Took a close look at my waste gate today. I can't tell anything about whether it works or not. The waste gate hose seemed loose at the top so I tigthened it. Anyway, there was oil in the plastic U shaped tube that runs from the air cleaner housing to the turbo. Oil also in the housing, which, of course, comes from the breather tube. The drain tube that goes to the oil pan was not connected to the housing, but I don't think that can cause oil to build up, unless it has vacuum, which I don't think it does. There seems to be a lot of air pressure in the breather hose. I guess this is "blow by". So, could this be caused by faulty valve seals? How do I tell if the seals are bad? The car isn't using excessive oil, so I guess this oil has just built up over time.

When I first got this car a year ago there was a lot of oil in the air filter housing. I figured the oil seperater was bad so I replaced the housing unit. There isn't as much oil now but it concerns me that it was in the intake.

Thanks,
Mark

Hello 83 300D

Florida, Alaska, Arctic circle???
What is your outside temperature???
The following list is arranged in order of how I would test.
Wild guesses:
#1. Plugged fuel filters or tank screen.
#2. Bad lift pump or lines.
#3. Bad engine compression.
#4. Bad injectors.

#5. Bad injection pump.

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1985 300SD
1983 300D
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83 300D,

Try leaving the GP on after longer after the GP light goes out. The GP light is just a timer and the GP remain on after it goes out. The GP usually stay on for about 45 seconds if not interrupted by turning the key to start.

P E H

83 300D,

Vave seals have no effect on blow by. Blow by is gasses that escape past the rings. The only thing valve seals affect is oil comsumption. They prevent engine lubricating oil from leaking into the intake or exhaust manifold thru the clearance between the valve and the valve guide..

This is more prevalent on gasoline engines because of the vacuum in the intake manifold and less prevalent on super or turbo charged engines because of the pressure in the intake manifold.

P E H

Alabama. It was real cold here yesterday. High of 48 F.

Mark

__________________
1983 300D 308,000 mi (Daily driver).

28F here, and no trouble starting without a block heater.
The oil in your U tube is blow by, volume is the question.

Note:
P.E.Haiges
Vave seals have a notable effect on blow by.
Intake and exhaust are pressurized, anything that leaks into the crank case will increase CCV (Crank Case Vent) output = blow by.
Anything that increases blow by = bad news on a diesel.
Refer to thread:
Run away diesel, why does it happen?
Run away diesel, why does it happen?

I had a similar problem to you... car was always very hard to start. Had crank for 15 seconds (with a 20 second+ glow) if the temp was under 60. Car would blow HUGE cloud of white smoke. Idle was rough and would rock the entire car (hot or cold). Whenever you were under partial throttle and light light load it would billow huge clouds of white smoke (hot/cold) and run like crap. That part was extremely predictable.

Adjusted valves, replaced glow plugs, all new filters, rebuilt injectors, new nozzles, upped to proper pressures.... car just got worse and worse. Replaced the injection pump yesterday and it fixed ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. Car runs great now!!

I would keep running down WHunter's list, but don't be afraid to include the pump in your list of problem childs.

Side note, where the devil is the lift pump? Is it internal to the injection pump? Or is it where the manual hand pump attached to the IP? You would think I would know this after I replaced the IP...

G'luck!

John Robbins
'79 300SD

Tym,

Yes, the fuel pump is attached externally to the IP next to where the primer pump it attached.

I would think it is a fuel pump more than a lift pump because it pressurizes the IP, whereas a lift pump normally just fills the bowl of a carbureator.

P E H