10/20/2008, 6:23 PM
Diesel
Feeling blue: Mercedes’ BlueTEC clean diesel offerings need a little extra attention
Several European automakers – including Mercedes-Benz — are banking that U.S. consumers can see past the 1970s stereotypes of diesel engines and see them for the clean, reliable and fuel-efficient powerplants that they are. But while diesel engines do present several advantages over their gasoline counterparts, consumers still have plenty to be wary about.
While some U.S. clean diesels – such as Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI – rely on a downstream NOx trap to earn their 50-state legal certification, most will use urea injection to pass stringent U.S. diesel requirements. Mercedes-Benz employs such a system on its three U.S. diesel offerings – the ML320, R320 and GL320 – but consumers may have to alter their maintenance schedules to keep their clean diesels running.
According to Automotive News, Mercedes’ family of diesel vehicles must return to a Mercedes dealership every 10,000 miles in order to maintain the proper level of urea fluid — AdBlue in Mercedes-talk. If the AdBlue solution falls below a critical point, the car’s onboard computer will prevent the vehicle from starting, leaving the driver stranded.
Drivers will be warned via a dashboard indicator once the AdBlue level hits one gallon, but if the warnings are ignored, the vehicle will be rendered useless. “It will count down, and if you ignore all those warnings, then it won’t start,” Dan Barile, a Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman, told Automotive News.
Moreover, filling the tank with water in a pinch won’t help the situation. The car’s urea system can detect when the real thing isn’t being used, and still won’t start. And if the level gets to the critical point where the vehicle won’t start, a full two gallons is required to reset the system.
But with 7-gallon urea tanks – 8.5 gallons in the R 320 – drivers should be covered for at least 10,000 miles. However, AdBlue is still rather costly – about the same per gallon as diesel – but shouldn’t really be a concern to anyone shopping the Mercedes brand.
So while clean diesels aren’t exactly as maintenance free as gas engines, they don’t beg for attention either. And with fuel economy improvements in the 20 to 30 percent range, we’re sure buyers can get over the maintenance schedule – granted they can also get past the diesel’s dated stereotype.
10/20, 7:02 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I don’t see how this is relevant to Mercedes Diesels needing a little bit more attention… this article us just recycled info. on the AdBlue system.
10/20, 7:04 PM
posted by:
A4
its only the price of a gallon of diesel? i thought it wouldve been alot more than that… thats good to hear
10/20, 8:07 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
You vill fill it… and you vill like it!
10/20, 8:31 PM
posted by:
autonut
Johnny, that is if flomax works for you, it does not work for everyone. Filling the tank with urea is less pleasant then sex, even after 50. At least south of your border it is.
10/20, 8:36 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
autonut, I prefer Liquid Plumber. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a foaming pipe snake in action.
10/20, 8:37 PM
posted by:
sudo95
if I ran out of urea and was stranded, adding water is the last thing I was thinking of.
Not to be too crude but why can’t you pee in the tank???
Not the gas tank…
We need more diesels over here.
10/20, 8:50 PM
posted by:
autonut
Johnny, I even afraid to ask what do you with it, I hope you don’t substitute it for scotch.
10/20, 8:56 PM
posted by:
DrFill
From the OBTW file:
The new BlueTec ML was defeated by the RX400h (in it’s last year of production) in a direct comparison by Inside Line
The Lexus was 10% cheaper, 15% faster, and 10% more efficient (even though Lexus was going for perfromance with the 400h)
Looks like BlueTecs will have more problems than a weak bladder.
DrFill
10/21, 9:46 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Since when are gas engines maintenance free?
The writer failed to mention the lower maintenance aspects of diesels, such as no ignition system to maintain (no spark plugs, no plug wires, no coils, etc.), no tune-ups, etc. The article also fails to mention the better longevity and durability of diesels versus gas engines.
Filling a urea tank every 10k miles is hardly a big deal. It’s easier than washing the car. If people can’t handle that, they’ve got serious problems.
10/21, 9:53 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Dr. Fill - Inside Line failed to mention towing ability as a criteria. Many SUV buyers tow. Those who don’t should probably be purchasing cars anyway.
Simply put, the RX400h can’t tow much of anything, while a diesel ML can tow quite a lot. Depends on your driving too - if you drive mostly highway, you’ll be better served with a diesel than a hybrid. The hybrids only significant fuel efficiency advantage is in the city cycle.
10/21, 10:05 AM
posted by:
DrFill
Fair point
The ML is a better tow vehicle
But the RX carries more, with 15% better cargo capacity
So utility is a push
Looks like Mercedes is swinging at a moving target, as the next RX Hybrid will become MUCH more powerful.
DrFill
10/21, 10:13 AM
posted by:
928dreamer
I don’t see how filling the urea tank could possibly be a big deal. If this tech takes off I am sure there will be readily available urea preperations at auto parts stores. Would this really be more complicated than filling your windshield washer fluid?
10/21, 11:12 AM
posted by:
NismoSentraKen
=========>>928dreamer, u have a good point. Btw, where is the filler located on these cars? underhood?