What is the longest time……

What is the longest time a diesel has set that you have tried to start?

Yesterday I looked at a 1984 300D that is somewhat of a flip of a coin as to whether make it a parts car or bring her back to life. The car has some rust and for a W123 I figure make it a parts car, however, I consider the body good enough that if it were a W115 it would be considered a good find. The car has sat since August of 2003 (300,000miles). The car was parked because the glow plugs were out and the owners decided not to bother with the car. Now the wife wants it gone. The brake pads are rusted to the rotors. I did not try to start it, but I might make an offer latter today.

P.S. It hs 100,000 miles on an Amco transmission rebuild.

[t walgamuth]

i would offer first to take it away for free for them.

then perhaps a token cash amount.

then i would install new glow plugs and drive it home, or pull it to start it. probably would be a good idea to squirt some oil in the cylinders first.

it will probably run.

if it hasnt had one already it is probably due for a head gasket and valve job. the turbo diesels usually need that around 275 to 300k, in my experience.

tom w

[Hatterasguy]

Both of my cars sit a bit. The SDL was a bear to start last spring after sitting for a solid six months, but the fuel system was also mostly drained as well. After 3-4 months of sitting the SD is always a bear to start.

Throw a charger on the battery and crank like crazy she will fire eventualy.

[Hit Man X]

My SD sat for I think nearly three years at a police impound...

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

i would offer first to take it away for free for them.

then perhaps a token cash amount.

The car is listed for sale at $500 OBO. When I stopped yesterday the owner told me that someone was coming today to look at it for the intention of a daily driver. If that falls through I am thinking of offering $250, but then I need to find a away to get it home which is a 65 mile trip.

[DrewGerhan]

Originally Posted by ncof300d

What is the longest time a diesel has set that you have tried to start?

Yesterday I looked at a 1984 300D that is somewhat of a flip of a coin as to whether make it a parts car or bring her back to life. The car has some rust and for a W123 I figure make it a parts car, however, I consider the body good enough that if it were a W115 it would be considered a good find. The car has sat since August of 2003 (300,000miles). The car was parked because the glow plugs were out and the owners decided not to bother with the car. Now the wife wants it gone. The brake pads are rusted to the rotors. I did not try to start it, but I might make an offer latter today.

P.S. It hs 100,000 miles on an Amco transmission rebuild.

I'd love to find something like that up here (NE Ohio) but I rarely see any older Mercedes up here. Although there is a w116 280SE sitting in an autobody shop with no body damage and I did see two 420s yestarday. Even though it was probably the same one.

[spamman450]

started a 72 220d after about 11 years of sitting in the desert . new filters and it fired up and drove 140 miles home.

[44toy]

Off topic I guess, but my TD-9 dozer sat nearly 20 years cut the trees out of the blade frame etc. Put used diesel oil in cylinders, pulled starter broke engine loose with prybar. Put starter back on a little tinkering got it fired and drove it on the trailer. About A day of work and started clearing land.

[kip Foss]

In 2004 I bought a 1975 115/300d from, are you ready for this, a little old lady school teacher. It has sat since she retired in 1998. I jumped it with my Diesel truck and it fired almost immediately. I could have driven it back the 150 miles home but I trailered it. Have so far put 30k miles on it with no problems.

[MattBelliveau]

When I bought mine, it had been sitting just shy of 3 years. Fired right up after adding fuel and a battery. MY only concern is that I had to completely rebuild my brakes, lines and all.

[Mustang_man298]

My '80 had been sitting for 4 yrs in a backyard and the replacement engine had sat in their garage for the same length of time, they never tried to fix the car beyond acquiring a new used engine, Installed it, fresh fuel to be safe, new filters, and fired off as soon as it was primed.
My 64, has sat since at least 95 (longer I think) still havent opened the motor to check extent of damage from PO busting timing chain, tearing off front of motor and abandoning for the past xxx yrs.

[gatorblue92]

mine sat in my grandmother's garage for 2 years when she stopped driving... it started right up but it did need new brakes as the front calipers had frozen

[networkboy]

Don't know the total "sitting time" but based on service records and such, mine saw about 5K miles in the last 10 years, and I'm sure most of that was up near the front.
-nB

I made an offer on the car. I should know within a week. The ower said that several people have called and said that they would show up to look at the car, but so far only one other person has shown up and he was not interested. She also said tha so far I have made the onlu offer and have been the most realistic with her. If the engine will run I want to try to make a project of putting the engine and transmission in a small pickup.

Originally Posted by ncof300d

What is the longest time a diesel has set that you have tried to start?

Yesterday I looked at a 1984 300D that is somewhat of a flip of a coin as to whether make it a parts car or bring her back to life. The car has some rust and for a W123 I figure make it a parts car, however, I consider the body good enough that if it were a W115 it would be considered a good find. The car has sat since August of 2003 (300,000miles). The car was parked because the glow plugs were out and the owners decided not to bother with the car. Now the wife wants it gone. The brake pads are rusted to the rotors. I did not try to start it, but I might make an offer latter today.

P.S. It hs 100,000 miles on an Amco transmission rebuild.

Tonight I negotiated the purchase. I hope to pick up the car next weekend.