My 1983 300D has over 305K on the motor, so I know I can't expect it to be running perfectly as if it just left the factory. It has minimal to no blowby and doesn't use any oil (leaks are another matter...).

My smoke issue is pretty minor, I think, as the only time it's really evident is when I'm using more than 1/2 of the throttle. It seems to be a grey-ish smoke, and I really only see it at night when I have a person's headlights behind me. The ALDA on my car had already been fiddled with, so I didn't have any problem turning it down just a tad (screwing it in) to see if it affected the smoke, but it really didn't....just made the car a bit more sluggish.

Is this something I should worry about?

Thanks,

Joe

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1983 300D - 314,640 miles (not all by me) - Daily Driver --Sold--
1983 300d - 215,000 miles (approximately)

A little light fogging like you described when hard on the accelerator and the turbo isn't spooled up yet is normal. If it bothers you, there are ways to reduce it.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Diesel engines will smoke when they're overloaded and/or not getting enough air for proper combustion. The first things to check are filters and passage ways and clean fuel. In severe cases the injectors may need an overhaul. The springs do go soft after a while. It's worth the investment to have them done at a shop as they must all be in the same pressure range for optimum performance. Talk to a local old fart diesel mech.

Heck I worked hard to get black smoke like the big boys.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Keep in mind that these are not considered "smokeless" engines. While the smoke may not be visible during the day, it is clearly visible at night. Modern Diesel engines are literally 100 times cleaner than these old cars we drive.

valve adjustment is important also

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

And they smoked and smelled worse on high sulfur fuel. At certain angles the headlights from the car behind you makes the soot look worse. It's mostly particulate, not actual smoke.

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

I always found it useful to call on demand when someone is following too close. Slimes their windshield nicely.

smoke is particulates

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

This is typical performance from most of the older engines. Combustion is not perfect for a multitude of reasons and and some evidence of incomplete combustion is inevitable.

All of the previous statements regarding fuel filters, valve adjustments, valve springs, and "passage ways" are inaccurate and will not affect the result.