Okay, I've had my '76 W115 240D for 6 years now, starting has always been a breeze. Hold the gorilla knob for a little until the salt shaker glows, then start, no gas pedal just starts right up. This was how things were even through last winter where here in Portland we had some of colder temps I've experienced in the NW, in the 20's.

All I ever did was change oil and filters, have the valves adjusted once a year.

Then through this summer it got harder to start, especially on cooler mornings, until a few weeks back when things got in to the 40's I needed to give it gas to start, until finally I couldn't get it started cold at all! When it warmed up, fine, it started, so I suspected glow plugs, which I've never changed out. And the salt shaker wasn't lighting up either.

So I changed out the plugs with new Bosch fast glows, which were what was in there to begin with. Now, wow, the salt shaker glows again, and the car starts.....BUT: I still have to give it gas to start, and it always stalls out a time or two before it idles roughly until warm. When its warm it starts, but not instantly like it used to.

So I haven't had the valves adjusted in awhile, so I'll start there. But the car runs well once its started.

Here's other info:

-my highway fuel mileage dropped from a dead even 30 which I got for years to about 27 on my last trip in the spring to Montana
-looks like one of the injectors at least is leaking, its not the return lines I suspected them first and replaced them all
-the injectors nail when its cold, but don't when the engine is warmed
-I have no idea how stretched the timing chain is
-I never had the compression checked because the car always started right up in the cold weather, the compression at least has to be decent
-I do go through some oil but I suspect most of this is through some minor leaks. There is exhaust smoke but its not blue its grey and smells like diesel.
I guess I'm just looking for other suspects, I'm at a point where the car needs a good deal of front end work (tie rods etc) and I'm not sure if its gonna be worth all the money to get it back in to shape, at least if the starting issue points to something more major....

Any pointers would be great!

mark in Portland