From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Mon Oct 20 20:22:50 2003 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Monday, October 20 2003 Volume 01 : Number 1257 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Cheap diesels in Dallas, Texas. [db] '80 300D Speed/Wtr Temp/ 7% grades Re: [db] '80 300D Speed/Wtr Temp/ 7% grades Re: [db] Cheap diesels in Dallas, Texas. Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice RE: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Re: [db] overlooked preventive mantainence? 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, 20 Oct 2003 10:53:30 CDT From: acordova-at-texas.net Subject: Re: [db] Cheap diesels in Dallas, Texas. > I couldn't resist. > > Brought home another MB diesel. > We know, it's a sickness. Maybe you can qualify under some kind of federal disability laws. ;-) > 1982 240 D(#60) - $125.00. Car ran great but would not move with 161 K > miles. Dash not cracked, interior clean(beige), recent repaint(white), alloy > wheels(tires felt sqaure -at- 65-70). Made the 37 mile trip home after adding 1 > gallon of ATF. > a GALLON??? no wonder it would not move. > > There were some gas models(190, 380, as well)went cheap but I don't do gas > models. LOL > I guess your neighbors are VERY happy that you don't do gas models. Alec ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 08:58:05 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.A. Carfrae" Subject: [db] '80 300D Speed/Wtr Temp/ 7% grades Hey all, I took the 300D to Northern California this weekend, car ran beautifully at 70-75 mph the entire way (except for the grades). Only problem I had was the car only does 35-40 mph on uphill grades (1500' grade over 3 miles just north of San Luis Obispo, CA on US-101). Temp needle hovers about 90 deg Celcius while climbing, stays right at 80 on flat highway. Is this slight overheating doing any damage? Is the reduced speed innate to MB diesels, or does it seem mine has a power problem? Incidentally, I got 26.2 mpg overall for the 800+ mile round trip. Alex '80 300D 276,901+ miles -- odometer quit working 2 years ago __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 11:12:00 CDT From: acordova-at-texas.net Subject: Re: [db] '80 300D Speed/Wtr Temp/ 7% grades Yours is probably a non-turbo, so it just doesn't have a lot of power. You should definitely confirm that the valves are properly adjusted. This is supposed to be done every 15,000 miles, and can make a significant difference in available power (as well as ability to start in very cold weather) if it is neglected. The temperature is not a problem until it reaches the red. MB seems to use more sensitive temp guages than most. We actually get to see the temperature fluctuations that most motors experience anyway. The main engine fan uses a thermostatic clutch, and the electric fan doesn't even kick in till you're well past 100. It might not hurt to replace the thermostat, flush the coolant, and get a new pressure cap, but it's probably not necessary. Adjust the valves, and be happy you have that fifth cylinder. Our 1980 240D was even more challenged in the power department, but it encouraged patience, and it was still a glorious car for road trips. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 162K > Hey all, I took the 300D to Northern California this > weekend, car ran beautifully at 70-75 mph the entire > way (except for the grades). Only problem I had was > the car only does 35-40 mph on uphill grades (1500' > grade over 3 miles just north of San Luis Obispo, CA > on US-101). Temp needle hovers about 90 deg Celcius > while climbing, stays right at 80 on flat highway. Is > this slight overheating doing any damage? Is the > reduced speed innate to MB diesels, or does it seem > mine has a power problem? Incidentally, I got 26.2 > mpg overall for the 800+ mile round trip. > > Alex > > '80 300D 276,901+ miles -- odometer quit working 2 > years ago ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 10:57:09 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] Cheap diesels in Dallas, Texas. we'll have to call you DieselWaylon... ;) dieseljohn Black, Waylon wrote: >I couldn't resist. > >Brought home another MB diesel. > >Been hitting the 'Dallas Can Acadamy' Auction for the last three Saturdays. > >Heres the scoop. > >You put down a $200.00 deposit to get a bidder number and bid away. You can >pay for your purchase with a credit card. Add about $100 - $150 for other >fees(sales tax, registration, tranfer fee) > >First week - bought 1 > >86 Turbo Diesel Jetta, bad headgasket - $100(missed the 74 220 D that went >for $125 - it drove) > >Second week - bought 2 > >1983 760 Turbo diesel - fuel delivery problem - $125.00 >1986 Volvo 240 wagon - bad fuel pump(106 K miles) runs with spray. $100 > >Last week - bought 1 > >1982 240 D(#60) - $125.00. Car ran great but would not move with 161 K >miles. Dash not cracked, interior clean(beige), recent repaint(white), alloy >wheels(tires felt sqaure -at- 