1981 300D

Hi Guys,

Well, after 2 months of happy diesel ownership...I had a reality check tonight and had to call a tow truck from the highway.

The engine stalled while driving at 65 mph and wouldn't start at all after that. Period.

During the last 2 months I had 2 incidents like that. Every time I loosened the nut on top of the main fuel filter, hand pumped and the engine started with no problem.

The pre filter and main filter are new as well as the air filter. The tank is 3/4 full. I'm hoping it's a clogged fuel system...I don't even want to think that the injection pump is failing. The car was running perfectly.

What do you guys think?? Thanks for any input.

You might have a clogged inlet screen in the tank. Try blowing some compressed air back up the fuel feed line. Do this with the fuel cap off. Alternatively you might have a clogged tank vent.

__________________
Bob D.
Parrish, FL
1 SDL, 1 D, 1 TD, 1 Mog

Just once in a while a New Diesel Fuel Filter will "collapse" internally within a few 100 Miles.

Recheck the filters to make sure this has not happened.

Mike

1981 300D

I was able to fix the problem. One of the clamps at the prefilter was loose so it allowed air into the system. When I changed the pre filter a month ago, I didn't want to over tight the clamps...but with the vibration of these diesels I think it managed to get itlself loose...to the point that I was able to pull the pre filter out of the hose with no effort!!

Well...I tighted everything really well this time and pumped like 150 times. The engine started 3 times and then stalled. The fourth time it started and has been running very well all day long.

It was my fault twice: first, I didn't tight the clamps well when I changed the pre filter...and second...I didn't follow through when the engine stalled the other day and I was able to drive off thinking that "it'd fix itself".

Thanks for the answers...

Two weeks ago my 300D let me down for the first time in 15 months of ownership, with the same symptoms - it turned out to be a fuelline hadworn through and allowed air in, which caused the stall. The car would restart, but stall 10 minutes later. That was enough to get it home, and the following afternoon a mechanically astute friend of mine found & repaired the problem.
I just love diesels - although not infallible, diagnosis of problems is so much simpler than a gas car.
Even after a year plus, I am still discovering the particulars of diesels, and am gratefulthat they are simpler machines.