I'm on the road, bringing my 1981 300D (non-turbo) back from PA, after spending a few weeks in a crash-course Diesel 101 (and a lot of time here reading threads...you guys are great!).

It's been running pretty well, though using a lot of oil, but at this point I just want to keep it running without hurting the engine, so I can work on it at home.

Yesterday I heard a new noise, a clicking that isn't rythmic. It seems to happen mostly when I'm between 20 and 30 mph, and then again at 45 to 55. Above that I don't hear it at all.

It goes click. clickclickclick, click click, click, clickclickclickclick, , , , click click, etc. It sounds like something is loose. Air filter housing mounts seem fine. Not like metal pinging against metal. More like if there were a loose pair of scissors made out of a cheap potmetal. Kind of dry-sounding.

The engine seems to purr along pretty evenly. I get no loss of power when the clicking happens.

Any ideas?

My big concern is hurting the car if I drive it home...about 800 more miles.

Oh: the only other thing that's changed is that the odometer and trip meter has started working...it takes a little rest when changing from 99 to 00, but eventually moves, after about 5 miles. After that it keeps exact and accurate mileage (compared to highway mileposts).



1981 300D non-turbo