From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Mon Jan 2 01:18:31 2006 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Monday, January 2 2006 Volume 01 : Number 2063 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] 1995 E300D [db] you won't believe this... Re: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D Re: [db] 1995 E300D 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, 02 Jan 2006 01:31:31 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: [db] 1995 E300D Ok, I've owned this W124 for about a month and have driven it almost 2000 miles. I have yet to find any strange quirks. My mechanic's initial comments are still ringing in my ears..."It's the biggest piece of junk they ever made!". I know he's wrong, but I have been paying very close attention to the way this car runs... I have a couple of questions for those in the know: 1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed Mobil 1 (15W40) for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that Castrol 15W40 was used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? If so, when should it be changed. I'm thinking 5000 miles. If that type of Mobil 1 is not acceptable, what is? According to Mobil's website, their Truck & SUV is the recommended oil for this model. At the worst, I'll stay with Delo 400. I've used it for years and think it's the best dino oil you can put in a diesel. 2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the car. It blows cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was only 20 minutes. When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water dripping below the car. I don't smell any odors at the vents and hear no water sloshing in the heater box. Do the newer A/C's drain as profusely as the old R12 systems? Does the system need to be running for a longer period before any draining is noticed? Am I thinking there is a problem when there isn't? And, before you say it, this is Texas. I know it's winter, but we're known for our wacked out weather. The first weekend in December it hit 90. Yesterday it was pushing 80. We'll get some bone chilling temps in the 30's soon enough... ;-) [I think Jim Hoffman just spit his drink all over his keyboard... I know you'd welcome some warm 30 degree weather up there in Wisconsin. Come on down to Texas. I think Alec was out on his patio this afternoon wearing shorts and sandals and drinking his neighbor's wine.] 3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and noticed a slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. It looks fine, but I have no experience with what is normal or not. It could be noise from one of the accessories, but I didn't have time to check it out. JB's caution about the vacuum pump popped to mind though. I replaced the pump on my SD when it was not creating enough vacuum. It wasn't making any noise, though. JB, what did you notice before your vacuum pump went south? My pump appears to be working ok, but that noise coming from the serp belt area has me a little concerned. 4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. Has anyone adjusted their's and how did you do it. I might have to break down and buy the MB service manual (CD) for this car. I have the one for my SD and am a bit disappointed in it. The Haynes manual for my 240D is marginally better and the Bentley manuals for my VW's are far superior. Enough questions for now. I hope everyone had a good New Years. I was looking forward to watching the Rose Bowl but found out they aren't playing until Wednesday. Hasn't the Rose Bowl always been on New Years Day? Jon '95 E300D "Ernestine" '84 300SD "Bruno" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 23:59:01 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] you won't believe this... ... but my wife told me to sell her WJ so she could take mine and that I should buy an XJ Cherokee... ;) dang, if I knew it was going to go like this I would have kept my Benz... ;) oh well... An XJ might be fun until SuperDawg is done... ;) the thought is to get a nice clean inexpensive XJ... but I'm going to see if that '98 is still around... not inexpensive, but less than her WJ. (just looked, it appears it's still around... suspect it would be, it has a few minor issues that might scare off "normal" folks. ;) Stay tuned... The '99 WJ Laredo we're selling has the 4.0L/AT/Selectrac, Infinity sound system (controls on the wheel, poweramp, etc.), power windows/locks, etc. only 80,000 miles on it. Stone white, very clean. I have a tow hook for the rear that I never installed that will go with it. Nice WJ. Not sure what to ask for it... we paid $11,500 for it in Oct 2004. I think we've put about 5,000 miles on it. 18.3 mpg going over the pass. I'm guessing it'll be around $9,500 to 10k at this