83' 300SD Shaking and clanking at pick up!

[pulix]

Hello Folks! Well, for the first time I have not a clue as to what could be causing my car to be acting as it is.....I'll explain:

Filled up the gas tank and added LUCAS Fuel Treatment (about 5 ozs. to 19 gallons of diesel)
This was on a Saturday. Car was fine until Wednesday morning, when, after riding on the interstate, started to hesitate and shudder at low speed, with lots and lots of white smoke and even black smoke when the gas pedal is pushed hard. Then I hard clanking noises and figured it must of been the additive. So I let the tank go to empty and filled up car again. At first much much better and I went as far as to add 1 bottle 12 ozs. of Redline Diesel Catalyst> (as recommended by a Mercedes tech and Diesel owner himself).
Well the car has gone back to shuddering, and shaking at low speed until it picks up to about 45-50 miles, then the shaking stops. Smoke is still present but not as much as when I first noticed the shaking.

Does this sound to be a combustion problem?
Should I have any of the engine checked out?

Please let me know your always welcome opinions...

Thank you in advance
Andrew Montoya
Orlando, Florida

[SD Blue]

It sounds like a fuel problem. I am not sure why, but I had a similar experience with Lucas the first time I used it. This is not to say Lucas fuel additive is not a good product.

This may have dislodged some debris and moved it "downstream", namely the injectors. Running Redline diesel fuel catalyst and biodiesel seemed to make the biggest difference on mine.

These cars seem to be a little sensitive sometimes to any "cleaning" of the fuel system. Of course it may be because this was not done on a routine basis by a previous owner and causes problems when done for the first time.

[billrei]

Originally Posted by pulix

Does this sound to be a combustion problem?
Should I have any of the engine checked out?

Please let me know your always welcome opinions...

Thank you in advance
Andrew Montoya
Orlando, Florida

That would yes and another yes....

Seems to me if it clears itself at certain speeds it can't be a plugged injector. Plus black smoke means too much fuel not starvation.

[Wodnek]

I would start by changing the fuel filters before I had it looked at. Eliminate the easy stuff first.

[pulix]

Thanks for the tips!

What about white smoke? I've seen much more white/greyish smoke than I have black smoke in the last couple of days. And I know it's not the normal puff of white smoke that my car (when running normally) gives out. It's much more and continous.

I'll have the car checked out but in the meantime should I let the tank run dry and then bleed the gas line? Is that a no-no?

[dieseldiehard]

smell the smoke, if necessary have someone else drive by while you sniff it out. If its sweet smelling it is likely to be antifreeze, not a good sign, possible that your losing a head gasket. If it smells oily (and usually has a bluish tint) its possible that you have a Turbo bearing failure, or the vac pump diaphragm has torn and oil is sucking into the intake thru that route (a relatively easy fix)
Whatever, it should be checked soon before you lose too much oil and need a new engine! Last possibility is the timing is out or a valve is not closing or something related to a head problem (valve seals?)