From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Mon Nov 3 18:14:55 2003 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Tuesday, November 4 2003 Volume 01 : Number 1274 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules [db] [Fwd: Re: Rube Goldberg] Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules Re: [db] Becker car radio question Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules [db] Windshield Replacement [db] Price reduced on 300d 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: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 19:02:23 -0500 From: "Marc Zylka" Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules Are the topsiders ok to use on my '83 300 TD? The dipstick tube seems mighty small for a piece of hose to go down into it. Marc Zylka '83 300 TD 313,000 miles. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Filina" To: "john meister" Cc: "Sam Williams" <1sam-at-io.com>; "'Alec Cordova'" ; Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 5:46 AM Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules > John "The Doubting One" wrote: > > > I'm still having a hard time understanding how you're going to get more > > stuff out > > by drawing it through a straw topside as opposed to letting it come out > > the drain plug... > > and yes, the drain plug is on the side, but if you notice, it's at the > > bottom of the pan... ;) > > You're wearing me out, son... ;-) > > This is starting to sound like the discussions between my fellow > "gassers" and I when they want to know why I'm such a dieselhead. It's > also similar to the Winders weinies questions as to why I use Linux... > I'm starting to feel like Don Quixote... ;-) > > Back before I got my topsider, I found a message on the old MB email > list archives from, I believe, George Murphy. George is active with the > MB club and you'll see him mentioned in the Star. Whoever it was, > though, did a test with the Topsider. He topped off the oil on an older > MB diesel engine so that it showed full. Then he drained it from the > plug and measured the amount of oil that came out. He refilled, made > sure the dipstick showed full, and extracted it with a Topsider. The > amount he extracted measured about a cup more, from what I remember. Why > the difference? As Tim Allen would say: "More Power!!" A push broom > will clean up the garage floor, but a shop vac will do it better... > > > > besides, what does a "topsider" cost? > > As Sam said, around $50. If you don't mind crawling under the car, > having bits of dirt fall into your eyes, having to put your body in > strange contortionist positions to remove the drain plug, dropping said > plug in the hot oil, burning your hand retrieving it, having to get out > from under the car and back under when all the oil is drained, cleaning > off the oil plug and reinstalling it then the Topsider may not be for you. > > In addition, after you are done changing the oil, if you are not > bothered by being stopped by the old lady as you enter the house to get > cleaned up and she demands that you get "nekkid", in a tone of voice > quite different from your beginning days of being married, because you > are filthy from crawling around under the car, and you have to endure > her yelling from the laundry room about how she'll never get those nasty > oil stains out of your clothes while you spend quite a bit of time at > the bathroom sink, in your skivvies, getting the diesel oil washed off > your skin and out from under your fingernails, then the Topsider may not > be for you.... > > BTDT.... ;-) > > I believe that either oil change method is sufficient, but appreciate > the ease of using the Topsider and having to do minimal cleanup. > > My only complaint with the Topsider is it's capacity and what happens if > it gets full. My '84 SD takes a full 8 quarts of oil when I change it. > If I don't make sure I've drained the Topsider completely, the oil > gets past the seals and makes a mess. I have one pair of old black > pants I wear when I change the oil for this reason... > > I have been considering using an electric pump that runs off of house > current. Does anyone have any recommendations? The Topsider can is of > sufficient capacity, but it really should be about a gallon larger due > to the "layer" of vacuum that is required. An electric pump eliminates > that additional volume requirement. It is perfectly adequate for a > 240D, but the SD has a bigger sump. > > > > and what happens if it self destructs in the tube like happened to one > > of our own recently? ;) > > If I remember correctly, the vehicle in question was American iron such > as a Chevy van. I suspect the oil was way too hot when he started the > extraction. I had one occasion on my SD where the tubing collapsed due > to the oil being too hot. In that case, the temp gauge showed 80c. I > squeezed the tube in the opposite direction and the oil continued to > drain. The collapse did not result in any permanent damage to the tubing. > > If you really want to make sure all the sludge and particulate matter is > in suspension when you change the oil, cut a length of copper tubing > long enough to go from the top of the dipstick tube to the bottom of the > pan (cut the end at about a 30 degree angle) and mate it to the surgical > tubing. Run the engine up to full operating temperature by driving it > for 15 minutes or so, and then suck the oil out. You may have to > squeeze the rubber tubing to keep the oil flowing, but you won't have > any problems with the rubber getting stuck in the dipstick tube. > > Or, don't let the engine temperature get over 80c before firing up the > Topsider. That's always worked for me... > > If you want any more testimonials, ask Sam or Alec. They'll set you > straight much more eloquently than I can... > > Jon > '84 300SD 169,451 mi. A Topsider weinie with a turbo drain leak... ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 22:06:18 -0800 From: john meister Subject: [db] [Fwd: Re: Rube Goldberg] someone asked me to explain rube goldberg... :) - -------- Original Message -------- > >Pardon my ignorance, but who is Rube Goldberg and what does he have >to do with auxiliary circulation pumps? > >Richard Becker >london > Richard, I've spent too many years in engineering and comic books... Whenever runs into an overly complex system one (at least in the circles I travel) thinks of either Rube Goldberg or Mickey Mouse. :) Rube Goldberg wanted to be an artist, his faterh wanted him to be an engineer... The rest, as they say, is history. :) Here's an example of a simplified pencil sharpener: http://www.rube-goldberg.com/html/pencil_sharpener.htm http://www.rube-goldberg.com/html/bio.htm excerpt: Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author. Reuben Lucius Goldberg (Rube Goldberg) was born in San Francisco. His father, a practical man, insisted he go to college to become an engineer. After graduating from University of California Berkeley, Rube went to work as an engineer with the City of San Francisco Water and Sewers Department. http://www.rube-goldberg.com/ hope that helps, cheers, john meister - ------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - -- - ----------------------------- 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, 03 Nov 2003 00:40:36 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules Marc Zylka asked: > Are the topsiders ok to use on my '83 300 TD? The dipstick tube seems > mighty small for a piece of hose to go down into it. Unless someone has modified your dipstick tube, which I've never heard of being done, it will work. The dipstick tubes on my '81 240D and 300SD are the same size. I'd say your's is, also. The only "gotcha" I can think of with the Topsider is the temperature of the oil. From my experience, 60-80 degrees C is the optimum. At around 80, I did experience the collapse of the rubber tubing. If the engine temp is below 60, it will take forever to suck the oil out. If you'd like to read a "how to" on the use of the Topsider, let us know. Sam or Alec may have one available, I'd have to write one. Jon '84 300SD 169,463 mi. "Bruno" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 06:49:21 -0800 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules At 04:02 PM 11/2/03 , Marc Zylka wrote: >Are the topsiders ok to use on my '83 300 TD? The dipstick tube seems >mighty small for a piece of hose to go down into it. Definitely! I use one on both of my 123 diesels. Greg Greg Fiorentino Vancouver USA gfior-at-dslnorthwest.net '86 300SDL Turbo '84 300D Turbo '79 300TD '85 F-350 6.9 crew cab ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 09:57:58 -0800 From: Eric Ditwiler Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules > Amsoil doesn't make a filter > for our rigs, neither air or oil. :( I have an Amsoil air filter in my 1982 300 CD. It was not in stock but they made it for me in a couple of weeks for $30-40 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 19:12:33 -0300 From: ron Subject: Re: [db] Becker car radio question Worked a treat, many thanks for your kind help. Ron. My mailbox was recently graced by a missive from Alec Cordova who wrote: > Wasn't the process to press the button with the "universal icon" of a clock, > then press the four numbers of the current time, then press the clock button > again? > > No. There was a little dot on the front panel. I think it was immediately to > the right of the display. That is the "clock" button. Press it with a > ballpoint pen or something similar, then enter the 4 digit, 24-hour-format > time, and probably press the dot again to finish. > > I seem to remember this being the process on my 85 300D's original cassette > radio, but I don't remember if it was a Becker Grand Prix or not. > > Alec > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of ron > > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 2:38 PM > > To: Diesel Benz > > Subject: [db] Becker car radio question > > > > > > Can anyone tell me how to asjust the time display on a Becker > > Grand Prix radio > > ? > > > > TIA, > > > > Ron, on the banks of the Paraguay River > > -- > > Non omnia possumus omnes. > > -- Publius Vergilius Maro > > > > -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org -- > > - -- Indifference will be the downfall of mankind; but who cares ? -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org -- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 13:10:52 -0800 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] Maintenance Scedules I have an Amsoil filter that will work for a non-turbo 3.0L, had it in my '81 300D. Can't remember the part number, but the diameter and height are nearly perfect. My '91 has a planar filter so I can't use it. Same thing with my Jeeps. I know of another aftermarket air filter of inferior quality that I can buy and then use amsoil filter material over it, that's what I plan to do at the next filter change. The amsoil filter for a 300D non-turbo is for sale. contact me off list can ship it out asap... need the money. :) john-at-wagoneers.com ttyl, john Eric Ditwiler wrote: >> Amsoil doesn't make a filter >> for our rigs, neither air or oil. :( > > > I have an Amsoil air filter in my 1982 300 CD. It was not in stock > but they made it for me in a couple of weeks for $30-40 > - -- - ----------------------------- 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, 3 Nov 2003 17:56:19 -0500 From: "Marc Zylka" Subject: [db] Windshield Replacement I'm going to have my windshield replaced at a local automotive glass shop. It is difficult to see when driving into the sun due to the tiny chips in the glass. I have the rubber seal but I'm wondering if I should replace the chrome pieces that are inserted into the rubber after install. Does anyone have any experience with this? TIA, Marc '83 300TD, 313k miles ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 15:52:31 -0800 From: "derick" Subject: [db] Price reduced on 300d Hello, >From $3500 to 3000 OBO. http://amburgey.us/300.html Thanks Derick - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). 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