Well, with the cold season all up on us, it's time for the ol' MB Diesel to start complaining.

Anyway, it got down to about 29-30 F here Monday night. My 240 refused to start that morning at 30 F. What the heck. It's been starting ok at 40, and last winter I didn't worry unless it was under 20F. But that morning, I had nothing. Barely tried to catch at all, glowed for over a minute. Hit once or twice on a cylinder. Tried several times but the battery was weakening.

Charged the battery for an hour or so about noon (45-50F) and tried again. Fired up pretty easy, little hesitation and ALOT of grey/white smoke (probably flooded her in the morning?)

So, here's my questions.
Would summer fuel (no additives) have thickening problems at 30F? I wouldn't think so. But, my clear primary filter was pretty full of crud, so I thought any thickening might hurt it. So, I replaced it. Then, I went out for a drive, got it warmed up and redlined it a couple of times. Blew out a nice cloud of black smoke the first time I did that. I also ran a can of seafoam through it (diesel-purge style, cant get purge locally-also never done a purge). Seafoam didn't seem to do anything.

I also tightened the glowplug connectors and put some powerservice winter additive in the diesel tank, in case it was thickening in the cold.

Here is a list of other info that may help.
-still have (probably pretty old) series glow plugs.
-I drive lots of short trips around town. (carbon buildup+charging?)
-Haven't checked valves in over a year. (on the list-of-crap-to-do)
-Running 15w-40 dino. (rotella-T)
-fairly new big battery. (800-850CCA, don't remember. interstate, i think)

I probably just answered my own question more or less. Do all this stuff. But, it's been starting fine, and this is only like 10 degrees less. Also, how much can that carbon buildup hurt. Can it make cylinders lose appreciable compression? And, lastly, what would the experienced recommend for a car that burns a healthy bit of oil run in the winter? I hate to be burning up lots of that 'spensive synthetic, but a thinner oil will burn more!

Thanks all for the help. I would imagine others are starting the winter worry over their diesels too. Good luck out there!

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

If you aren't starting in the 30's, you should deffinately look at replacing GP's, and I would recommend updating to the newer system. I would also check your valves, and chainge to a lighter oil, but I don't think these would be your current problems. Also check your fuel filters, but my money would be on the GP's.

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1989 300E 144K

Second the glow plug thing, especially if the firing is uneven at first. You may just have a weak alternator not fully charging the battery. Until I recently replaced the regulator module, my car was having trouble turning over in the mid 30'sF.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

1979 240D. Ok, so here's the skinny. It has been 28-40 degrees overnight, and I've been starting. But sometimes barely. So, I think I have it narrowed down some; the car seems to be cranking slow. I would say 3 cylinder hits a second or so, a whump-whump-whump when cranking. So I measured the batt. voltage when I got home last night. 13v with nothing on, dropped to 12.6 when the headlights were turned on. This is with engine OFF. So, I put a charger on my ~1.5 year old interstate battery overnight, and it still cranked about the same this morning. Kind of a rough start, but it went ok. 15w40 Rotella T in the crankcase.

This sounds like starter to me, maybe? So, I will take it to the Autozone today and have them measure cranking amps out on my battery, and amp draw on the starter (I believe they can do this). What should the starter draw when cranking? And, what is a good batt voltage during cranking?
Thanks all for any input.

Also, do most of the 240D's out there smoke a little until the engine is up to temp? (and let out a nice belch when they start)

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

I took the car to autozone, and here is my (measured) readings.

Battery: 13.23V, 701 CCA at 62 farenheit.

Starter (cranking): 12.06V, 56.0A

Charging system: 14.04V NO LOAD, and 13.83V LOADED (blower and high beams on)
21mV ripple

Drain test:
0.00A draw

So, my system checked out OK. Is 56A a low draw on the starter? Any thoughts, or where to begin?

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

3rd vote for GP's.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I know you can measure the resistance of the GPs from the connector block on the fender of a 300D. I am not sure if your 240d is similar. If so it is a very quick (5min) diagnosis. Use a multimeter. Each should be around 1 ohm or so. If they are higher they should be replaced.
Also adjusting the valves if they are tight should make a big difference.

No question in my mind. Out with the series plugs and in with the pencil plugs. Can use the rest of your system, just put the jumper wires between the plugs and remove the ground wire.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

You checked it out well, good job, don't worry about the big stuff like low compression, ect, ect. Just do the glo plugs and you will be on easy street. Also, make sure your fuel filters are up to snuff - always.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

What is normal for these cars in cold weather start up? It's getting down to the 30s overnight here and my car starts quickly with a little gas. Its probably fine, just curious what I should expect as it gets colder.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

New, pencil style plugs on order. I ordered 4 (not the kit, but the same series-fitting pencil plugs). Will install 'em and report back.

This morning-no go for the car. Cranked and cranked to no avail. I let my series loop plugs glow for 2 minutes before trying and still nothing. *GRR* I needed my car.

I hope these plugs really help. I need my car to reliably start in the morning!

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

It's difficult to tell you what to expect because of all the variables.

1) Cranking speed (governed by battery condition, cable condition, and starter condition)

2) Compression

3) Glow plug condition

4) Time for glow


You can start one of these at 0F (or colder) if all of the aforementioned conditions are optimized.

The SD started at 0F. after two seconds of cranking last winter. I did let it glow for the full 35 seconds, however. Was not going to risk a short glow cycle at that temperature.

I will urge you to consider the benefits of using a block heater at temperatures below freezing. I'd have certainly used it..........but the Marriott doesn't offer such a convenience...........

When did MB introduce the faster turning starter associated with the turbo engine? On my 77 300d NA, I replaced the starter with the turbo version shortly after I got it (also went to pencil plugs and synthetic oil) and it spun over quite a bit faster. My recently acquired 79 300SD was a little slow to start at 20 degrees the other day and in chasing down the reason, I've wondered if it has the earlier slower starter in it.
Also, how much does carbon build up around the glow plugs inhibit head transfer and slow firing at low temperatures?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

OK, I'm stumped.

My 79 300SD won't start in the morning. I have...

-5 working pencil-style glow plugs (all tested at between 0.5-0.7 ohms resistance)
-A good strong battery (tested at Les Schwab, confirmed to be good)
-A working alternator (also tested at LS, with an output of 15V!)
-A block heater that comes on 3 hours before I have to leave in the morning.
-New pre and primary fuel filters.

I've tried running the GP's longer, I've tried charging the battery overnight, tried running the block heater ALL night, and even with all that, I barely get a crank at all (turns VERRRY slowly, like the battery is dead... but it isn't).

I ONLY thing I have yet to do (waiting for the wrenches to come in the mail) is adjust the valves (no idea when they were last adjusted, only acquired the car about a month ago). Seafoam does nothing to help.

So, if the valve adjustment does nothing (which at the rate things are going, may be the case), then what could be the problem? Any ideas? Help!

Similar problem with my 83' 300D. It gets down to about 38 some nights, which isn't too cold. Here's the weird thing, the car starts right up without any issues. After I glow it, she fires right up.. and proceeds to run like garbage. The engine shakes, idle is incredibly poor, and giving it some gas has very little effect. Exhaust blows lots of white smoke (with what looks like a blueish tinge, but I could be wrong.. since the engine doesn't burn oil that I know of.).

Once the car warms up, she idles like a champ, and continues to do so until the engine gets "cold" again. I stopped it from stalling out by replacing the idle speed governor bolt with the "updated" gold one, but that didnt' seem to fix the rough idle. Glow plug issue?

Thanks!

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(Oo{=|=}oO) 1983 MB 300D USA, 212,000mi. 80's yellow/white. "Gunther"
(Oo{=|=}oO) 1984 MB 300D Euro, Turbo Added in Germany, 186,000mi [SOLD] Missing her dearly.
(Oo{=|=}oO) 1984 MB 300D USA Turbodiesel, 269,000mi. [SOLD]