From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-krusty-motorsports.com Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #79 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Wednesday, January 20 1999 Volume 01 : Number 079 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles John Meister Digest Coordinator Contents: cruise info Re: fritz update... most common sockets... Re: most common sockets... RE: Cruise control hysteresis fuel additives Re: fuel additives w123 Rear Shocks (little tech content) hrumph... & injector update. Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 19:56:00 -0800 From: john Subject: cruise info http://www.conninc.com/w123d/cruise.htm this guy has a pretty nice page, it's one of the first ones I found when I bought my 240d in 97... probably should invite him on the list or something... :) john ------------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com - http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john http://www.wagoneers.com/DieselBenz/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps and Diesel Benz' don't rust, they mold... ------------------------------------------------- http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ (81 300D) ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 19:49:24 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: fritz update... At 06:43 PM 1/18/99 -0600, M. Mason wrote: > >nice work john -- for the record, those with the older (and I think less >complicated) climate control console, it's easy to get that wooden panel >out for easy access to the fiberoptic... pull off the A/c thermostat knob >and i believe the knobs on either side too, and undo the hex nuts. pry >gently on either side and it pops out, revealing the guts of the switches >and fiberoptic on the dash. > >just realized i goofed and didn't send this to the list... would you >please forward? >>mjm >___________________________ >Matthew J. Mason >mmason-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu Mine has the push button setup... it pops right off as well. Got to get the different lamps in there... my dash dimmer doesn't dimmit so it's either on or off... :) john - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com http://www.wagoneers.com http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john http://www.wagoneers.com/book-info.html jesus, don't leave life without him, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 20:31:17 -0800 From: john Subject: most common sockets... sitting here waiting for my laptop to dial into my server I've been browsing that 123 site... I noticed the same thing I've noticed, ya only need a few wrenches... 13mm 10mm 17mm phillips screwdriver. :) big hammer... just kidding... what other sizes do you folks use a lot? - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com http://www.wagoneers.com http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john http://www.wagoneers.com/book-info.html jesus, don't leave life without him, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 00:36:19 -0600 (CST) From: "M. Mason" Subject: Re: most common sockets... On Mon, 18 Jan 1999, john wrote: > sitting here waiting for my laptop to dial into my server I've > been browsing that 123 site... I noticed the same thing I've noticed, > ya only need a few wrenches... > > 13mm > 10mm > 17mm > > phillips screwdriver. :) > big hammer... just kidding... > > what other sizes do you folks use a lot? I'm elbow-deep in an injector job today, so I've enjoyed my 19mm crow's foot with a short extension (1/2" drive, I believe) to get the injector pipe assembly off, a 27mm deep socket in conjunction with a breaker bar to remove the injectors themselves, and that ever-popular 13mm to remove the bracket which holds the throttle assembly to the block (the bracket blocks access to the #3 injector). The crow's foot looks like Pac-Man with a biq square hole in the back of his head. :) Crankin' right along on this, should have the four remanufactured injectors installed by afternoon tomorrow. (taking time off for class, of course!) This all refers to my 1980 240D. :) I think I'm finally going to break down and call her Robin. Long story. later --- mjm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 06:56:35 -0800 From: john Subject: RE: Cruise control hysteresis that's not a bad price considering the amount of time I spent just resoldering mine. :) do they have a website? john At 09:00 AM 1/19/99 -0500, David Masinick wrote: >In addition to George Murphy, who is listed in my previous post, I ran >across a company that does M-B component rebuilds and offers a three year >warranty on their work. Their name is CCI Uptime. >800-466-2241. I don't know is they normally deal with the end-user, or if >they usually deal with shops and parts dealers. >They quoted me $200 to rebuild my CC Amp. I have one of their rebuilt ACC >Pushbutton units that I bought from Impco, and it looked like brand new >(more importantly, works like it too). I found it odd that Impco's warranty >is two years on all parts, and they don't pass along the third year from >CCI. > >If anyone comes across a better price on a CC Amp rebuild, please advise. I >like my cruise control, but I can buy a lot of diapers for $200. > >Dave Masinick >Hopkinton, New Hampshire >'82 M-B 300D >'96 VW Passat Wagon > > > > - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com http://www.wagoneers.com http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john http://www.wagoneers.com/book-info.html jesus, don't leave life without him, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 14:02:04 -0500 From: "Evan Reisner" Subject: fuel additives Am relatively new to the diesel world. Looking for suggestions for fuel additives to improve low-temp flow characteristics, engine longevity, and (if it's possible) performance. I have been using STP diesel fuel conditioner, which is commonly available locally, but I don't know if it really accomplishes anything. I have studied Amsoil's and Red Line Oil's pages, but they only make me more confused than I was before. They each offer 3+ products. To me, the differentiation isn't clear, and neither site provides pricing info, so I can't estimate bang:buck ratio. Either way, I have to find someone to sell it to me. Or can I find something at the local truck stop that is equally as good? Evan '77 240D '80 Volvo Diesel and 6 gas-fired cars ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 15:27:31 -0600 From: "Jon Filina" Subject: Re: fuel additives Evan was asking: >Am relatively new to the diesel world. Welcome to the club! I have been driving diesels for almost 18 years now. On a couple of occasions I have tried going back to the "gas camp", but just couldn't do it... My diesels have been too reliable. The cars I'd test driven met my needs and had the toys my diesels('81 Rabbit, '90 Jetta) didn't have. At the end of the test drives, before I shut down the engine, I started to feel uneasy. After a minute or so I would realize that the diesel "cackle" was missing...then I'd remember that most of the engine problems I'd had with my gas cars were ignition related...then I'd say "Thanks, but no thanks" to the salesman and crank up my diesel. As I drove away, the salesman would be standing there with a confused look on his face. When I replaced the Jetta, I didn't even play the "gas" game. I test drove "Mathilde", an '81 240D, and proceeded to wear down the salesman over a month's period until we came to an agreement. >Looking for suggestions for fuel additives to improve low-temp flow >characteristics, engine longevity, and (if it's possible) performance. As for fuel additives. I'll add some fuel conditioner about once a month to clear out any moisture buildup in the tank. If the temperatures are supposed to hover around freezing or below, I'll do it when I fill up to prevent possible gelling of the fuel. This schedule is based on my driving 500+ miles a week. As to what I use. In a pinch, I'll use the STP diesel fuel conditioner. From what I've read, it's mostly kerosene. It does help, though. I prefer Berryman's fuel conditioner. It seems to work better. I haven't used the RedLine or Amsoil products, but would probably be switching to them if I didn't live here in Texas where it's not near as cold as it is north of the Red River. Also, when I replace my main fuel filter, I fill it with Diesel Purge, from LubroMoly. It shortens the time it takes to prime the system and cleans the injectors. Let me correct that...the first time I changed fuel filters on my 240D, I couldn't find Diesel Purge. I used Berryman's fuel conditioner instead. I didn't have to pump the system much before it was ready to start. From what I've been told, as long as the product you're putting in the fuel filter has no cetane boosters, this procedure is ok. This time around, I will use the Diesel Purge I found at my favorite parts house. Now I'll sit back and see what everyone else uses. Jon '81 240D "Mathilde" 217,000 mi. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 19:18:24 -0500 From: "David Masinick" Subject: w123 Rear Shocks (little tech content) I installed new Bilsteins today. The temp got up to 42 F, so I braved the replacement of the shocks that catastrophically leaked in our below freezing Jan. weather. They lasted 16 1/2 years and 136k miles. Amazing. More amazing is that the lower shock bolts came out (a little advance Liquid Wrench) without any "additional persuasion". Whole job done in less than one hour, including vacuuming. The key to the job for the DIY is to have a floor jack and jack stands. Jacking up the control arm to the proper height, once the rear is on the stands makes the job quite "enjoyable?" I must give credit to the factory manual for helping to map out properly the steps to completion. End result: that wonderful ride has returned. Dave Masinick Hopkinton, New Hampshire '82 M-B 300D '96 VW Passat Wagon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 00:13:18 -0600 (CST) From: "M. Mason" Subject: hrumph... & injector update. Hey, get a load of this, everyone. I agree with just about everything up until the second-to-last sentence, the stuff in parentheses. We diesel fans know better, dont we? Any thoughts? "For years, the use of diesel engines was confined to large trucks. Even today, that remains the popular image of the diesel a smoke-belching, rumbling monster that didnt go very fast, but would last forever. This image of the diesel was bolstered by the occasional image of a stately Mercedes diesel laboring away from a stop light. These glimpses only reinforced our view of the diesel as reliable, but slow (and ignored the fact that owners of these types of cars habitually drove as though they were on a journey to somewhere disagreeable). Today, the diesel has suddenly emerged as a possible alternative to the conventional spark-ignition engine." (7) - - excerpted from Chiltons Repair and Tune-Up Guide, Mercedes-Benz 1974-84, published 1984 by Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA. By the way, that injector job was going swimmingly until I ran out of leak hose in decent condition. Faked it for a few minutes with 5/32" windshield-washer hose and the car started like a dream, clattered a bit though... good thing I've got fresh filters and some good hose on order from Impco. (Come on, FedEx...) And okay John, you asked for it... :) Batman, indeed. The name for my car, which I've decided to call Robin, comes from an incident Sunday night - - some friends picked me up at the airport in Cedar Rapids and brought me back to the house, where I found that my roommate had left the garage open for a few minutes, and a small bird seeking warm shelter found his way inside. I had left my sunroof and window open over the break from school (good thing the car was garaged), and this little guy fell through the roof and couldn't think his way out. We ended up rocking the car in place until he got seasick and flew out... :) (Sure, it was a sparrow, but THAT's a silly name for a car!) :) later -- mjm _____________________________ Matthew J. Mason mmason-at-blue.weeg.uiowa.edu ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #79 ********************************