Hey people,
Just finally got my 85 300SD. It has been in my family for 16 years. My mother finally got a new car and she GAVE me her 300SD. It was orginally purchased by my father. It is still in great shape with a recent expensive paint job. It has 180k on the clock. Will post some pics soon. It is orient red(i believe) with palomino interior. Very excited, even came with a $400 check for new tires. I have been wanting this car for years and looking forward to interacting with all of you. Very happy tonight!! Question; how do you know if the valves need adjusting. It seems to run perfect so I would hate to screw with it, but was just wondering. My mom thought the turbo was busted but mechanic could not fine anything wrong. But the more I drive the more pickup it has. I think it just needs to be driven a lil bit. My mom didn't drive it hard and just short low speed trips. Thanks!

Welcome to the board JCSC2, can't wait to see the pix....Orient Red....I'm very jeolous.....and expecially at the price you paid....nice...

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

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Yes, what you are feeling is the "Italian tuneup" effect.

Ah, to much dew to take good pics now, will have to wait.
On this forum do you just post any question about your diesel car in this section or is there a different ones ie: body, engine, performance etc? Will have a few questions but don't want to post in the wrong section.

Anything related to the diesel engine should be posted here. Anything related to any other system in the vehicle should be posted in "Tech Help", although many DD members also post here with those issues as well.

There is a separate forum dealing with detailing the body and also for doing repair to the body panels.

If the vehicle has not had a valve adjustment in the last 25K miles, you should definitely plan on one..........soon..........

There will be symptoms of tight valves, but they are subtle, and you'd need a history of the vehicle based upon it's performance to notice it. Don't be misled as to the importance, however. If the valves get too tight, they won't fully close and you can cause deposits to accumulate on them........requiring head removal to fully solve.

JCSC2,

To know if the valves need adjusting you have to take off the valve cover and measure each valve's clearance with a feeler gage. Use a .004" gage for the intake valves and a .014" gage for the exhaust valves. Only the valves where the gage won't fit between the cam follower and the cam need adjustment.

You can find the procedure using the search function.

While you have the valve cover off, check the elongation of the timing chain.

You should probably put a new valve cover gasket on too if the one that was on the engine has't been changed for many years.

P E H

do a search here for the MANY opinions on which oil and how long to leave it in. but if the turbo was not putting additional power, you mom may not have been regurlarly changing the oil.
of course the alda adjustment/ banjo bolt cleaning will most likely need to be addressed, again, just search for those terms.
I love my free SD, you will love yours... or hate it... or both! anyway, welcome!
John