles x 4.54 / 12.5litres = 18.16mpg (assuming 80p / litre)

 

[Will]

Agree with what has been said here - 15+MPG sounds good for 'round town' driving in a 4.2L heavy car running old technology!

Can sympathise with Andy too - Range Rovers are thirsty beasts, and so were the SD1 Vitesses. I remember my old SD1 Twin Plenum running down into single figures with a heavy right foot!

Must add though that I am not overly impressed with my C230K for its thirst for fuel. Seem to be getting about 210 miles to a tankful (£50+ odd) and the last time I checked it was around 16MPG!

Finally - I think that Lexus deserve a bit of credit. My LS400 (4.0 Litre V8, 32-Valves, Quad Cams) was an impressive engine. Virtually silent, smooth and powerful, but would return high 20s on a run and around town was probably as good as the C230K.

Oh well....

Will

 

[420SE]

well if thats what its supposed to be, then im happy!

i didnt expect miracles, as after all it is a car thats 15 yrs old and was designed around 4-5 yrs previously to that, so a 20yr old 4.2 litre engine.........

 

[Pringles]

My E36 AMG needs re -filling about every 250 miles and I get around 21 mpg , a bit more on a longer run. I am not too bothered about about mpg but I wish the car had the optional 90 litre tank instead of the standard 70 as I hate stopping for petrol !

 

[Howard]

Slightly OT - but i love your home theatre speakers 420SE

are you the uk dealers then for these subs etc ? are they any good ?

 

[420SE]

Slightly OT - but i love your home theatre speakers 420SE

Why thank you Mr H

They arent actually home theatre speakers, they are designed and hand built exclusively for the car environment. As for them being any good, you're welcome to a listen.

Slightly OT, I must admit, but these piccies dont do the Stereo Integrity Magnum any justice. The piccies on teh website aren't the clearest

http://www.gezzza.dsl.pipex.com/WTF.htm

I just want to do a proper install now.......but must learn how to take the damn Benz apart