I was given the advice of having the compression checked in reference to my hard starting problem. My results as follows:
Cyl 1: 240psi
Cyl 2: 255psi
Cyl 3: 360psi
Cyl 4: 360psi
Cyl 5: 360psi

After that bad news I had them do a leakdown on those two cylinders which revealed it was mainly leaking at the rings. (some from intake/exhaust valves)

So what are my options besides only driving when it's warm out?

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'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

Pulling th ehead and see what the liner looks like and see if a quickey overhaul..(set of rings) will get you more time...or a used engine.

rebuild it if you have the money.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Swap in a 5CYL turbo !

=)

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Have you adjusted your valves in the last 15000 miles? It probably wouldn't hurt to run an engine flush just before an oil change and see if you can clean those rings out. Does your engine shake at idle and how's the power? Don't give up yet.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I adjusted the valves 2K ago. Engine idles perfectly smooth with plenty of power.

__________________
'84 190d 2.2 - Silver
Converted to 5-Speed
'84 190d 2.2 - Blue
Factory 5-Speed

'76 300D (W115)
Sold, found again in less auspicious circumstances

Perhaps maybe the head gasket is a little tired? Readings on one and two are close enough to make it a possibility but the remaining cylinders 3,4 & 5 are pretty good and consistant as well. Just a coincidence perhaps? I would do a coolant test for presence of hydrocarbons and perhaps an oil anyalisis as well before concluding too much. Might also pay to watch coolant for any bubbles while running. Remember that head gasket is probably no spring chicken. Also I might suspect a little weakness in the gasket between cylinder 1 & 2 where the gasket bridges the common point between the two cylinders. In that situation would not expect any other symptoms particularily. I think it a possibility only because 3,4 & 5 seem so equal and one and two are low but equal as well. Kind of would expect to see more unequal compression values across the board in general in a worn engine. Hope others with more experience on the 617 will comment.

If it works, don't fix it.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Did you rule out any glowplug problems?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

His car sounds smoother than mine...even after I have fixed my IP.

It idles so even its unbelieveable.

I am not sure why your numbers were so low...but I would try to diagnose all the other possibilites before you decide to retire that thing for the winter.

It should start just dandy...my 300SD has lots of blowby and probably not so great compression but it does okay.

Do you have pencil or loop style plugs?

Ditto. You might also consider upgrading to the pencil style plugs. I believe your car uses the older loop-style. Its amazing what a night and day difference a new set of plugs will make.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Does engine shake indicate the need for a Valve job????

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

It can.

Its either worn delivery valve seals (in the injection pump) or the valves just need adjusted.

The latter is much easier (and way cheaper) to do...the former is a last resort

Not typically. But engine shake at idle would indicate uneven compression. The fact that he has a perfect idle makes me question the compression test results. Valve job is not the same as valve adjustment. Valve adjustment simply involves adjusting the valve clearance or tightness and it can affect compression and starting difficulty. Delivery valve seals on the IP on the other hand can definitely cause engine shake at idle. On the 617 engine this would be accompanied by external fuel leakage from the top of the pump and it's quite rare.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

problem is not compression related in my opinion. with that comp it should start just fine. keep looking. glow plugs always first place to look. second place is injectors.

good luck.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Glow Plugs. My 300D (83) would never start easily under 25 F. I put in new GP's this past spring and the car started at 18F with no problems at all.

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1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.