the engine has always been kinda clackety since i bought it at 165k. Now its at 175k and the clacketyness has gotten a little worse but over the past couple days it has started to have a real slight engine vibration at 1500rpms. My brother used to have a mercedes diesel and he was saying that the heaters may be bad? I was standing next to it yesterday talking to my old man when i had started it to let it warm up a little and I noticed that it would be running smoothly then all teh sudden the clacketyness will just start instantly...then it will get a little better....but it was a sudden change. I just did a fresh oil change with mobil 1 5w40 with filter and that didnt make any difference. I just dont know much about diesels so I don't know what the problem may be...i figured i knew mostly everything there was to know about engines....but diesels are a different animal.

I have a 96 e300d, and my engine does not have any of the clacketyness you mention. It runs smooth, and does not make the noises usually associated with some older model diesels. The only time my vehicle exhibited the sound you mention was when I replaced the delivery valve "O" rings and crush washers. The first time I did the job, I did not replace the copper crush washers with new ones, and upon completion, immediately noticed the claketyness you mentioned. Other posters who did the same repair stated that the noise would go away after a few hundred miles. Mine did not go away after driving over 500 miles, and I decided to redo the repair only this time changing out the crush washers and installing new "O" rings. Immediately, the noises were gone, and the engine sounded like it did prior to me doing anything to the delivery valves. I don't know if you have the history of repairs done to your vehicle prior to your ownership, but it might be possible that the delivery valves were done and they ended up with the same results that I did the first time around. The other thing that was similar to yours when I did the repair the first time, is the fact that when the engine was started from cold, it would run smooth as silk, but when the glow plugs would cut out, the noise and uneven running would start. The afterglow in my car usually lasts about a minute to a minute and a half. Hope this helps

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96 E300d

Hello Darkostoj,
Welcome to the forums. Check you engine mounts. If your able try running B99 (BioDiesel). It works great as a solvent and will clean injectors nicely. Or you can try Diesel Purge. (Do a search on Diesel Purge and it should bring up some messages to read). Diesel Giant has a really good tutorial on how its done.
I'd do the easy stuff first. Either BioDiesel or Diesel Purge to clean the injectors and see what you have afterwards. There are links also on how to check the motor mounts.

Hope that gives you some idea where to go.
Bob

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

The "heaters" is undoubtedly the glow plugs. If they are bad the light ought to stay lit.

Check the top of the IP for fuel leaks and the clear palstic fuel lines for bubbles and report back.

You don't say where you are located; if in a freezing local it may just be the difference between D2 and D1 fuels.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

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