87 300TD wagon, worth 1500? +the repair?

[deportes]

Yesterday I posted a somewhat funny / sad story about a guy that run out of diesel on his way to work and added gas...it was removed because I didn't include needed info.
Sorry.
The car is being sold for 1500, Is it worth messing with it?
I have read many posts on this forum for years and how many of you LOVE MB diesels; I wouldn't mind having one.

The car has 325,000 miles on it. The engine was rebuilt about 4 years ago and the tranny was rebuilt right before he got it 3 years ago. The body is straight, needs new tires and of course the smoking issue needs attention. The AC does blow cold but this car could use some TLC.

Here is the short re-post story: Smoking BENZ wagon, I had a gas can but the closest station didn't have diesel. So like a idiot I got a coupled bucks worth of regular unleaded GASOLINE. Well it started right back up and seemed to be raring to go, for some strange reason I felt that if I drove like a bat out of hell not only would I be on time to work but it would do less damage to the engine. Drove 8 miles on Gas.

Later drained the fuel tank's contents into the old gas can (smelled like a combo of diesel and gas) put the straight diesel into the tank. It started right up and ran w/o issue for about a week then all of a sudden from nowhere it starts smoking like a chimney. Not just a little bit of gray or black smoke but large amounts of white thick sticks in the air smoke. Well I figured it was caused by the fuel and when I called around and explained when it was doing and what I had foolishly fueled it with just prior to it smoking almost every repair shop suggested rebuilding the engine at a cost out of my budget.

Is it worth trying to fix, how to detemrine after buying it for 1500. if it can be fixed. Head gasket job would'n be as difficult as the 380 sl I just finished, I hope.

[vstech]

likely the 14 head was damaged by overheating. gas does strange things to a diesel. 8 miles on nearly straight gas is not good. 1500 for an otherwise perfect 87 diesel wagon could be high. a 603 is not difficult to source used. rebuilding just the head and IP may not be horrid expensive. there are not many 87 wagons out there. it's possible that just a valve is needed, or just injectors but not knowing what else is wrong with a car that ran out of fuel and got refilled, is a stab in the dark.

what is the condition of the rest of the car? a blown non running car could be had for 500.00

[Junkman]

It won't bring $1500 profit after you pay cheap labor to strip it. You'd have to work really hard for little $$. Find out what the yard will pay & offer a little more. If you already own it, find a cheap engine.

[vstech]

if it had run poorly right out of the gate, I'd say lube on the rings, that will clear up. but since it ran fine for a week after you put diesel back in, I'm worried about the head, and the cylinders. damage to the cylinders can be fixed, but it's very expensive.

[deportes]

Thank you for the replies. I will pass on it! It doesn't make much sense for 1500.
Couple hundred I would give it a try and learn about diesels .

[layback40]

Its a pity if a wagon gets junked. How about putting some details about the car on here. If enough members make a low ball offer the owner may come to his senses & offer it at a reasonable price.

[babymog]

I have an engine, if it's near me I might be interested.

[vstech]

certainly do not let them junk it!

Please post the info for the blown head TD you are not interested in.
it's a rare vehicle, and many on the forum would love to have it.
you're too far away for me to pick it up, but there are lots of members in CA or close by that might want it.
DO NOT LET IT GET CRUSHED!

1500 is too much for a known dead engine TD, but it might not be that bad, and many members here have access to replacement engines.

[vstech]

digging through his posts, it looks like he is in San Fransisco... pooh.

[DieselPaul]

My #14 has survived 4 trips into the Red, knock on Zebrano Laminate, so there is some hope.

Do you have any proof of the rebuild/what constitutes a "rebuild" in his mind. The low lubricity of gasoline could have just helped wipe out a worn 325k motor and it doesn't make any compression.

[odie]

well if he only added like a half gallon of gas and there was a couple gallons diesel in the tank sump it might be ok.

Gas is only good for thinning the diesel in winter if needed or to sprinkle a few drops in the air intake as a "safer" alternative to starter fluid

[odie]

But save the wagon if the body is clean. their ain't many 87 TDTs and they do have a special value.

[babymog]

The cylinders are lubricated by engine oil, 8miles on a gasoline/diesel mix will not kill it. The detonation could be bad, and the lack of lubricity in the injection pump barrels might be an issue, but I doubt that the car is dead.

"a couple bucks of regular gasoline" in the tank would be what, less than a gallon? There's about that much in the tank/filter/lines, had to prime somehow, and I don't think that these cars will even run on straight gasoline.

I'd worry about the pre-chambers, glow-plugs, and IP, but likely the reat of the engine is un-damaged IMO.

If it were here, I'd be checking those things first, and a compression test might not hurt.

[winmutt]

Finding a TD head for the 603 is going to be difficult.....

[deportes]

I would hate to see it crushed / dismt....I would be interested in working on it but all the answers from the diesel experts are still not giving me the feeling that it could be fixed without major parts replacement.

All I know is that the guy was running late, and added gas to the diesel tank continued 8 miles and then drained it and drove it for a week. Lastly; now it has white smoke from the tailpipe. What does it really mean, I have no idea. If it was a gasser I would suggest a bad head gasket.

The car is located in the San Fco Bay area, he told me that the wrecker offered him 1500. I doubt it very much. It is not a perfect vehicle but is not a piece of crap either. I would like to fix it and drive a MB diesel as a spare to my 380 SL.