aren't mercedes diesels supposed to leak?

In Theory.....NO

In Reality.....Damn near every one

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Yup, my IP started developing leaks shortly after ULSD came out, I replaced the IP with a reman unit and have about 50K miles on ULSD (no additives) without a single drip. The original IP was 20 years old, is anyone surprised it leaked? If I need to replace it again in another 10-20 years, I won't complain. In the mean time, I'm not interested in playing with additives, the pump ULSD has everything it needs to meet the specs.

IMHO 20 years is pretty good.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

When using straight diesel - 16oz / 2 cups new veg oil per tank, for my own peace of mind. Adds lubricating qualities, cheap, buy it on sale for $4 a gallon.

you think adding a few caps of regular oil per tank would do the trick?

bTW I have a 87 300 sdl

This report was discussed on a Liberty CRD forum that I visit. Looks like 2% bio diesel is great or WallyWorld 2cycle oil. MMO does not fare well, but it makes my engine run smooth.

http://www.johnfjensen.com/Diesel_fuel_additive_test.pdf

Lewis

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1978 300D Just awakened from a 8 year nap.
2005 Jeep Liberty Diesel Sport w/large Rectangular hole in top

You can always replace the o-rings and injector return lines with viton components.

Blatent Plug!
http://www.fryerpower.com/store/page11.html

Then support the site and buy everything else from this forum's sponsors. They don't sell viton components, so I do.

-Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

This is one of the things that surprised me when I first joined this forum...there seemed to be little or no concern about ULSD and the effects it has on the vehicle! Go to any VW diesel site though, and comments fly thick and fast about these additives! In fact, most everyone swears by Stanadyne, which (according to some pundits) is actually required on VW diesels!

Having come from a VW that leaked like the proverbial cow on a flat rock, I was a little concerned. However, so far, I have not noticed any leaks on my IP. There is some new wetness developing on the top of my larger fuel filter (which was always dry before) but its not leaking in that sense.

Generally, I sense that ULSD hasn't really done much harm to the Merc crowd. It has decimated the VW crowd and a visit to any of the older VW diesel forums will show you how much angst those 4 letters have caused.

My question is: Why?

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1987 300TD
1984 300D
755,000 KM and going strong
BC Canada

Which seals is it that this new fuel effects? how hard is it to change them?

What year/model are you driving?

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Because our IP's are lubed via engine oil, VW's use fuel oil. ULSD seems to hasten the failure of a few old seals, thats about it.

Also lets not forget that for what my OM603 costs you can probably buy 3-4 VW diesel engines.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I also suspect this "concern" is complete BS on VWs as well as benz engines. Every-time something changes in fuel, there will be a certain amount of "the sky is falling" nonsense. It will go away in a few years if you ignore it.

You can overcome ULSD by adding a little ASTM biodiesel at every fill-up.