From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Sun Aug 29 19:49:28 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Sunday, August 29 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1544 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] brake fluid Re: [db] brake fluid Re: [db] Sneaky Trooper Story Re: [db] brake fluid Re: [db] Sneaky Trooper Story [db] today's adventure(s) [db] Broke out the SDL today 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: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:29:56 -0400 From: "Phil Tigue" Subject: [db] brake fluid I have a MB 1980 w123 300td station wagon, I think I am supposed to use dot 4 brake fluid. how important is it. and what are the ramification sof using dot3 fluid. I think there is some dot 3 in it. I have a brake problem which I think is a master cylinder leak, how can I be sure? Thanks. Phil ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:31:53 -0700 From: "junot" Subject: Re: [db] brake fluid greetings phil i don't know whether the '80 model called for dot 4 or not ... but after having brake rubber come apart using dot 3 fluids .. i use Castrol GTLMA in everything ... it exceeds dot 4 specs and it won't damage the rubber bits .... u can flush the system with it, but alcohol is best for flushing brake lines and cylinders ... however u must be able to remove all traces of alcohol if u elect to go this route ... if u suspect the master cylinder to be bad ... take it out, and inspect it for scoring, pitting etc. ... if it is not scored or pitted, then u can get a rebuild kit and and fix it .... clean all metal parts with alcohol and dry thoroughly .. assemble using brake fluid as lubricant ... junot - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Tigue" To: Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 12:29 PM Subject: [db] brake fluid > I have a MB 1980 w123 300td station wagon, I think I am supposed to use dot > 4 brake fluid. how important is it. and what are the ramification sof using > dot3 fluid. I think there is some dot 3 in it. I have a brake problem > which I think is a master cylinder leak, how can I be sure? > > Thanks. > > Phil ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 20:47:45 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] Sneaky Trooper Story Yup, same sneaky school for Indiana State Troopers. About 2 miles from the MI line US-31 N. curves as it goes under an overpass, you can't see what is on the other side of the overpass so this is where the troopers set up the radar gun from the overpass, aiming at the oncoming traffic. Now the crux of the matter is US-31 in Indiana is 55 and the same road past the MI line is 70, so you know all of us leadfoots kind of anticipate that jump in speed when so close to the line, which is why there are 5 to 6 state troopers parked on the other side of the curve snagging speeders called by the spotter, 1 mile from the line. Last week they had 8 schmoes with MI plates pulled over as I cruised past in the 300D, good thing it takes forever to accelerate this thing or I would be in the same predicament. In my book the strategy IN Smokeys use is not fair dinkum to us Michiganders heading for home. And yes, I think it is revenue enhancement, there is no damned reason to stop folks within sight of freedom. Edward derick amburgey wrote: >Early this morning, 12 am. I was enjoying a wonderful backup at the Tacoma >Narrows bridge due to construction activities. >It took 2 hrs 15 min to go 3.5 mi. I was not amused. > >Needless to say when you are free from the pack you want to goose it. > >Well our state troopers where ready to catch those bats from Hades and they >had 6 of them pulled over. >Okay NOW we can go like a scalded dog right? > >Nope 5 mi down the road the county sheriff was joining in the fun and had >another one. > >Surely we must be safe now right? > >Nope, one more of WA state's finest had his cruiser set up to look like a >car with a flat tire! >You did not see his bubble lights until you were right on top of him. He was >standing off the road aiming a radar gun down the road. >2 of his buddies were ready to pounce further up the road.... >As I was pulling off on my exit I saw one in process of getting another one > >Creative law enforcement, or revenue generation? You decide. > >Fortunately I was driving my little VW at max speed for the grade I was on >so I was going 65 mph. :) > >Do any of you have any sneaky trooper stories? > >Derick > >--- >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 8/27/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 20:57:46 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] brake fluid Folks, as far as I know, DOT3 and DOT4 are essentially the same stuff, only the DOT4 has a slightly higher boiling point. DOT 3 was the most common brake fluid in the 70/80 time period. If the car manual calls for it, there is no way it will affect the rubber seals. I would say that the rubber is getting old and less supple with age (or might be nicked), that is what usually causes the master cylinder leaks. LMA from Girling or Castrol is a good sub, used to use it in my E-type Jaguar when I rebuiult the entire brake system. BTW - LMA means low moisture absorption, it does not mean Zero moisture absorption. The Jag sat for many years before I bought it and the fluid had taken on so much water that the brake caliper pistons were pitted beyond use, had to get them bored oversize and then sleeved in brass to get back to spec. If you plan to keep your car for a long time, change that fluid completely every 2 or 3 years. Edward junot wrote: >greetings phil > >i don't know whether the '80 model called for dot 4 or not ... but after >having brake rubber come