point... a friend just sold a higher mileage WJ Ltd with the 4.7L for close to 11k. But there's a lot of nice rigs out there below real value because of fuel prices... Hey, anyone know of any nice XJs in the Seattle area? :) (y'all better get another bag of popcorn... ;) BTW, hoping to put the new top on the CJ-2A tomorrow while my son packs up to drive the Jimmy down to AZ. Oh, BTW, we're going to continue selling his '87 XJ... still going to be $250. It's kind of a pathetic looking mess, but runs great... (and NO, I will NOT commute to work in it now... ;) BEFORE: http://wagoneers.com/XJ/rigs/johns-87/87-cherokee-1.jpg NOW: http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/used-XJ-2.jpg http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/used-XJ-1.jpg http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2005/Dec-10-Willys-n-misc/used-XJ-3.jpg john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 00:04:40 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D On Mon, 2 Jan 2006, Jon Filina wrote: > -->Ok, I've owned this W124 for about a month and have driven it almost 2000 > -->miles. I have yet to find any strange quirks. My mechanic's initial > -->comments are still ringing in my ears..."It's the biggest piece of junk they > -->ever made!". I know he's wrong, but I have been paying very close attention > -->to the way this car runs... > --> > -->I have a couple of questions for those in the know: > --> > -->1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed Mobil 1 (15W40) > -->for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that Castrol 15W40 was > -->used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? If so, when should it > -->be changed. I'm thinking 5000 miles. If that type of Mobil 1 is not > -->acceptable, what is? According to Mobil's website, their Truck & SUV is the > -->recommended oil for this model. At the worst, I'll stay with Delo 400. > -->I've used it for years and think it's the best dino oil you can put in a > -->diesel. if it's been running on synethic it's a good idea to keep it there. if the suv mobil 1 is rated for Diesel, why not? Why not step up to real synthetic and get amsoil? ;) > --> > -->2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the car. It blows > -->cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was only 20 minutes. > -->When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water dripping below the > -->car. I don't smell any odors at the vents and hear no water sloshing in the > -->heater box. Do the newer A/C's drain as profusely as the old R12 systems? > -->Does the system need to be running for a longer period before any draining > -->is noticed? Am I thinking there is a problem when there isn't? my 124 did this as well... however when sitting long enough you'll see water underneath... remember the belly pan... > -->And, before you say it, this is Texas. I know it's winter, but we're known > -->for our wacked out weather. The first weekend in December it hit 90. > -->Yesterday it was pushing 80. We'll get some bone chilling temps in the 30's > -->soon enough... ;-) it's been in the 50's in seattle... > -->[I think Jim Hoffman just spit his drink all over his keyboard... I know > -->you'd welcome some warm 30 degree weather up there in Wisconsin. Come on > -->down to Texas. I think Alec was out on his patio this afternoon wearing > -->shorts and sandals and drinking his neighbor's wine.] I'm wearing shorts... and a flannel shirt... wife had the heater cranked up a bit more than I like it in the house this evening. ;) > -->3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and noticed a > -->slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. It looks fine, but I have > -->no experience with what is normal or not. It could be noise from one of the > -->accessories, but I didn't have time to check it out. JB's caution about the > -->vacuum pump popped to mind though. I replaced the pump on my SD when it was > -->not creating enough vacuum. It wasn't making any noise, though. JB, what > -->did you notice before your vacuum pump went south? My pump appears to be > -->working ok, but that noise coming from the serp belt area has me a little > -->concerned. could be an idler pulley going... > -->4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. Has anyone adjusted > -->their's and how did you do it. I might have to break down and buy the MB > -->service manual (CD) for this car. I have the one for my SD and am a bit > -->disappointed in it. The Haynes manual for my 240D is marginally better and > -->the Bentley manuals for my VW's are far superior. I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on my server... > -->Enough questions for now. I hope everyone had a good New Years. I was > -->looking