I would like your guys opinions, thoughts anything you want to share…
I have a 1987 300D Turbo that runs GREAT. I love my baby very much. I am the second owner. The car had 250K miles when I got it, now about 262K. The car never burns any oil, doesn’t leak fluids(now) and the RPM is steady rock solid at 500.
When I got the car the water pump was leaking, AC not working (Thanks to Brian Carlton from this forum I have a custom made KLIMA relay) cruise control and sunroof still not working will be next project and the fuel gage drives me crazy most of the time but I learned to ignore it).
About 4 months ago one morning when I started the car I was shocked. The most horrible noise I have ever heard coming from under the hood. It was EXTREMLY LOUD and FAST, like a tapping nock very metallic. At first I thought that a piece of something broke and got caught in the fan, I stopped the engine immediately and did a visual inspection. Nothing. I restarted the car and the sound was GONE. Well I though that was it, until the next day. And from there on for 4 months every time the car was cold it made this crazy noise, my neighbors sometimes come out, really it was loud. The noise lasted for about 5 minutes and realized that if I step on the gas the noise will stop, but came back as soon as the car was running at idle. Once the engine warmed up, no noise unless you turn the AC on and barely step on the gas. The noise was not that loud and only came on for few seconds and at longer interval every 5 seconds or so. BANG 5 second later again BANG.
Last week or so the car smoked excessively at times, running a little rough and other clanking noise could be hear at all times…
Reading this forums I learned about Silver Star Motors in Sacramento and John Ralich. I called them first about an O ring replacement from the fuel thermostat and to purchase a vacuum booster hose, he told me over the phone to bring the fuel thermostat and he will replace the o ring for 40 bucks and have my hose by 3PM that day. I was happy. I dropped the thermostat about noon and I met John for the first time. He is a funny guy, he knows a lot about this cars but to me seems a little overconfident . My first impressions on the Shop, it seemed very clean, organized, busy. I liked that I have only seen Mercedes Benz Automobiles. When I took the thermostat out I messed up one of the star screws and I had to take it with the bracket, I showed John and he also replace the screws with brand new ones. The thermostat NEVER licked again (about 3 weeks). I was happy.
Last Monday morning I decided to bring my car in to diagnose the loud noise. I was scared since the smoke and other noise came that I would damage the engine or some other major components. I told him about the water pump, he looked around my car also found that the serpentine belt Tensioner and the drive belt damper to be bad, but the noise did not come on since the car was hot, we turn on the AC and stepped on the gas a bit and bang there is the noise. He told me that is bad not to drive it anymore, he told me that he will fix everything by that afternoon or tomorrow. He also gave me a ride home(one of the guys there with a kick ass 240 D manual 4 speed, I asked the guy if he sells it but he didn’t speak any English).
That afternoon about 5 I called John and what bother me was that he had no idea who I was even after briefly described the car and problem, lol very busy guy, I told him about the noise he said he will start first thing the following morning when the car was cold.
Tuesday I called John about 3PM and again he had no idea who I was, again went to the noise problem and he told me that he has no idea where the noise comes from, that he replace the water pump and the rest but still needs time to check the noise, he told me initially that it could be the timing chain or something related to it. I was pissed since I wanted my car, but calmed down quickly thinking about the noise. Wednesday morning about 11 I called John again, trying to be calm and I though that if he hadn’t done anything about the noise again I would pick up my car that hour and bring it somewhere else. The guy at the desk told me he is busy with my car and that he will call me back in 30 minutes. 3 hours later John from Silver Star Motors calls and told me that he has checked everything form chain to vacuum pump piston and that he found the HYDRAULIC LIFTERS to make the noise and he has to replace all of them. I asked him how long is going to take, to my surprise that evening 6 PM the car would be finish. **** the bill over 1200. I said go ahead and hang up the phone. I talk to John about 20 minutes when arrived there at 6PM he showed me the lifters and explained how they got bad and what could of happened. Also he told me that he adjusted the chain, and made sure everything else was good. He showed me a radiator lick that I never saw before and he said I will see coolant dripping down from the side of the radiator when the car is cold under the upper hose where the plastic and aluminum bind. I paid and left. The car smelled like diesel fuel all over. As soon as I got home I put a flash light and realized that injector no 1 and 6 are full of diesel fuel all over. I clean them very good to see if they leak fuel. The bad: What kind of struck me a little bit was that the fuel line from the spin on filter to the first injector was caught under the valve cover, I pull it out and went to bed. The next day I checked the valve cover, it was tight very good, also realized another thing, the fan cover that used to be broken was now fixed. I repeat I love my car very much and I know every little thing about it, and that for me was AWESOME. He didn’t even told me about it, and that little thing showed me that he really cares about this cars.
Indeed I saw coolant under my car not much, but I repeat I never saw that before, maybe because the coolant was never that full since the water pump leaked? I need your opinion on that. I started the car. NO NOISE the car started right up and purr like a healthy diesel. Let it warm up and went for a drive, OHHH BOYYY what a difference, the car runs smoother, no more smoke, I still have to purge the pump sometimes soon but what a differnce. I am so happy every morning when I start the car and I don’t hear that terrible noise. I change the oil myself using Mobil1 15W-50 with either a MANN or Mercedes benz filter and add 2 quarts of LUCAS oil stabilizer. I also use LUCAS fuel treatment to lubricate the fuel system, any suggestions what is better to use?
I leave you guys, and sorry about the long post. I recommend STRONGLY John and Silver Star Motors in Carmichael CA, for the local owners. He does an AWSOME job but it takes him forever, so be prepared for the wait. Me I would rather take the wait any day then have some Indy guy put the primary fuel filter upside down(it happened). My car will only see Silver Star Motors from now on!

