Hi All

What are the things to do & watch out for when trying to start an 85 300D that has been sitting for 3 yrs. My TO DO list so far is changing the following:
- battery
- anti freeze
- engine oil
- tranny fluid
- dif fluid
- brake fluid
- upper & lower rad hoses
- thermostat
- 3 belts under the hood
- ft & rr brakes
- oil filter
- air filter
- fuel filter
- tranny filter
- wipers
- asst vac hoses

Thanks for the responses .
Jude

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bznupe30
85 300d-t
97 legacy gt sw

You've probably done more than most folks.........they usually just put in a new battery and start it up.

I'm sure it was an oversight, but the change of oil is also necessary after sitting for three years.

Thanks Brian

I wrote the oil change down, but did not type it in.

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bznupe30
85 300d-t
97 legacy gt sw

Hi
It may not be necessary, but when working on engines that haven't run for a good while, I always remove the spark plugs (in this case glow plugs) squirt a liitle WD40 AND about a teaspoon of motor oil in each cylinder and rotate the engine by hand a few turns before giving it good spin with the starter until you get a little oil pressure up. You would also want to use the stop lever to keep fuel out while spinning.

This procedure is a little work but can sometimes prevent major damage.

Good Luck,

Joseph

Personally, I would not invest that much effort into an engine before I determined whether or not it was going to run. The first thing I would try is turning the key. Then I'd try charging the battery and turning the key. If that didn't work then I'd then either switch in a good battery temporarily, or jump it to see if it will start. If it does start or seems that it will start with a little effort, I'd begin investing $$ and effort into it.

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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

Would it be a good idea to squirt some WD40 into the cylinders?

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

I am with Kerry, I started my save of a '83 300D which has not started in 4+ years. Dropped in a new batt, glowed, and started right up. Crap, I was so startled (like what was I thinking would happen) that I THEN, thought about checking oil level.
After shutdown I checked everything.

You are doing very well in your checks, but you will have plenty of time in the near future to pour money in your new find. These are incredibly hearty engines.

Best of Luck to you.

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Gary
Experience is something you get, Just after you needed it....
'99 E300 295K, '83 300D 220K, '75 240D 185K sold
'80 MCI Bus Conv DD 6V92TA, w/4 cyl. Kubota diesel GenSet 12.5KW

It would be: Aerokroil
(AND I'd let the engine sit 24 Hrs with the AK in the Cylinders.)
[Captain Whacko suggests you leave the Block Heater plugged in to have the
Block warmed when you go to change the Oil]

http://www.kanolabs.com/

Then turn the engine over BY HAND 3-4 revolutions.To make sure everything is "Free".
Then use the Starter to spin the Engine (With the injectors still out,AND the STOP lever DePressed) to "Blow Out" the remaining AK.
[Change the Engine Oil and Filter]

'Button everything back up.(ReInstall the Injectors)
Bleed the Fuel System.
'Spin the engine a few revolutions with the Starter [AND STOP DePressed] until Oil Pressure builds up to minimum.
Glow and Start.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Some have suggested new valve springs after such a long storage.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

One thing I didn't see on that list, is the fuel. Diesel's shelf life isn't very good. Diesel loses its "zip" after a month or so, if you could drain the tank, and replace with fresh diesel, your car would hug you....

Gas maybe, but not diesel......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Try this first and then report back your results...

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Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis