just finished the finale valve adjustment for the diesel 300DT. adjusted them a week ago but grabbed the wrong size feeler gauge for the intake valves. so, this AM fired it up and drove until the engine was good and hot. took the cam shaft cover off and then jacked the car up and put it on ramps. rotated the engine by placing a socket on the bolt on the bottom engine pulley. did the intakes first and then rechecked the clearances. two were not quite right, so readjusted. then, went back and checked the exhaust valves and four of them were off, so readjusted those.

just prior to this, I had installed new cap nuts on each valve stem. probably should replaced the locking nuts as well, but that will be another project. the car now has new valve stem seals, new valve springs, new cap nuts, new Monark injectors, new return lines and replaced nine cooling line hoses and a new mercedes OEM thermostat along with a new Nissens radiator. that is one killer radiator, btw. using amsoil diesel rated coolant in the system. car should be good for another 15,000 miles.

what I learned: these diesels are PRECISION engines and require precision minded maintenance. I'm purchasing a set of genuine mercedes feeler gauges for the next scheduled valve adjustment as I don't trust the made in china stuff.