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1987 300SDL
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Pic of this car:
http://www.gigapipe.net/300SDL/index.htm

Glad he found and fixed the issue.

But, it's an example of how busy they tend to be. Trying to work so fast that they pinch a fuel hose underneath the valve cover. If everything works in your favor, you don't have to bring it back because of oversights.

I'd recommend that you discontinue any use of oil stabilizers. They are not required and some have the opinion that they cause excessive air entrainment.

As far as the fuel treatment, the general consensus is that RedLine diesel fuel conditioner or Power Service diesel fuel conditioner will provide some benefits. I don't have any knowledge of Lucas.

Brian, Thanks again for your opinion!
Where do I get the RedLine or Power Service conditioners?
What Diesel Fuel Purge would you recomend? I was thinking about Lubro Moly Diesel Purge, what do you think?

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1987 300SDL
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Pic of this car:
http://www.gigapipe.net/300SDL/index.htm

Two days is a long time?

Around here, you are expected to not have your car for a few days.

Glad he turned it around fast. The slip up might have upset me though becuase I am a stickler for taking your time and just doing the job right ...espically when it comes to my cars (which nobody but me works on)

Glad you got it fixed.

Well they must have been busy lifters don't take that long to change. Glad everything worked out for you.

Stop using that Lucus stuff it probably caused your problem. Snake oils are not needed, just good oil.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

How do you adjust the chain?

Sixto
87 300SDL

Can you use offset keys on a 603? I thought that was only a 617 thing.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Wal-Mart sells Power Service. I can't comment on RedLine.

Lubro Moly Diesel Purge is fine. I haven't needed to use it with continuous use of the Power Service. I use 12 oz. Power Service to 20 gallons of fuel. It raises the cetane level by six points with this concentration.

Power Service comes in two types. The gray jug is what you want unless you need anti-gel capability. The white jug is for winter service. If you need anti-gel, then use the white jug. The white jug doesn't give you as much bang for the buck.

I've found Redline at PepBoys around here.

I Have used the Lucas fuel additive for years -- on a Jetta before my Benz -- and feel it works well. With the Jetta I added some whenever it took more than a revolution or 2 to start, cold -- and the starting quickly returned to that baseline. With the Benz I use it about every 4th tankful (I usually get 10 gals), and use cheap 10W-30 from the Dollar Store the rest of the time.

..........better change that to a diesel rated 10W-40 oil if you want that engine to last 300K.

Baraboom, Good job on locating a good mechanic. I have been to silver star before, and they do great work. Just I found another good one a bit closer to home. I've learned that the dealer is a bit of a drive (Im in citrus heights), and that you get your parts cheaper from a place like silver star.

As for the oil, I hate it when people use el cheapo oil. Let me know if you need "good" oil next time.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

What would be a "good" oil? I drove diesels for 14 years, well ...since I started driving really. My first car at 18 was a Peugeot 505 turbo diesel, 2.4 I think, awesome car btw and used CHEVRON Delco 15W-40, I had a 1978 300D and I started to use Mobil1 15w-50 and Lucas when the car had 280K miles I sold it at 400K at a guy in hawaii who didn't it even see the car. The engine was still running strong.
I would realy like to know the benefits(if they are any) of Synthetic oil over non sysntehic.
I was wondering what kind of oil Brian uses on his SDL

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1987 300SDL
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Pic of this car:
http://www.gigapipe.net/300SDL/index.htm

I am willing to bet you that he runs Mobil1 in his car. That, or he is running rotella.

For me, it is Mobil1 5W-30. I change the oil every 5000 miles, wven though it still appears to look new.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

In what, the quad? 5w-30 seems thin to me for that fleet, even without diesels.

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'79 300SD W116
'86 190E 2.3-16V W201
'92 300D 2.5 W124
'99 E320 4MATIC S210