apart using dot 3 fluids .. i use Castrol GTLMA in >everything ... it exceeds dot 4 specs and it won't damage the rubber bits >.... u can flush the system with it, but alcohol is best for flushing brake >lines and cylinders ... however u must be able to remove all traces of >alcohol if u elect to go this route ... if u suspect the master cylinder to >be bad ... take it out, and inspect it for scoring, pitting etc. ... if it >is not scored or pitted, then u can get a rebuild kit and and fix it .... >clean all metal parts with alcohol and dry thoroughly .. assemble using >brake fluid as lubricant ... > >junot > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Phil Tigue" >To: >Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 12:29 PM >Subject: [db] brake fluid > > > > >>I have a MB 1980 w123 300td station wagon, I think I am supposed to use >> >> >dot > > >>4 brake fluid. how important is it. and what are the ramification sof >> >> >using > > >>dot3 fluid. I think there is some dot 3 in it. I have a brake problem >>which I think is a master cylinder leak, how can I be sure? >> >>Thanks. >> >>Phil ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 21:19:23 -0400 From: "Michael Aimino" Subject: Re: [db] Sneaky Trooper Story Here in PA, the state police recently started using "camo-cops." The police wear camo, sit in the brush along the road with a radar gun, and radio down to a waiting unmarked chase car. They've been pulling cars over in droves. Revenue enhancement at its finest. > Early this morning, 12 am. I was enjoying a wonderful backup at the Tacoma > Narrows bridge due to construction activities. > It took 2 hrs 15 min to go 3.5 mi. I was not amused. > > Needless to say when you are free from the pack you want to goose it. > > Well our state troopers where ready to catch those bats from Hades and they > had 6 of them pulled over. > Okay NOW we can go like a scalded dog right? > > Nope 5 mi down the road the county sheriff was joining in the fun and had > another one. > > Surely we must be safe now right? > > Nope, one more of WA state's finest had his cruiser set up to look like a > car with a flat tire! > You did not see his bubble lights until you were right on top of him. He was > standing off the road aiming a radar gun down the road. > 2 of his buddies were ready to pounce further up the road.... > As I was pulling off on my exit I saw one in process of getting another one > > Creative law enforcement, or revenue generation? You decide. > > Fortunately I was driving my little VW at max speed for the grade I was on > so I was going 65 mph. :) > > Do any of you have any sneaky trooper stories? > > Derick > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 8/27/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 21:48:24 -0700 From: john meister Subject: [db] today's adventure(s) used the XJ and J10 trailer to get pipe... then went and picked up my '78 J10 Golden Eagle... http://www.wagoneers.com/FOTOS/2004/a-day-in-August/ going to hire "john's econo towing" to bring both the GMC Jimmy and the J10 Golden Eagle down to Centralia. Pulled the driveshaft on the Jimmy and parked it up top... the J10 is already on his flatbed truck. Tom, true to form, got stung by a wasp when we were prepping the J10. Almost everytime I go over there to pick out an FSJ or visit he gets stung. :) Had a couple of them crawl on my but got 'em off before they could nail me. Down in AZ my son Mark decided he wanted to go four wheeling... only one minor problem, he doesn't have a 4x4 right now... so he took his '82 300D... he just ordered a new oil pan and lower radiator hose... found out that parts for a 123 are quite cheap, only $23 for a new pan. :) It wasn't getting three foot of air on those jumps that hurt the car, it was some nasty rocks on a tough trail... seems he really had to get a good run at it to make it... it shredded a tire and the fan shredded the lower hose and the rocks rearranged the oil pan... He got pictures, hope they come out... He was impressed with the car's ability off road, as were some of the fourwheelers... guess he had less trouble in parts of the trail then they did. :) I did get to do a little wheeling in the back yard... turning the J10 trailer around without ending up in the creek took on a new challenge as my new trailer is about two feet longer then my old one... :) but I made it... I don't think that one lilac bush did though... told my wife not to plant anything down that trail until we were done with the back yard... ;) later, john ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 18:15:17 -0500 From: "Richard Arnold" Subject: [db] Broke out the SDL today Recently I got promotion, which included a Buick LaSabre as a company car. Sooo, I parked the SDL and prepared her for a long term nap, until my oldest becomes driving age. Big, strong, and relatively slow is good for a new driver. Well, after two months, I couldn't stand it. The Buick is too mundane. I had to get the SDL out today. When I opened the door the "Mercedes smell" hit me. They all smell the same you know. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad's '55 220. Whenever I drive Anita, those memories come back. After the pre-glow, she fired right up and the quiet tremble of the diesel came right through to the steering wheel. A quick washing, a check of the vitals, and I went for a long, pleasant drive. Anita came alive and the turbo rush was more than I could stand. The LaSabre has been put down for a long nap. Is it any wonder the Diesel Benz has such a cult following? Anita is the most delightful car I have ever owned, bar none. Have fun, Richard ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1544 **********************************