83 300d euro

within a second of start up the oil pressure pegs at 45 lbs and stays there even after the motor is warm. the motor seems to be running just fine, no knocking that i can hear. alittle bit of white smoke at start up but i'm guessing it the old fuel. it's always done this since i got the car about a month ago. i've done the following:

roletta t 15w40
oil filter
valve adjustment
diesel purge

note: the guages were swapped to the US cluster.

any ideas?

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83 300d euro
85 944

also oil level is just about below the high mark. i also removed the filler cap while running and no blow by present.

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83 300d euro
85 944

Thats exactly what its supposed to do. The oil pressure regulator is set at about 100psi, no way your 45psi gauge can display that.

i'm confused. the dash oil pressure guage is pegged out. this isnt normal is it?

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83 300d euro
85 944

In a benz, yes. After it is good and hot the pressure will drop to about 25 or 30 at idle but should peg when cold at idle and should always peg as soon as you pick up the rpm a bit.

Tom W

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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.

it doesnt drop at all though, i've let it warm up, then drove around for a few miles and it is still at 45.


*edit* it's a mechanical guage as far as i can tell.

btw thanks for the fast replies.

Matt

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83 300d euro
85 944

It will take more than a few miles for it to get hot. Drive it on the highway for about 30minutes.

Your car is in danger of blowing up, I will come get it and dispose of it at no charge to you.

Sorry couldn't help it, allot of folks are alarmed at that at first.

As to the oil..Many including myself, dont add oil till your at the lower notch and dont fill it more than mid way between the notchs. The "top half" seems to go away faster than the bottom half

Welcome to the wonderful world of Euros

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I like to keep them pretty full.

Tom W

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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.

ok will do. if it doesnt drop is this a sign of crud build up? or maybe the weight of oil i'm using?

maybe not the best choice for my first diesel huh?

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83 300d euro
85 944

Halfway between the marks is where mine likes to live as well.

What oil do you use?

There is nothing wrong with the euros, they are very desirable in the USA.

15w40 roletta t "heavy duty" (it was the only diesel rated they had on shelf)

no no don't get me wrong i love this car, but finding parts / insurance is my main concern.

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83 300d euro
85 944

When it's fully warm the pressure should drop to between 15 and 30 psig at idle, but it should go back up to 45 psig when you reach about 1200 - 1400 rpm. Is it possible you have the idle set very high and/or you are not letting it get fully warm? You choice of oil should be OK for that engine.

Insurance will be cheap since it's an old car, unless it's near-mint and you have it appraised/insured for a high value.

Parts are just as easy. A euro 300D is almost exactly the same as any other 300D. It's just a combination of non-turbo engine with a later (turbo) body and a few options not available to the USA for that year/model. Most everything except the bumpers and headlights were used in the USA at some point in time on different models. It's only a problem for parts if you have really exotic stuff like right-hand drive, 5-speed manual transmission or a column-mounted gear selector for the automatic.

i wondered about the idle. unfortunately i do not have a tach. just a big ole clock. there was some tension on the rod from the IP to the throttle cable. i removed the connecting rod and the idle (by ear) dropped minutely. still same oil pressure. wouldnt surprise me if it was a high idle too, this care was tinkered with beyond belief by previous owner. wires tapped here and there, new wire ran from starter to ignition. injector line #2 was brazed???? and much more.

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83 300d euro
85 944