I've got 4 new glowplugs in mine (new as in less than a week old) and just put Rotella synthetic in. I got desperate after several days it wouldn't start last week.

It's sitting out there now with the following:

1) Lower radiator hose heater is plugged in and will stay plugged in all night.
2) I have a 250W heat light near the back of the engine resting on the transmission.
3) I have a 100W bulb (fear of melting things) resting on the steering box.

Between those three heaters, I have heat sources in a rough triangle around the engine. And then to make it all stick,

4) A fiberglass blanket that was made to insulate a hot water heater is tucked in across the entire engine bay. The hood is closed down to hold it in place.

The idea is that those electric heat sources will produce heat "near" the block and then the insulation blanket will make the heat sort of surround everything. I tested this setup last night but it only went down to 25 degrees and at 25, I know conclusively that the car would have started ANYWAY.

Tonight it's supposed to go down to 7 above. THAT is a temp that I *know* made it fail to start with 15W40 and no electric heat other than glow plugs. So... if it works in the morning, we know this is a useful means of heating the engine.

The car doesn't have a factory block heater and we lack the resources to properly install one even if we could get the plug out. Might do it after Christmas. I am 100% positive that I don't have a heater-but-no-cord; there's no heater.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL