Few questions about my recently purchased 81 300TD Wagon.

[topfrog007]

Hello everyone, I'm a long time reader of the forum, first time poster.

This weekend I purchased a 1981 300TD MB Wagon from a MB mechanic shop locally. The car had 1 owner and had been serviced at the same MB shop for the past 26 years. It has 167,000 miles and overall the car is in very good condition. I have a few questions if someone would be so kind to answer.

1) I was told that a little oil leakage is "Normal" for these 123's. Over the weekend I noticed a new spot on my driveway underneath my car, It's about the size of a CD/DVD. I'm 99% sure that the spot is oil. Is this ammount more than "Normal"??

2) What color should the oil be? Sounds like a silly question but this is my first Diesel, should the oil look goldish, or should it look black?

3) The Compressor is non-working, I plan on fixing it myself. I've read http://dieselgiant.com/repairyourac.htm from a post here on MS.
What kind of compressor/drier/expansion valve do I need? I've looked at some parts on the net and locally, but I'm not sure which to purchase, I believe that my car came with a GM R4 radial compressor. Can someone give me a direct link to the compressor/drier/expansion valve?

4) When I replace the compressor and etc, can I just get the AC recharged with R-134? I was told that it's illegal to use R-12 and that it's pretty hard to find. So when I finish the AC job, can I just get it charged with R-134 or would that require a different compressor/drier/expansion valve?

Thanks ahead for your time and responses

- Preston

[topfrog007]

Never mind #2, I figured that one out! =)

[Bio300TDTdriver]

Post in the diesel section and you will get more responses.

[t walgamuth]

leakage is not ever normal. it is caused by a failure of some gasket hose or in a worst case a crack in the oil pan or block of the motor. If you take the time to find the source of the leak it can be fixed. It also should be fixed as they never get better and can only get worse. Unlike the human body a car never heals itself.

I guess worst case is actually an oil cooler line or filter housing leak as it can dump all your engine oil if total failure occurs since the oil there is under pressure.

The benzes are wonderfully well made th0ugh and are pretty mechanic friendly so finding and fixing problems is completely doable,

Good luck with your new purchase and welcome as a poster here.

Tom W

[vstech]

R 12 is certainly not illegal. you do require a license to purchase it, but it is only 20.00 online to take the certification test, and the license is permanent. epa 609 for most cars, 608 for purchasing large quantities. unless your car is a euro, you should have the R4 compressor, and I recommend staying with R12. ebay and craigslist are great sources for the refrigerant.
if you decide to put R134 in, you "should" replace your condenser coil with a parallel flow style, this will require modified fittings and creative engineering to mount in the car.
my 79 has no leaks, my 82 has fewer and fewer leaks as I chase them down and fix them. it's all pretty simple to repair.
welcome to the forum.

[POS]

1) Oil leakage can be common, but I don't like leaks either. Find the source and fix it.

2) Diesel oil will turn tar black the minute you pour it into the crankcase.

3) R4 compressor - buy a good one, not a cheap one.

4) These w123s don't cool as well as modern cars - when set up just right, they can have cold AC, but I recommend getting all the cooling power you can and use the R12. It's not illegal. My indy shop will pump up my system with R12 for about $120. More expensive than R134, but it's also a better refrigerant.

[topfrog007]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

In regards to the R-4 Compressor, I'll purchase a new one thats for sure, where is a good place online to order from? Like NAPA or what? I've never ordered a MB part online before, so does anyone have any recommendations?

[kerry]

Click on 'Buy Parts' on the top of this page.

[toomany MBZ]

Welcome! Most engines this age leak oil a little here and there. However, the size of puddle on your drive way needs to be dealt with. I had one that leaked about that much, it was the front crank seal. Visibly leaking when running. I love a wagon!

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by topfrog007

Thanks for the responses everyone.

In regards to the R-4 Compressor, I'll purchase a new one thats for sure, where is a good place online to order from? Like NAPA or what? I've never ordered a MB part online before, so does anyone have any recommendations?

Diagnose the problems with your system before you purchase a new compressor. It may be good and there are other factors causing it to not turn on. I think 1981 still has the dreaded "servo" automatic climate control that can be difficult and expensive to fix. Are the controls a horizontal row of buttons with a wood surround which indicates the newer system, or a plastic face plate with chrome trim which is the earlier, more problematic system?

Search the forum, there are many threads on this issue, and buy the Factory Service Manual CD from Mercedes Benz. Best of luck getting it going.

[topfrog007]

Originally Posted by riethoven

Diagnose the problems with your system before you purchase a new compressor. It may be good and there are other factors causing it to not turn on. I think 1981 still has the dreaded "servo" automatic climate control that can be difficult and expensive to fix. Are the controls a horizontal row of buttons with a wood surround which indicates the newer system, or a plastic face plate with chrome trim which is the earlier, more problematic system?

Search the forum, there are many threads on this issue, and buy the Factory Service Manual CD from Mercedes Benz. Best of luck getting it going.

It's a horizontal row of buttons with a wood/plastic surround.

Now that we've determined that, now what?

[topfrog007]

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Click on 'Buy Parts' on the top of this page.

"Sorry, this product is temporarily unavailable, click here to request a quote."


I tried that, they don't have it. I was just wondering what a good/reliable site is for ordering MB parts?

[kerry]

Originally Posted by topfrog007

"Sorry, this product is temporarily unavailable, click here to request a quote."


I tried that, they don't have it. I was just wondering what a good/reliable site is for ordering MB parts?

You might try ******** but my experience is that most on-line import parts sellers are using WorldPac and once you come across that entry in the database, you're going to get it on all of them.

[topfrog007]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-R4-COMPRESSOR-KIT-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE_W0QQitemZ280127904373QQcmdZViewItem

Is this the same compressor?

[topfrog007]

As for the oil leak, I've narrowed it down to something on or in the vicinity of the turbo, as to what specifically I'm not sure yet...

Is there a "most likely" culprit of a leak in this area?