Skip:

Get that diesel out on the highway and drive like you are in Germany for a while. A long trip (say, Florida, maybe) at 80 in heavy traffic would be perfect.

Reason is carbon buildup from low load operation. Lots of full throttle short runs will help, too. Get the ricer boys with their sewerpipe japo puny cars to race you at stop lights (but don't get a ticket!).

I'd gladly exchange smoky starts and missing for what mine did this morning -- got in, ran the glowplugs (about 15 sec), hit the key, and got only a "thunk". Dash lights dimmed out. Tried again, same result, so bailed and drove the 280 again (what a gas hog!).

I can turn the engine in the normal direction with the bolts on the power steering pump, so my worst fear (cracked head and hydrolock) wasn't realized, but now I've come to the conclusion I have a bad starter. Dash lights don't dim with the glowplugs, so I don't think the battery is bad -- it's too small, but only a couple years old and it started fine at 0 F this winter. Made, I think, a funny crunching noise just as I turned it in the region of the starter -- hope the ring gear isn't chewed up, it's been noisy for short while when starting.

ANOTHER starter, just put one on the Volvo a couple weeks ago......

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!