1980 300SD

[Tref]

OK, a stupid question first. I have been finding it difficult to read the coolant level because there is so much crud on the inside of the resivor. I took the resivor off and tried to clean if with a bunch of household cleaners and nothing made a dent. I guess the right answer is to go buy a new one, but there was something in the challenge of this one. Any suggestions??

The glow plug light on the dash is not coming on. The bulb is good and all of the glow plugs have been replaced with the last year. The car starts fine (20 - 30 degrees F. I know that I have been through this before, but somehow I remember that if it is starting OK that it is not the glow plugs or the relay. Any suggestions??

Also, I cannot get the spell check to work. I get an error message and then a blank box.

[engatwork]

I would strongly suggest flushing/cleaning you entire cooling system. It has been my opinion that if that stuff is in the reservoir then it is also in the engine cooling passages. That is not good. Get a price from Partsshop.com for a new reservoir and just replace it.

Jim
'95 E320
'97 Honda CRV

[rickjordan]

The resevoir on my SD is in similar condition, though I haven't tried to clean it yet. Short of buying a new one, you could shine a flash light through the top and get reading that way. Unless it really bad. I don't remember how much a new one would cost. What do you mean by it being a challenge to replace it?

[Tref]

The challenge is just that it needs to be cleaned... it seems so simple.

And I unerstand the relationship to the rest of the system.

Given that it has over 300,000 miles, what would be your recommedation. How would I clean the system??

[longston]

Tref

If the challenge you face is that, like me, you just can't say no to obsessive, compulsive tasks like cleaning the reservoir in your car instead of replacing it, then try a product called: CLR. The CLR stands for Calcium, Lime, and Rust, and that's what it's designed to dissolve. You should be able to find it at a local market or hardware store with the cleaning supplies.

I assume that you completely removed the reservoir from the car, so plug up the holes, read the directions, try a diluted application, and let it stew for awhile. I get good results on many problem cleaning areas with this stuff. I have never even thought of trying it to clean out and flush an automotive cooling system, so unless someone else has, or the Mfgr says it's kosher, I wouldn't suggest that.

As for the glow plugs, are you sure you are getting power to all of them. My dash light wasn't coming on, and I discovered that two of mine weren't getting with the program, so to be safe, I replaced all five. You could also see if you haven't blown the fuse. Also, you should search the archives in the diesel forum.

[Tref]

Hey, Thanks for the feedback. CLR was one of the first things I tried. I took the reservoir off and plugged the wholes and let it sit for a while. I would have to say that it is a little better, but still difficult to read the coolant level. I did not try anything on the rest of the coolant system.

I am still tracking down the glow plug problem. I am getting through the factory manual.

[Robert W. Roe]

Just a thought. Some of the chlorine in the new gel type dishwasher detergents may help bleach the years of staining out. Just watch that you don't melt the thing when the "dry" cycle starts.

[stevebfl]

I'm not sure what's in your reservoir, but its been my experience that the plastic itself becomes discolored.

As to your glow indicator light, the relay is responsible for its timing. The light itself doesn't indicate glowing; just how long glowing should take at the current temperature.

Unfortunately we have seen many of the ch116.120 glow relays failed in this way. A few we have fixed electronically. A few we have hooked to the seat belt light for an appropriate delay for a Florida morning.

That relay is the most expensive by far of the glow relays. If determining the timing is that necessary I might try and wire in one of the newer/cheaper relays.

BTW if your diesel is still starting its obviously glowing.

Tref, I posted some tests for the relay over on the diesel board.

I just cleaned my coolant reservoir. I took it off, brought it into the kitchen sink. Put soapy water in and used a bottle brush from the grocery store. I bought the long one, and bent the handle so it would reach way back there. It seemed to be full of brown "soil". No matter how much hot water I poured in the dirt was not budging until I used the brush. They do turn yellow, but should still be readable.

[MikeTangas]

Hurts your finger if you're checking it hot, hahahahaha ROFFLMAO

[longston]

Mike, you forgot that Bill is a Texan. A Texan can check his coolant temperature, and level with his tongue when it's hot, and not EVEN WINCE... ROFFLMFAO

[Edited by longston on 01-15-2001 at 12:07 AM]

[MikeTangas]

I been away from the Homeland for way too long, reckon I forgot about that. And since TxBill is from my neck-o-the woods (big tall Piney woods that is), when you're outside checking the coolant level, you're standing in a Turkish sauna.

My hands are getting soft, they been Californicated.

[longston]

There's that old joke about the Texan who came to visit his cousin in San Francisco, and after havin' a bunch of beers, they decided to take a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. Well, they got to about mid-span when the "lease" ran out on the beer, so they decided to answer the call of nature into the blue Pacific. Whilst doin' so,the California boy sez, "Man, cuz, that water's real cold", and the Texan sez, "Yep, pardner, and it's real damn deep, too"... 10-4?

You can take the boy out of Texas, but you cain't take Texas out of the boy...

[Edited by longston on 01-15-2001 at 02:09 PM]