Your mechanic may be a little greedy at 4k to replace the injection pump. Somehow I do not suspect the pump is the squeeking. I certainly would not accept his diagnosis unless somehow or other he has proven it.

Why not start the car and keep it running by spraying wd-40 into the intake. It will keep running as long as you supply the wd-40. This test may indicate if something is tightening up.

Also have another set of ears present to try to locate the source of the squeek. I thought the damper suspicion is a good thing to check out. Having the unusual shock loads when you were running the gas/fuel oil mix may have started loosening the damper for example.

Barry and Jeremy, thanks to both of you gentlemen. Last time when I talk to my mechanic, quoting from this forum that the squeaking could be the starter, he laughed and said: "Are you sure whoever told you that is a mechanic?"

Anyhow, it looks like my current and best option would be to get the IP Jeremy and have him test it because he said he that's where the problem is. I don't want to say anything else at this point to him.


Jeremy, how much do you want for the IP and do I have an option to return it if it doesn't fit? Thanks.

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1992 300SD, 290K miles.

Can't comment whether or not the other IP would work.

Your IP ought to be rebuilable locally by Gus Pfister in SSF for ~$1,000. Like Barry, I'd want to know for certain that was the problem first.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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

Thanks TMAllison. I think I will ask him to remove the IP and I will bring it to SSF to have it rebuilt.

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1992 300SD, 290K miles.

I called Gus in SSF. He said that usually Gasoline doesn't damage the IP. But he said if I want I can have the IP rebuilt for $1200. Otherwise he reccommend a used one at junk yard for $200-$300.

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1992 300SD, 290K miles.

Again, I would want to know for certain what the problem is before pulling the IP or having it rebuilt.

Your mech referring to fuel pumps in the tank doesnt suggest he has much expirience as the lift pump attached to the side of the IP is what does all the work. There is no other pump.

IP's don't generally go bad unless someone opens them up and messes with them.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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

So is there a chance that this lift pump is bad ?
I think most mechanic just want to replace and charge labor. One small thing out of order and the whole IP is bad.

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1992 300SD, 290K miles.

I'd go back to the beginning if it were mine......Sixto is very familiar with your model; how familiar is your mech with it?

Sounds like it needs a new strong battery to begin with an two pair of ears and a lift to figure out what is squeaking/dragging when its cranking and while running.

When thats resolved you need to look for what is causing it to die after it starts. Sixto said it ran reasonably well once it started.

Sounds like the fuel supply is being cut off or a massive influx of air is entering the fuel system.......gas is hard of solenoids and orings both.

Was the tank ever drained from when the gasoline was put in?

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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 think there is more problem with the mechanic than the IP. While the engine was cranking, I saw as much fuel as I see in my car.

I still think the problem is with the front crank pulley or transmission. Something is physically preventing the engine from turning as freely as it should.

Maybe your mechanic can humor you and try to spin the engine by hand. If he says that it feels fine, then I will stop insisting

Sixto
87 300D

Terry,

I don't think it's a battery problem. We had two running cars jumped in parallel with the SD's battery and this set-up couldn't keep the starter going for more than 10-15 seconds. We put a battery good enough to start a German car and it couldn't better.

If we were lucky, the engine would catch. If we were really lucky, the engine would run on its own for 10-15 seconds against the squealing I associate with mechanical resistance.

Sixto
87 300D

He'll prob use a 4' breaker bar and say it spins easy....

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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

VW and I believe Audis have a fuel pump inside the tank, perhaps that is what the mechanic is familiiar with.
Californian has a good point. If it was the lift pump then you will be lucky, its a small pump that pulls fuel from the fuel tank. It supplies the Injection pump and is located on the IP and fortunately is quite low cost, much less than rebuilding the IP. Gus is right, gas isn't likely to harm the IP, I know someone who ran gas in a SD for a short distance without any harm. $4K to repair and replace the IP is a high quote! Around half that would be near what I expect even here on the expen$ive SF peninsula.
>edit< That said, I just re-read the posts and saw that Sixto went and observed plenty of fuel flowing out the injectors so I now doubt the lift pump is the culprit.

All this sounds like it might possibly be another case of a plugged up Cat converter (except for the squeaking noise).
Gas may cause the exhaust to run much hotter than with diesel and that could I suppose cause the matrix to melt or soemthing in the Cat converter.
If possible, have the exhaust line disconnected or just loosened up to allow exhaust to bypass the downpipe then start it up. If it runs then that is your trouble.
The squeaking noise is something I am unable to provide any idea on. I may be able to drive down and help, so I will leave my tel# as a message to the owner and see if I can lend a hand.
Reid

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I agree with the suggestion to turn the engine by hand using a long breaker bar (in a CW rotation!) before doing anything with the IP.
I sent an email and will stop by if I can find time (provided the mechanic hasn't already started tearing into the thing!)
I can't imagine gas causing anything in the lower end to start squealing but rings yes!
High friction would cause the symptoms given, and yes the transmission/torque converter or front crank balancer could be involved and failed by coincidence but I highly doubt it!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

http://www.frybrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9800

Hello everybody,

Could you take a look at the problem above. Is it a bit similar to mine? I don't understand a lot of things discussed there. Could someone explain in layman's term?

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1992 300SD, 290K miles.

Looked at it breifly, those are all veggie issues with dual plumbing for two types of fuel. Besides being different engines.

You need to follow Sixto's advice and determine why the starter can't spin the engine fast enough and/or what is squeaking and causing that binding.

Then.....if necessary, you can move on to the problem of what is causing the engine to die after it starts.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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