Hello Group,
I recently purchased a really nice 87 300SDL, with 222,000 miles..I have been driving it for two weeks and the only thing I have found wrong is what I have been told is a bad turbo. The intake gaskets on the first two ports are oily where it is bolted to the head, and the vacuum port where that alda hose connects, I pulled the hose and poked a wire in the manifold and it came out oily..The car doesn't seem to use any oil to speak of, I have put nearly 1000 miles on it and just returned from a trip from Austin to Houston and it hasn't used any. The turbo seems to be working, but not as well as the one on my 300SD. I pulled off the alda hose and hooked up a pressure guage and ran the rpms up to about 4500 and the pressure guage barely moved..With the hose off, I do feel a bit of air coming from the fitting at higher rpm..I have spoken to the guys at Majestic turbo in Dallas and they quoted me $250.00 to replace seals, bearings, balancing, cleaning ect and will call if it needs anything else..The trap oxidiser has already been removed..It looks like a fairly simple job pulling the turbo, once you get the pipe and manifold pipe removed..I don't find any postings on the adjustment procedure on the wastgate on this one..It doesn't seem to have a bolt/screw or anything on it..Can it be done on this one? How can I tell if the wastegate is working? I know this engine operates differently than the ones in the 300SD. I also found the overboost solonoid bypassed..The car does perform better than my 300SD did but I am guessing it could be better..Any recommendations on things to look out for, to check or make sure are working?? Does disconnecting the EGR do anything on this car?? IT looks like this car has electronic engine controls..Has a airflow sensor like thing under the air cleaner and wires going to the injector pump...How do I know if that is all working? Thanks all and sorry this is so long!!! John

My car sweats a little bit of oil at the junction of the intake and the head. I just clean it off once a month.

Hey CJ, I would like to ask you some questions about your 300D, but you have e-mail disabled. Any possibility that you could e-mail me at bploeger@mines.edu so that I could send you a short message?

John,
You will only measure significant boost while under load at above 3000 rpm. Tee into the line to the alda and run a line back between the hood and the windsheild tape you gauge to the windsheild or run it through the drivers window. Remember to keep one eye on the road while checking boost!

Bob D.

Thanks for all the replies...CJ, I looked at three 300SDL's before buying this one and two had the oil around the intake ports, only the front two, I believe..So maybe it is just an inherent think on the 6cyl? The car doesn't seem to use oil, I have put 1000 miles on it and the oil hasn't moved yet..The car doesn't smoke excessivly, on our trip to Houston I passed someone, and was doing 80 and noticed a bit of dark greyish smoke as I shot past the car I was passing, but I was really pushing it..Got up to nearly 90ish, boy it really goes on the highway...But from dead stop WOT only a puff of black about the time it shifts.I have noticed it has a funky hesitation when you take off from a light with the AC on..About 1.5 seconds, you feel a slight drag before it shifts..Feels like the AC is engaging..But everytime you take off? With the AC off it doesn't do it...I guess I am gonna have to learn all the quirks on this one like I did my 300SD's (1979 and 1984)
Thanks again! John