Shivering 240D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nickofoxford · #1 10-07-2008, 09:06 PM

Hey guys. My '80 240D runs COLD! I can pretty much assume my thermostat is stuck wide open. I drove for 2 hours tonight and the temperature gauge didn't move at all. I had some heat, but the engine stayed cold. My temp gauge does in fact work, but driving at night when it is as cold as it was tonight she just will not warm up.

So, new thermostat should clear that one up? I've never done this anyone got some neat tips and tricks?

Another thing.. The radiator fan is always engaged, so this could be the problem IF the thing is supposed to shut off until the engine is warm enough. If it is temperature controlled what should I do to get it back into spec?

So what do you think, fan clutch or thermostat.. or any combination. I would like to get my fuel economy back I've heard cold diesels don't quite "sip". I miss that almost instant hair drier like heat at night too.

fruitcakesa · #2 10-07-2008, 09:15 PM

My 82 had similar issues and a new t-stat fixed up all no heat problems.
Simple repair, just remove enough coolant from the bottom rad drain to below the t-stat level then pull off the housing and replace

coonerboy · #3 10-07-2008, 09:49 PM

I believe 240's dont have fan clutches.

#4 10-07-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coonerboy

I believe 240's dont have fan clutches.

Early ones don't.

curtludwig · #5 10-08-2008, 12:39 PM

Mine is an '83 and doesn't have a fan clutch either...

On the thermostat replacement just make sure the new one goes in the same way as the old one. I replaced the one in my 240D once and put it in backwards. You get very weird results, mostly overheating. I was very embarrassed to have my Indy write "removed, reversed, reinstalled" on the receipt...

nickofoxford · #6 10-08-2008, 07:00 PM

Alright sounds good, checked it out today and yeah no fan clutch. That thing has to be majority of my engine noise going down the highway

Is there an aftermarket fan with more blades and a clutch, better yet is that even feasible? I was also thinking about going all electric and just taking the old fan out and putting some kind of monster electric fan on the front where the dead AC fan used to be. If that would have any decent thermal capacity I could wire that up for the AC and the engine temp no problem (when I get my AC to work, that is

) Any good threads on this?

I'll see if a thermostat fixes the problems. Can someone back me up that a cold engine gets sloppy mileage?

curtludwig · #7 10-08-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickofoxford

Alright sounds good, checked it out today and yeah no fan clutch. That thing has to be majority of my engine noise going down the highway

Is there an aftermarket fan with more blades and a clutch, better yet is that even feasible? I was also thinking about going all electric and just taking the old fan out and putting some kind of monster electric fan on the front where the dead AC fan used to be. If that would have any decent thermal capacity I could wire that up for the AC and the engine temp no problem (when I get my AC to work, that is

) Any good threads on this?

I'll see if a thermostat fixes the problems. Can someone back me up that a cold engine gets sloppy mileage?

There are those who say electric fans are great and those that say they're crap. Probably the easiest thing to do would be to fit a fan with clutch from a 300D...

I can back you up on mileage, all 3 of my MBs had bad thermostats and all say 20% or better increases with a good one fitted.

Stevo · #8 10-08-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Early ones don't.

None do, I think, my 85 doesn't.

t walgamuth · #9 10-09-2008, 06:22 AM

Ive never seen one on a fwo forty.

moon161 · #10 10-09-2008, 12:10 PM

82 240D, no fan clutch.

nickofoxford · #11 11-03-2008, 12:47 PM

So, will a clutched fan bolt up? That would help out with the roar of my 240D hauling @$$ through the night

Or will that just over complicate things?

Stevo · #12 11-03-2008, 01:31 PM

I think if the MB engineers figured it would be a good thing they woulda put one on the 616.

dieselnutnj · #13 11-05-2008, 10:31 PM

replace the thermostat and crank up the tunes to drown out the noise hahaha. It's kept your engine from overheating for years and will continue to do so