forward to watching the Rose Bowl but found out they aren't playing > -->until Wednesday. Hasn't the Rose Bowl always been on New Years Day? yeah, must have been rained out or something... weird... (but since I don't follow sports I didn't even know this until now. ;) john > --> > -->Jon > -->'95 E300D "Ernestine" '84 300SD "Bruno" > --> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 02:16:34 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D John answered: >>-->1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed Mobil 1 (15W40) >>-->for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that Castrol 15W40 was >>-->used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? >> >> > >if it's been running on synethic it's a good idea to keep it there. if >the suv mobil 1 is rated for Diesel, why not? Why not step up to real >synthetic and get amsoil? ;) > > If I lived next door to you, I'd walk up the hill and buy some. From here, it's a long walk and a lot of hills... ;-) I would really like to stay with a synthetic oil. The Mobil 1 is pretty easy to find. Even Walmart carries it. My daughter can buy it, since she works at the one in Burleson, and I'd get her employee discount as well! What oil change intervals do you use with your Amsoil? How much of a pain in the posterior is it to get that belly pan off, or do you have to? >>--> >>-->2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the car. It blows >>-->cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was only 20 minutes. >>-->When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water dripping below the >>-->car. >> >> > >my 124 did this as well... however when sitting long enough you'll see water >underneath... remember the belly pan... > > > I thought the drains came out on either side of the transmission case. I guess I'll file my concern away until we have a warm enough day for me to run the A/C for the hour's drive to work. It should be draining by then. >>-->3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and noticed a >>-->slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. >> >> > >could be an idler pulley going... > > That thought occurred to me, too. The belt appears to be pretty new and I could see no "wiggle" as it turned. I'll keep an eye on it... > > >>-->4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. >> >> > >I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on my server... > > > Could you email those pdf's? Do you have the MB CD's on the W124's? If so, how helpful were they. The W126 ones don't have an index and it's very frustrating finding what I'm looking for at times. I'll probably break down and buy them though... Jon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 00:40:21 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D On Mon, 2 Jan 2006, Jon Filina wrote: > -->John answered: > --> > -->> > --> 1. Oil. The maintenance booklet shows this engine was fed > -->> > --> Mobil 1 (15W40) > -->> > --> for much of it's life. The last oil change shows that > -->> > --> Castrol 15W40 was > -->> > --> used. Would Mobil 1 Truck & SUV (5W40) be OK to use? > -->> > > -->> if it's been running on synethic it's a good idea to keep it there. if > -->> the suv mobil 1 is rated for Diesel, why not? Why not step up to real > -->> synthetic and get amsoil? ;) > -->> > -->If I lived next door to you, I'd walk up the hill and buy some. From here, > -->it's a long walk and a lot of hills... ;-) toll free 1.800.956-5695, your CUSTOMER NUMBER is 283461 http://JohnMeister.com/AMSOIL/ delivered to your door even. :) > --> > -->I would really like to stay with a synthetic oil. The Mobil 1 is pretty > -->easy to find. Even Walmart carries it. My daughter can buy it, since she > -->works at the one in Burleson, and I'd get her employee discount as well! > --> > -->What oil change intervals do you use with your Amsoil? How much of a pain > -->in the posterior is it to get that belly pan off, or do you have to? four screws to drop belly pan... went 17,000 miles on the Series 2000 5w30 oil - oil analysis had A's in all but two categories that were B's... > --> > -->> > --> > -->> > --> 2. I've only run the A/C on three occasions since I got the > -->> > --> car. It blows > -->> > --> cold once it gets going. The longest I had it running was > -->> > --> only 20 minutes. > -->> > --> When it's idling, with the air on, I do not see any water > -->> > --> dripping below the > -->> > --> car. > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> my 124 did this as well... however when sitting long enough you'll see > -->> water > -->> underneath... remember the belly pan... > -->> > -->> > -->> > --> > -->I thought the drains came out on either side of the transmission case. I > -->guess I'll file my concern