From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Thu Apr 6 00:54:07 2006 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Thursday, April 6 2006 Volume 01 : Number 2129 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] freeways, projects and flakes Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues Re: [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues Re: [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues 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: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:15:06 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] freeways, projects and flakes ...not necessarily in that order... :) saw this nice looking red MJ heading south down I-405 Tuesday morning... heading for 520... too bad I couldn't have given you a call before you made the exit Jim... obviously you weren't listening to traffic reports... :) how bad WAS that backup and accident on the floating bridge? :) that was freeways, now, projects: been talking to curtis... target date to have Superdawg move under his own power is Memorial Day weekend... target date to roll out of the shop with a "primer" paint job, July 4th. Getting Superdawg mechanically functioning by memorial day weekend is a reasonable target, and should give enough time to have it road worthy by July 4th so I can use it to go to South Dakota on our soon to be processed BioDiesel... unless of course bruce hasn't gotten that all working yet... in which case I guess I'll use waste veggie oil... we figure three barrels of either Biodiesel or veggie oil should get us to and from South Dakota. :) 3,000 miles / estimated 20mpg (6.2L Diesel in the j10), that's about 150 gallons. Superdawg has 40 gallons on board, so really I could get by with two 55 gallon drums, or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover on the bed... the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? Driving the J10 instead of the '91 300D is very desireable because of the "free" fuel I have... Even at 34mpg the benz would cost about $255 in Diesel at $2.90/gallon. Driving the WJ would be simply hideous cost-wise: probably around $480 in fuel. This will be a good shakedown run for Superdawg and allow me to identify fine tuning points before he gets his final paint coat. I've already got a list of things I'm planning on doing to it when it shows up in my drive, not going to bother Curtis with them so he can focus on getting it together... besides, they involve duct tape and it might disturb him... (no paint will be harmed in the operation... ;) (has to do with the idea of giving my wife HEAT, and me A/C. :) I love the FSJ climate controls... if I want to open the vents, use the heat and run the A/C all at once I can. Unlike the rube goldberg setup in some very nice automobiles. ;) oh yeah, and flakes... had my laptop listed on craigslist, had a few folks interested and some yahoo wanted it, said he's going to have a postal money order sent, when it clears then he'll have fedex pick it up... so I figure, ok, he ain't getting it until the money order clears... so I get a "notice" in email... interesting that the USPS can't spell... or use their own servers to send the notice. (PINE has a very easy means to display the full header info... ;) What a dirt bag. So I changed the craigslist ad to say local sales only. Gave me a reason to contact an old friend who decided to give up software development to become an fbi agent... too bad no crime was committed... I think... ;) Speaking of selling stuff... any idea what a nice white '92 XJ with not one, but TWO engines (not installed... or working) would go for? ;) I'm open to offers... I am being tempted to consider a Diesel Benz install... but I still have 14 of 15 grad school classes to take and a '48 Cj-2a that needs a tranny swap, top installed and to be driven... ...am giving some thought to towing it out to South Dakota on vacation... but not sure I really want to drag it across the country and back... hey, the J10 is a Jeep and South Dakota isn't really all that challenging... ;) (at least the part we're going. ;) end of transmission... 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 ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fry some phish: http://castlecops.com/pirt - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:26:59 -0700 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes On Wed Apr 05, 2006, john wrote: > > have it road worthy by July 4th so I can use it to go to South Dakota > on our soon to be processed BioDiesel... unless of course bruce hasn't > gotten that all working yet... in which case I guess I'll use waste > veggie oil... Not yet (due to my own road trip the last couple of weeks), but if I haven't got it running *well* before July 4th, it probably means there is a pretty major problem...! > or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover > on the bed... > the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? Why am I suddenly getting the urge to watch my "Road Warrior" DVD...? :) - -bkc Lynnwood, WA '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] (30th bday party 11Jun) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] (replaces ML) '92 Toyota Celica GT (wife's old car) '00 MB ML320 [W163.154/M112.942] (to be sold) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:29:28 -0700 From: Kevin Subject: Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes On Wed, Apr 05, 2006 at 11:26:59PM -0700, Bruce Caruthers wrote: > > or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover > > on the bed... > > the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? > > Why am I suddenly getting the urge to watch my > "Road Warrior" DVD...? :) HAHAHAH Seriously though, I find Vanishing Point is a much better movie to watch if you're trying to get amped up for a long road trip. K ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:39:21 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes On Wed, 5 Apr 2006, Bruce Caruthers wrote: >-->On Wed Apr 05, 2006, john wrote: >-->> >-->> have it road worthy by July 4th so I can use it to go to South Dakota >-->> on our soon to be processed BioDiesel... unless of course bruce hasn't >-->> gotten that all working yet... in which case I guess I'll use waste >-->> veggie oil... >--> >--> Not yet (due to my own road trip the last couple >--> of weeks), but if I haven't got it running *well* >--> before July 4th, it probably means there is a >--> pretty major problem...! hey, waste veggie oil works... just has to be diluted... so it'll cost me $150 to make the trip... ;) >--> >-->> or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover >-->> on the bed... >-->> the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? >--> >--> >--> Why am I suddenly getting the urge to watch my >--> "Road Warrior" DVD...? :) I do tend to inspire the people around me... ;) btw, totally off-topic, except that I was sitting in the Benz for a few of these pictures: http://JohnMeister.com/fotos/2006/5_April-misc-snohomish-garden-mtns/ john >--> >--> >-->-bkc >-->Lynnwood, WA >-->'76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] (30th bday party 11Jun) >-->'93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] (replaces ML) >-->'92 Toyota Celica GT (wife's old car) >-->'00 MB ML320 [W163.154/M112.942] (to be sold) >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** 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 ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fry some phish: http://castlecops.com/pirt - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:42:07 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes On Wed, 5 Apr 2006, Kevin wrote: >-->On Wed, Apr 05, 2006 at 11:26:59PM -0700, Bruce Caruthers wrote: >-->> > or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover >-->> > on the bed... >-->> > the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? >-->> >-->> Why am I suddenly getting the urge to watch my >-->> "Road Warrior" DVD...? :) >--> >-->HAHAHAH >--> >-->Seriously though, I find Vanishing Point is a much better movie to watch >-->if you're trying to get amped up for a long road trip. >-->K oh yeah... do you also remember that one with the guy driving the dart being chased by that truck??? can't remember the guy's name, tall guy... it was back in the early '70s... or worse, the national lampoon summer vacation... 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 ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fry some phish: http://castlecops.com/pirt - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:50:06 -0700 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: Re: [db] freeways, projects and flakes I was thinking of Road Warrior for the whole "carrying all my fuel with me", complete with barrels lashed onto the back, aspect of "Road Warrior"... Haven't seen "Vanishing Point" -- guess I will have to toss it onto my Netflix list (got a 2 month gift subscription). - -bkc On Wed Apr 05, 2006, Kevin wrote: > On Wed, Apr 05, 2006 at 11:26:59PM -0700, Bruce Caruthers wrote: > > > or maybe I'll just use 5 gallon buckets so I can put a tarp or cover > > > on the bed... > > > the 55 gallon drums might be a bit over the top, eh? > > > > Why am I suddenly getting the urge to watch my > > "Road Warrior" DVD...? :) > > HAHAHAH > > Seriously though, I find Vanishing Point is a much better movie to watch > if you're trying to get amped up for a long road trip. > > K ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 00:01:34 -0700 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues So, just completed a 2 1/2 week driving tour of a large chunk of the West/Southwest (inspired by my wife's break between teaching quarters plus our annual Natl Parks pass we picked up on the way home from Chicago with the W124): * Seattle to [snowed in] Yellowstone by way of eastern Oregon and southern Idaho * Provo [Salt Lake was busy/pricey from NCAA championships] * Bryce Canyon [weather broke just perfectly for the 2 hours we were there for pictures and enjoying the snowy view] * Zion NP [gorgeous! we want to go back for a week to explore the area at some point] * Grand Canyon [visibility == zero due to snow and fog, plus the several vehicles that ran off the road... on the easy, straight parts!] * Flagstaff [12 degrees plus wind, lots of fun with people who have no clue how to drive in a blizzard and should just have pulled in to a motel for the night instead of doing 35 in the left lane -- both my wife (native Californian) and I were perfectly comfortable with me doing 65 with the weather] * Sedona [nice, but has been way overdeveloped since we were last there 2 1/2 years ago] [did some minor off-roading with the W124, had fun passing really shiny Jeeps and other SUVs; got plenty of "thumbs-up"s from Pink Jeep Tours drivers especially when we got to the top of the hill and were the only non-Pink Jeep vehicle there -- heard at least one Pink Jeep tour passenger (paying $75 for their ride) cry out "... Mercedes!?! ..." as we passed them] * then visiting friends and family in Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego [some really cool stuff along I-8! the dunes, the "piles o' rocks", etc], LA, SF Bay Area, Eugene, and finally home For the most part, except for the weather, the trip went pretty well. (Pictures available soon -- I took about 1500...) BUT... (and here's where I get to the "on topic" part) My W124 ('93 300D 2.5L Turbo, basically the same as Shadowfax) has a serious lack of power, which I don't think is normal. Had trouble making it over passes at speeds above 50, often had acceleration issues even on minor rises unless I used significant manual shifting of the automatic transmission (tricks learned from driving my '76 240D for the past 20 years), and generally felt pretty wimpy (we got passed by *Neons*, and even some big rigs and RVs on the uphills!) It is barely better than my W115 ('76 240D) on the hills. Actually, my W115 would probably beat it at the lower speeds (the W124 would still trounce my W115 at highway stuff, and on longer hills). Any thoughts? Oil levels stayed fine, none got burned off the entire trip (changed just before the trip, using Amsoil Series 3000). Mileage ranged from 29 to just under 40 (actually tended to be higher with the passes...). Had the whole car checked over by Jim Startup's folks for the week before we left. This is not new, it has been like this since we got it in September, and hasn't gotten any better, really. Does it sound like a compression issue? Transmission? Injector ports? It almost acts like it has a governor on it (had a rental car with that once, over in Germany). But I figure Jim Startup would have noticed and mentioned that... - -bkc Lynnwood, WA '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] (30th bday party 11Jun) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] (replaces ML) '92 Toyota Celica GT (wife's old car) '00 MB ML320 [W163.154/M112.942] (to be sold) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 00:13:18 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues did you change out the fuel filters? next time you're over I'll have to give it a test run to see if it's ok. was really surprised to see that my 124 was nearly as fast, or even faster than your ml up the highway here... but there are days when my 124 would have trouble passing your 115. :) not very many mind you, but some days it's not real perky... john On Thu, 6 Apr 2006, Bruce Caruthers wrote: >-->So, just completed a 2 1/2 week driving tour of a >-->large chunk of the West/Southwest (inspired by my >-->wife's break between teaching quarters plus our >-->annual Natl Parks pass we picked up on the way home >-->from Chicago with the W124): >--> >-->* Seattle to [snowed in] Yellowstone by way of >--> eastern Oregon and southern Idaho >--> >-->* Provo >--> [Salt Lake was busy/pricey from NCAA championships] >--> >-->* Bryce Canyon >--> [weather broke just perfectly for the 2 hours we >--> were there for pictures and enjoying the snowy view] >--> >-->* Zion NP >--> [gorgeous! we want to go back for a week to >--> explore the area at some point] >--> >-->* Grand Canyon >--> [visibility == zero due to snow and fog, plus the >--> several vehicles that ran off the road... on the >--> easy, straight parts!] >--> >-->* Flagstaff [12 degrees plus wind, lots of fun with >--> people who have no clue how to drive in a blizzard >--> and should just have pulled in to a motel for the >--> night instead of doing 35 in the left lane -- both >--> my wife (native Californian) and I were perfectly >--> comfortable with me doing 65 with the weather] >--> >-->* Sedona [nice, but has been way overdeveloped since >--> we were last there 2 1/2 years ago] >--> [did some minor off-roading with the W124, had fun >--> passing really shiny Jeeps and other SUVs; got >--> plenty of "thumbs-up"s from Pink Jeep Tours drivers >--> especially when we got to the top of the hill and >--> were the only non-Pink Jeep vehicle there -- heard >--> at least one Pink Jeep tour passenger (paying $75 >--> for their ride) cry out "... Mercedes!?! ..." as >--> we passed them] >--> >-->* then visiting friends and family in Phoenix, >--> Tucson, San Diego [some really cool stuff along >--> I-8! the dunes, the "piles o' rocks", etc], LA, >--> SF Bay Area, Eugene, and finally home >--> >-->For the most part, except for the weather, the trip >-->went pretty well. (Pictures available soon -- I >-->took about 1500...) >--> >-->BUT... (and here's where I get to the "on topic" part) >--> >-->My W124 ('93 300D 2.5L Turbo, basically the same as >-->Shadowfax) has a serious lack of power, which I >-->don't think is normal. Had trouble making it over >-->passes at speeds above 50, often had acceleration >-->issues even on minor rises unless I used significant >-->manual shifting of the automatic transmission (tricks >-->learned from driving my '76 240D for the past 20 years), >-->and generally felt pretty wimpy (we got passed by >-->*Neons*, and even some big rigs and RVs on the uphills!) >--> >-->It is barely better than my W115 ('76 240D) on the >-->hills. Actually, my W115 would probably beat it at >-->the lower speeds (the W124 would still trounce my >-->W115 at highway stuff, and on longer hills). >--> >-->Any thoughts? Oil levels stayed fine, none got >-->burned off the entire trip (changed just before the >-->trip, using Amsoil Series 3000). Mileage ranged >-->from 29 to just under 40 (actually tended to be >-->higher with the passes...). Had the whole car >-->checked over by Jim Startup's folks for the week >-->before we left. >--> >-->This is not new, it has been like this