1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

Sedan 6 trims listed ← 1997 1999 →

Fuel tank capacity

18.5–21.1gal · 70–80 L

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a fuel tank capacity of 18.5 to 21.1 gallons (70–80 liters), depending on the trim. The most common size is 21.1 gallons, used on 4 trims.

A full tank is good for roughly 463–654 highway miles or 333–485 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

21.1 gal · Bigger than 74% of 1998 models we list.

Highway range
463–654 mi
City range
333–485 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
20–26 MPG
EPA size class
Midsize Cars

1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Powertrain
Drive
no difference
Engine

All 6 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank Fuel MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
E320 4MATIC 4dr Wagon AWD 3.2L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Regular 3.2L 6cyl 5A AWD 18.5 gal70 L Regular Not rated Not rated
E320 4dr Wagon 3.2L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 18 / 25Range 333 / 463 mi 3.2L 6cyl 5A RWD 18.5 gal70 L Regular 18 / 25 333 / 463 mi
E300TD Turbodiesel 4dr Sedan 3.0L 6cyl diesel 5A · RWD · Diesel Diesel MPG 23 / 31Range 485 / 654 mi 3.0L 6cyl diesel 5A Diesel RWD 21.1 gal80 L Diesel 23 / 31 485 / 654 mi
E320 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD 3.2L 6cyl 5A · AWD · Regular 3.2L 6cyl 5A AWD 21.1 gal80 L Regular Not rated Not rated
E320 4dr Sedan 3.2L 6cyl 5A · RWD · Regular MPG 18 / 24Range 380 / 506 mi 3.2L 6cyl 5A RWD 21.1 gal80 L Regular 18 / 24 380 / 506 mi
E430 4dr Sedan 4.3L 8cyl 5A · RWD · Regular 4.3L 8cyl 5A RWD 21.1 gal80 L Regular Not rated Not rated

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.Trims marked "Not rated" have no published EPA rating.

How far a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 26 MPG, a full 21.1-gallon tank covers about 549 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full21.1654485
3/415.8491364
1/210.6327243
1/45.3164121
1/82.68261

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 577 gallons, roughly 27 full tanks.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
20–26 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
392–444 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

$90.10 to fill the 21.1-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
18.5 galRegular$4.27$78.99$59.25
21.1 galRegular$4.27$90.10$67.57
21.1 galDiesel$6.35$133.99$100.49

By region, 21.1-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$84.82
Midwest$4.27$90.10
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$78.07
Rocky Mountain$4.46$94.11
West Coast$5.42$114.36
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$124.28

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 18.5-gallon tank$78.99
  • 21.1-gallon tank$90.10
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$2,463

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

E-Class tank size in other years

The tank changed for 1998: 18.5–21.1 gal, down from 21.1 gal on the 1997 E-Class.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2003 E-Class 18.5–20.6 gal 494 mi
2002 E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 549 mi
2001 E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 549 mi
2000 E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 570 mi
1999 E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 675 mi
1998 E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 654 mi
1997 E-Class 21.1 gal 633 mi
1996 E-Class 17.2–21.1 gal 550 mi
1995 E-Class 18.5–23.8 gal 690 mi
1994 E-Class 18.5–23.8 gal 428 mi
Mercedes-Benz E-Class fuel tank by model yearSmallest tank Larger tank options

1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs similar 1998 sedans

The E-Class has the largest tank of the six 1998 sedans compared here, 21.1 gallons against 19.8 for the Lexus GS 300.

1998 modelTankLongest highway range
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 18.5–21.1 gal 654 mi
Lexus GS 300 19.8 gal 455 mi
Audi A6 18.5 gal 463 mi
INFINITI I30 18.5 gal 463 mi
Acura RL 18.0 gal 414 mi
Cadillac Catera 18.0 gal 396 mi

Other 1998 sedans of a similar size, one model per brand.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds between 18.5 and 21.1 gallons, depending on the trim. 21.1 gallons is the usual size; the smaller 18.5-gallon tank is on the E320 4MATIC 4dr Wagon AWD.

How many gallons and liters does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class gas tank hold?

The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tank holds 70–80 liters, or 18.5–21.1 gallons in US gallons.

Which 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the biggest gas tank?

The 21.1-gallon tank is on the E300TD Turbodiesel 4dr Sedan, E320 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD, E320 4dr Sedan and 1 other trim. The smallest tank, 18.5 gallons, is on the E320 4MATIC 4dr Wagon AWD.

Does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class tank change with the powertrain?

Yes. Gas: 18.5–21.1 gal; Diesel: 21.1 gal.

Does AWD change the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class gas tank?

No. RWD and AWD versions of the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class use the same 18.5–21.1 gal tank.

How far can a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class go on a full tank?

About 463–654 miles on the highway and 333–485 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class go on a quarter tank?

About 164 highway miles or 121 in town from the 21.1-gallon tank, which has roughly 5.3 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

What gas does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class take?

Regular unleaded, or Diesel fuel, depending on the engine. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 21.1-gallon tank from empty costs $90.10. It ranges from $78.07 in the Gulf Coast to $124.28 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

About 148 pounds for the 21.1-gallon tank. Diesel weighs roughly 7 pounds a gallon.

Does the 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have a bigger gas tank than the Lexus GS 300?

Yes. The 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds up to 21.1 gallons; the 1998 Lexus GS 300 holds up to 19.8.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 1998 Mercedes-Benz models