Merc Mods

[rfdesigner]

Hi, I'm new here but I've lurked for quite a while

I'm running a 2001 E-class merc estate with the 3.2l diesel engine.

I'm getting about 42mpg imperial (that's 35mpg U.S.gal) but as ever, I want more.. I do 20k miles per annum and with fuel at £1.20 per litre I'm paying £3k a year on fuel, mostly in road fuel tax.

Now I've already done quite a bit of research on my vehicle type and it seems that the torque converter lockup doesn't quite lock hard, it locks to about 5% slip at most, and the control of it is electronic. Trouble is, it doesn't engage until 2000rpm. It's only happy with up to 1/4 trottle but as torque is 480Nm max a quarter of that is still plenty.

Now because it's such a big engine (compared to most in the UK) it means it doesn't achieve lock until 70mph, which means I'd have to break the speed limit to achieve lock on country roads... and anyway I'd like to slow down a bit on the motorway (freeway)

So... I'm looking to override the TC control line... as I work in electronics R&D.. (I'm a prinicple enginner) I'll have no problems bunging a PIC in and getting it to activate the TC line at appropriate throttle levels/revs to make sure I don't break it.

However before I start pulling the car to bits.. I thought I'd ask if anyone here has played games with any of the Merc common rail diesels.

thanks in advance

Derek