65-70). Made the 37 mile trip home after adding 1 >gallon of ATF. > >There was another 240 D with 130K miles, white with blue interior. It went >early(#20) for $600(it moved forward and back). > >There were some gas models(190, 380, as well)went cheap but I don't do gas >models. LOL > > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 14:52:29 -0500 From: wguess Subject: Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. While out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. What's the best kind of injector cleaner? Richard Welty escreveu: >On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 16:09:28 -0500 wguess wrote: > > > >>Just curious, since I'm currently shopping for one of these also, would >>anyone care to pick the "one", or maybe a couple of the best diesel >>models 1980 to present? >> >> > >i will always have a soft spot for the W123s, the 300Ds through 1985. these >are very sound cars unfortunately are now tending to get more than a bit >rusty in places where they use lots of salt. > >our 1996 E300D is a very nice car, quite a bit more modern and refined than >our two old W123s were, but also a bit more expensive to maintain. we're >not really repairing it any more frequently than the 123s, but the repairs >are more expensive due to the complexity of the car[1]. my mother has had >one of these since new; we got ours a little over a year ago with 96,000 >miles and it's just approaching 120,000 miles now. > >richard >[1] and of course, tires in 215/55R16 are rather more expensive than >tires in 195/70R14 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 14:43:42 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice the best injector cleaner is to take it to an injector shop... ;) after that I'd use AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Modifier or Diesel Fuel Concentrate. http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Diesel-FUEL-treaments.jpg http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ There are other products out that there will work and probably easier to get a hold of. I've used some of the stuff from Walmart to clean out some serious tank crud. :) john wguess wrote: >Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. While >out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. > >What's the best kind of injector cleaner? > >Richard Welty escreveu: > > > >>On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 16:09:28 -0500 wguess wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >>>Just curious, since I'm currently shopping for one of these also, would >>>anyone care to pick the "one", or maybe a couple of the best diesel >>>models 1980 to present? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>i will always have a soft spot for the W123s, the 300Ds through 1985. these >>are very sound cars unfortunately are now tending to get more than a bit >>rusty in places where they use lots of salt. >> >>our 1996 E300D is a very nice car, quite a bit more modern and refined than >>our two old W123s were, but also a bit more expensive to maintain. we're >>not really repairing it any more frequently than the 123s, but the repairs >>are more expensive due to the complexity of the car[1]. my mother has had >>one of these since new; we got ours a little over a year ago with 96,000 >>miles and it's just approaching 120,000 miles now. >> >>richard >>[1] and of course, tires in 215/55R16 are rather more expensive than >>tires in 195/70R14 >> >> > > > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 17:05:21 -0500 From: wguess Subject: Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Thanks, I'll order some, how about oil, and air filer, fuel filter, any suggestions? john meister escreveu: > the best injector cleaner is to take it to an injector shop... ;) > > after that I'd use AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Modifier or Diesel Fuel > Concentrate. > http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Diesel-FUEL-treaments.jpg > http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ > > There are other products out that there will work and probably easier > to get a hold of. > I've used some of the stuff from Walmart to clean out some serious > tank crud. :) > > john > > > wguess wrote: > >> Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. >> While out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. >> >> What's the best kind of injector cleaner? >> >> Richard Welty escreveu: >> >> >> >>> On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 16:09:28 -0500 wguess wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Just curious, since I'm currently shopping for one of these also, >>>> would anyone care to pick the "one", or maybe a couple of the best >>>> diesel models 1980 to present? >>>> >>>> >>> >>> i will always have a soft spot for the W123s, the 300Ds through >>> 1985. these >>> are very sound cars unfortunately are now tending to get more than a >>> bit >>> rusty in places where they use lots of