away until we have a warm enough day for me to > -->run the A/C for the hour's drive to work. It should be draining by then. > --> > -->> > --> 3. I had the hood up while the engine was running today and > -->> > --> noticed a > -->> > --> slight "squeak" coming from around the serp belt. > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> could be an idler pulley going... > -->> > -->> > --> > -->That thought occurred to me, too. The belt appears to be pretty new and I > -->could see no "wiggle" as it turned. I'll keep an eye on it... > --> > -->> > -->> > -->> > --> 4. The monowiper is not parking all the way down. > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on my server... > -->> > -->> > -->> > -->Could you email those pdf's? Do you have the MB CD's on the W124's? If so, > -->how helpful were they. The W126 ones don't have an index and it's very > -->frustrating finding what I'm looking for at times. I'll probably break down > -->and buy them though... http://JohnMeister.com/DieselBenz/TECH/124-series/PDFs/ john > --> > -->Jon > --> > --> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 02:56:26 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D Sleepless John wrote: >>-->If I lived next door to you, I'd walk up the hill and buy some. From here, >>-->it's a long walk and a lot of hills... ;-) >> >> > >toll free 1.800.956-5695, your CUSTOMER NUMBER is 283461 > http://JohnMeister.com/AMSOIL/ > >delivered to your door even. :) > > > Verrry interesting.... I'll check out Amsoils website. If I buy, you can be sure I'll make sure you get credit. >>-->What oil change intervals do you use with your Amsoil? How much of a pain >>-->in the posterior is it to get that belly pan off, or do you have to? >> >> > >four screws to drop belly pan... >went 17,000 miles on the Series 2000 5w30 oil - oil analysis had A's in >all but two categories that were B's... > > > So, you are saying you don't change your oil unless an oil analysis says it's time? I'd be a bit concerned leaving oil in a diesel for 17K. I'm sure synthetics like Mobil 1 and Amsoil will hold up that long, but what about the filters and the junk they collect? Without an oil analysis, what do you suggest? >>-->> >>-->> I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on my server... >>-->> >>-->> >>-->> >>-->Could you email those pdf's? >> >> > > >http://JohnMeister.com/DieselBenz/TECH/124-series/PDFs/ > > > Got it! Thanks. Jon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 01:17:50 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] 1995 E300D On Mon, 2 Jan 2006, Jon Filina wrote: > -->Sleepless John wrote: > --> > -->> > --> If I lived next door to you, I'd walk up the hill and buy > -->> > --> some. From here, > -->> > --> it's a long walk and a lot of hills... ;-) > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> toll free 1.800.956-5695, your CUSTOMER NUMBER is 283461 > -->> http://JohnMeister.com/AMSOIL/ > -->> > -->> delivered to your door even. :) > -->> > -->> > -->> > --> > -->Verrry interesting.... I'll check out Amsoils website. If I buy, you can > -->be sure I'll make sure you get credit. use that customer number and you will, thanx! > --> > -->> > --> What oil change intervals do you use with your Amsoil? How > -->> > --> much of a pain > -->> > --> in the posterior is it to get that belly pan off, or do you > -->> > --> have to? > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> four screws to drop belly pan... > -->> went 17,000 miles on the Series 2000 5w30 oil - oil analysis had A's in > -->> all but two categories that were B's... > -->> > -->> > -->> > --> > -->So, you are saying you don't change your oil unless an oil analysis says > -->it's time? I'd be a bit concerned leaving oil in a diesel for 17K. I'm > -->sure synthetics like Mobil 1 and Amsoil will hold up that long, but what > -->about the filters and the junk they collect? > --> > -->Without an oil analysis, what do you suggest? depends on use, 15,000 miles under light to normal use should be ok... less if you're nervous... more if you're going to do analysis.... > --> > -->> > --> > > -->> > --> > I've got some of the pdf's for that part of the 124 on > -->> > --> > my server... > -->> > --> > > -->> > --> > > -->> > --> > > -->> > --> Could you email those pdf's? > -->> > > -->> > > -->> > -->> > -->> http://JohnMeister.com/DieselBenz/TECH/124-series/PDFs/ > -->> > -->> > -->> > -->Got it! Thanks. > --> > -->Jon > --> > --> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://JohnMeister.com **** http://wagoneers.com ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold ** http://freegift.net *** http://greatcom.org/laws/languages.html ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #2063 **********************************