since we got >-->it in September, and hasn't gotten any better, >-->really. Does it sound like a compression issue? >-->Transmission? Injector ports? >--> >-->It almost acts like it has a governor on it (had a >-->rental car with that once, over in Germany). But I >-->figure Jim Startup would have noticed and mentioned >-->that... >--> >-->-bkc >-->Lynnwood, WA >-->'76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] (30th bday party 11Jun) >-->'93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] (replaces ML) >-->'92 Toyota Celica GT (wife's old car) >-->'00 MB ML320 [W163.154/M112.942] (to be sold) >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** 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 ** - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to fry some phish: http://castlecops.com/pirt - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 00:48:09 -0700 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: Re: [db] Bruce's roadtrip, and W124/602 issues I believe oil, air, and fuel filters were changed (will have to double-check with Jim). Also used the block heater for all the colder areas (especially Flagstaff and West Yellowstone) just in case, if that makes any difference (although I've been having these issues in both cold and warm weather conditions, pretty consistently. - -bkc On Thu Apr 06, 2006, john wrote: > > did you change out the fuel filters? > > next time you're over I'll have to give it a test > run to see if it's ok. was really surprised to > see that my 124 was nearly as fast, or even faster > than your ml up the highway here... but there > are days when my 124 would have trouble passing > your 115. :) not very many mind you, but some > days it's not real perky... > > john > > On Thu, 6 Apr 2006, Bruce Caruthers wrote: > > >-->So, just completed a 2 1/2 week driving tour of a > >-->large chunk of the West/Southwest (inspired by my > >-->wife's break between teaching quarters plus our > >-->annual Natl Parks pass we picked up on the way home > >-->from Chicago with the W124): > >--> > >-->* Seattle to [snowed in] Yellowstone by way of > >--> eastern Oregon and southern Idaho > >--> > >-->* Provo > >--> [Salt Lake was busy/pricey from NCAA championships] > >--> > >-->* Bryce Canyon > >--> [weather broke just perfectly for the 2 hours we > >--> were there for pictures and enjoying the snowy view] > >--> > >-->* Zion NP > >--> [gorgeous! we want to go back for a week to > >--> explore the area at some point] > >--> > >-->* Grand Canyon > >--> [visibility == zero due to snow and fog, plus the > >--> several vehicles that ran off the road... on the > >--> easy, straight parts!] > >--> > >-->* Flagstaff [12 degrees plus wind, lots of fun with > >--> people who have no clue how to drive in a blizzard > >--> and should just have pulled in to a motel for the > >--> night instead of doing 35 in the left lane -- both > >--> my wife (native Californian) and I were perfectly > >--> comfortable with me doing 65 with the weather] > >--> > >-->* Sedona [nice, but has been way overdeveloped since > >--> we were last there 2 1/2 years ago] > >--> [did some minor off-roading with the W124, had fun > >--> passing really shiny Jeeps and other SUVs; got > >--> plenty of "thumbs-up"s from Pink Jeep Tours drivers > >--> especially when we got to the top of the hill and > >--> were the only non-Pink Jeep vehicle there -- heard > >--> at least one Pink Jeep tour passenger (paying $75 > >--> for their ride) cry out "... Mercedes!?! ..." as > >--> we passed them] > >--> > >-->* then visiting friends and family in Phoenix, > >--> Tucson, San Diego [some really cool stuff along > >--> I-8! the dunes, the "piles o' rocks", etc], LA, > >--> SF Bay Area, Eugene, and finally home > >--> > >-->For the most part, except for the weather, the trip > >-->went pretty well. (Pictures available soon -- I > >-->took about 1500...) > >--> > >-->BUT... (and here's where I get to the "on topic" part) > >--> > >-->My W124 ('93 300D 2.5L Turbo, basically the same as > >-->Shadowfax) has a serious lack of power, which I > >-->don't think is normal. Had trouble making it over > >-->passes at speeds above 50, often had acceleration > >-->issues even on minor rises unless I used significant > >-->manual shifting of the automatic transmission (tricks > >-->learned from driving my '76 240D for the past 20 years), > >-->and generally felt pretty wimpy (we got passed by > >-->*Neons*, and even some big rigs and RVs on the uphills!) > >--> > >-->It is barely better than my W115 ('76 240D) on the > >-->hills. Actually, my W115 would probably beat it at > >-->the lower speeds (the W124 would still trounce my > >-->W115 at highway stuff, and on longer hills). > >--> > >-->Any thoughts? Oil levels stayed fine, none got > >-->burned off the entire trip (changed just before the > >-->trip, using Amsoil Series 3000). Mileage ranged > >-->from 29 to just under 40 (actually tended to be > >-->higher with the passes...). Had the whole car > >-->checked over by Jim Startup's folks for the week > >-->before we left. > >--> > >-->This is not new, it has been like this since we got > >-->it in September, and hasn't gotten any better, > >-->really. Does it sound like a compression issue? > >-->Transmission? Injector ports? > >--> > >-->It almost acts like it has a governor on it (had a > >-->rental car with that once, over in Germany). But I > >-->figure Jim Startup would have noticed and mentioned > >-->that... > >--> ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #2129 **********************************