salt. >>> >>> our 1996 E300D is a very nice car, quite a bit more modern and >>> refined than >>> our two old W123s were, but also a bit more expensive to maintain. >>> we're >>> not really repairing it any more frequently than the 123s, but the >>> repairs >>> are more expensive due to the complexity of the car[1]. my mother >>> has had >>> one of these since new; we got ours a little over a year ago with >>> 96,000 >>> miles and it's just approaching 120,000 miles now. >>> >>> richard >>> [1] and of course, tires in 215/55R16 are rather more expensive than >>> tires in 195/70R14 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:24:01 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice thanx... fwiw, the perfomance products catalog sells that stuff other listers have metioined, where you disconnect your fuel line and run the stuff that way... I use the amsoil diesel fuel modifier every few tanks... whenever any of my diesels have a slight roughness to the idle I've used it and it helped clear it up a bit... john wguess wrote: > Thanks, I'll order some, how about oil, and air filer, fuel filter, > any suggestions? > > john meister escreveu: > >> the best injector cleaner is to take it to an injector shop... ;) >> >> after that I'd use AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Modifier or Diesel Fuel >> Concentrate. >> http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Diesel-FUEL-treaments.jpg >> http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ >> >> There are other products out that there will work and probably easier >> to get a hold of. >> I've used some of the stuff from Walmart to clean out some serious >> tank crud. :) >> >> john >> >> >> wguess wrote: >> >>> Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. >>> While out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. >>> >>> What's the best kind of injector cleaner? >>> >>> Richard Welty escreveu: >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 16:09:28 -0500 wguess wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Just curious, since I'm currently shopping for one of these also, >>>>> would anyone care to pick the "one", or maybe a couple of the best >>>>> diesel models 1980 to present? >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> i will always have a soft spot for the W123s, the 300Ds through >>>> 1985. these >>>> are very sound cars unfortunately are now tending to get more than >>>> a bit >>>> rusty in places where they use lots of salt. >>>> >>>> our 1996 E300D is a very nice car, quite a bit more modern and >>>> refined than >>>> our two old W123s were, but also a bit more expensive to maintain. >>>> we're >>>> not really repairing it any more frequently than the 123s, but the >>>> repairs >>>> are more expensive due to the complexity of the car[1]. my mother >>>> has had >>>> one of these since new; we got ours a little over a year ago with >>>> 96,000 >>>> miles and it's just approaching 120,000 miles now. >>>> >>>> richard >>>> [1] and of course, tires in 215/55R16 are rather more expensive than >>>> tires in 195/70R14 >>> > - -- - ----------------------------- Oh well, I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess -Red Green http://www.redgreen.com/ - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 17:30:42 -0500 From: "Alec Cordova" Subject: RE: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice "Official" motor oil preferences can be found at http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html. For conventional oil, Chevron Delo 400 15W-40 and Shell Rotella T 15W-40 are good choices that can be found in most regions. For synthetic, AMSOIL (through John, of course) and Mobil Delvac 1 are mentioned often here, and they are listed on that page. Anything sanctioned by MB and available to you in a sufficiently convenient method is fine. For filters, although some WIX filters used to be relabeled good Mann ones, the most predictable way is just to order them a few at a time from one of our favorite sources like Rusty at buymbparts.com. For injector cleaning without removing the injectors, Lubro-Moly Diesel Purge is among the best, particularly when used straight, rather than just trying to dump it in the tank. The catalogs from Performance Products (with great exploded diagrams) show what I'm talking about. AMSOIL stuff and Techron can be useful even when just dumped in the tank, especially when accompanied by some good lead-footed runs. Put your foot into it, let it rev up pretty good, floor it up some good inclines, and the motor will get happier. Happy dieseling, Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 163K > -----Original Message----- > Thanks, I'll order some, how about oil, and air filer, fuel filter, any > suggestions? > > john meister escreveu: > > > the best injector cleaner is to take it to an injector shop... ;) > > > > after that I'd use AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Modifier or Diesel Fuel > > Concentrate. > > http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Diesel-FUEL-treaments.jpg > > http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ > > > > There are other products out that there will work and probably easier > > to get a hold of. > > I've used some of the stuff from Walmart to clean out some serious > > tank crud. :) > > > > john > > > > > > wguess wrote: > > > >> Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. > >> While out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. > >> > >> What's the best kind of injector cleaner? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 17:36:17 -0500 From: wguess Subject: Re: [db] 1990's E300D Reviews / Advice Thank you, good info. I really liked the lead-footed suggestion! Alec Cordova escreveu: >"Official" motor oil preferences can be found at >http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html. For conventional oil, Chevron Delo 400 >15W-40 and Shell Rotella T 15W-40 are good choices that can be found in most >regions. For synthetic, AMSOIL (through John, of course) and Mobil Delvac 1 >are mentioned often here, and they are listed on that page. Anything >sanctioned by MB and available to you in a sufficiently convenient method is >fine. > >For filters, although some WIX filters used to be relabeled good Mann ones, >the most predictable way is just to order them a few at a time from one of >our favorite sources like Rusty at buymbparts.com. > >For injector cleaning without removing the injectors, Lubro-Moly Diesel >Purge is among the best, particularly when used straight, rather than just >trying to dump it in the tank. The catalogs from Performance Products (with >great exploded diagrams) show what I'm talking about. AMSOIL stuff and >Techron can be useful even when just dumped in the tank, especially when >accompanied by some good lead-footed runs. Put your foot into it, let it rev >up pretty good, floor it up some good inclines, and the motor will get >happier. > >Happy dieseling, >Alec Cordova >Taylor, Texas >89 300CE, 163K > > > >>-----Original Message----- >>Thanks, I'll order some, how about oil, and air filer, fuel filter, any >>suggestions? >> >>john meister escreveu: >> >> >> >>>the best injector cleaner is to take it to an injector shop... ;) >>> >>>after that I'd use AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Modifier or Diesel Fuel >>>Concentrate. >>>http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Diesel-FUEL-treaments.jpg >>>http://www.wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ >>> >>>There are other products out that there will work and probably easier >>>to get a hold of. >>>I've used some of the stuff from Walmart to clean out some serious >>>tank crud. :) >>> >>>john >>> >>> >>>wguess wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>>Thanks for the recomendations, got serious and went out looking. >>>>While out I found a low milage 300SDL, I just had to have. >>>> >>>>What's the best kind of injector cleaner? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:55:59 -0700 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: [db] overlooked preventive mantainence? On Fri, Oct 17, 2003 at 11:50:06AM -0500, acordova-at-texas.net wrote: > The 616 and 617 diesels in particular definitely appreciate good "blow out > the cobwebs" drives occasionally. It's been referred to before as an Italian > tuneup as well. > > If your regular commute is at least 20 miles, and you get to really move > along the way, your motor will be day-to-day happier. If your regular routine > is not like that, either with much shorter distances or with snarled traffic, > you should take the car out for a good drive every weekend or two. > > You regularly encounter people who acquire examples that were driven too > softly, and for the first few months, the engine gets happier and smoother > and peppier just by being regularly driven fairly hard. > > Just another example of the personality of these cars. They clearly prefer to > work for a living, rather than to just be babied along. My 190D exhibited the same thing - it always ran well because the previous owner drove it a LOT, and I tend to make it work for its living when I'm driving it, but when my brother borrowed it because the el camino was acting up again, it ran like crap for a week after he borrowed it. That week worth of 112 mile round trips to work and back at 70-75 did the trick, no injector cleaner needed. It didn't appreciate just being tooled around town for a week and a half, it wanted to be out on the road stretching its legs. It's actually really funny, for such a mainstream car it really has a ton of personality. And if it doesn't get what it wants, it gets fussy about it until it gets its way. And since I drove the truck to work today, it's probably going to let me have it tomorrow because it wasn't out on the freeway :) K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) 85 190D (601, 5spd) ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1257 **********************************