my 84 505 gl diesel has less than 100,000. it has run great everyday since i got it. (51 mpg hwy)i got up this am and it wouldnt turn over to start. (7 degrees out). it turned but didnt fire. i put in new glow plugs and battery. same. all fuses i can find look fine. no problems in alaska except battery went dead 2 years ago. i smell fuel so it is getting that. where do i start?
stranded in colorado trying to get to AZ.
David
p.s. is 20-50 oil the problem?

come on you folks. i know my peugeot is nothing compared to your MB's. but a little 4 cyclinder diesel cant be that different for you to help a disabled vet get er done.

7 degrees F or C?
Is your diesel fuel winterized? gelled?
got a block heater? try it?
how full was your tank the night before? condensation frozen?

I don't think it's a good thing that you can smell fuel... it ought to be a closed system to prevent air entry. If smell particles are getting out, so too are air particles getting in.

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then the problem must be glow plugs. if the prob is glow plugs you should be able to pull start it. it is a stick? if auto i dont know about pull starting. i am asuming you have good compression. if you are down on compresssion then the valves might need adjusting. if you give us more info and background we will be better able to help. i dont know if the peugots have mech adjustable valves or not. i just checked the valves. are mechanically adjustable. the engine appears to be a pushrod desigh, so it would be a lot simpler to service than a benz.

good luck

tom w
not a vet but appreciate your sacrifice.

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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.

7° F or C? Either way that's pretty cold for 20-50 non-synthetic oil. It's probably cranking too slow because of the viscous oil.

I'd try getting the vehicle into a heated garage where you can raise the temp of the engine up to at least the 30° to 45°F range and keep it there for a while. Aiming a kerosene-fired salamander heater at the front of the engine (don't burn the paint!) or, better yet, at the oilpan might be an alternative way to warm the engine up some.

In AK, they used to drain teh lube oil and take it inside a heated area if the engine was going to be shut down an extended length of time.

Good luck.

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7° F or C? Either way that's pretty cold for 20-50 non-synthetic oil. It's probably cranking too slow because of the viscous oil.

I'd try getting the vehicle into a heated garage where you can raise the temp of the engine up to at least the 30° to 45°F range and keep it there for a while. Aiming a kerosene-fired salamander heater at the front of the engine (don't burn the paint!) or, better yet, at the oilpan might be an alternative way to warm the engine up some.

In AK, they used to drain the lube oil and take it inside a heated area if the engine was going to be shut down an extended length of time.

Good luck.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

If you can smell fuel it may mean you are not getting compression or your injection pump is not in sync with the engine. That's all I can think of at this moment. I hope I'm wrong in your case.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

The heavy oil definately isn't helping. It seems to me that since everything was working until it got cold out you need to find a way to get the engine warm. I'm guessing you don't have a block heater or you would have plugged it in. Maybe you can find a garage that would let you pull it in for a few hours to warm up? Maybe a local car parts store sells those heated dipstick's and you could warm up the oil with that? Perhaps as a last resort you could do the old Ether trick the correct way. I also like the pull starting idea if you have a stick. Once you get it running you obviously want to leave it running until you hit a warmer climate.

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1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES USE ETHER! YOU WILL CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE!

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I'd say the 20w50 is your problem. Is this the first time it's gotten that cold? Diesels don't just have to turn over to start, they have to turn over fast, the ignition is based on compression which is based on rpm (at low speeds.) The fuel you smell is the unburnt fuel that's coming out the tail pipe. You could also try doubling the glow plug time. That engine does have adjustable valves so make sure they are good. You should also have some winterized fuel at 7 degrees. How long are the glow plugs on for?

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

I've never used it on my diesel but if you search through these forums you'll find some advocate the proper use of it. However, I do know for a fact that one shot of Ether will not cause serious damage to the engine.

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1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?

Try it with a marginal head gasket and you will find out otherwise.

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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

local parts place here said go to 20-50 , as i have 78,000 miles i did. i changed it back to 10-40 this am.
temp was 7 degrees f. today about 35 f. so far. changed battery & glow plugs 2 days ago. car is automatic. smell is by tail pipe and you can see smoke vapors after trying to start it coming out of the exhaust. compression is close to even in all 4 cylinders and no leaks i can find anywhere.
is it possible it jumped the fuel system belt and may be off
thanks for everyones help. am kind of afraid of either. started my old tractor with it once but everyone is saying no to that.

A belt? On the fuel system? You poor, poor man; I will light a candle for you.

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I had a 504 Peugeot many years ago. I seem to recall that the glow plugs need to be on for quite some time in order for that engine to start at 7 degrees. Jim Andersen may be onto something. I would at least double the glow plug time before starting. This, of course, assumes that the glow plugs are operating. Sorry, don't know anything about the "fuel system belt". Once you get this guy started, please tell me how you go about getting parts for this car. I could barely get them in the late 70's and Peugeots were being marketed in the U.S. then.

Tom

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