Just bought a mercedes w201 190D 1988 Model that has a Veggie car conversion for using WVO (waste oil). It is making a loud engine noise when accelerating or going up hill. My neighbor suggested that maybe it is about to throw a rod.

Here is the video http://YouTube.com/watch?v=uQ0qTpbBEhY

A couple of other possibly related problems are:
A lot of rich exhaust fumes
The climate control isn't working
Rough shifting
The idle speed changes from time to time.

I am wondering if this is something that is going to damage my engine, or do I just need to say change all the filters and fluids and drive into the sunset.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks, James

transmission may be vac leaks and could be a source of the non functional CCS. other stuff. no idea.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Kinda sounds like a bad fuel injector. Crack the fuel injector lines one by one and rev the motor, and you'll narrow down which cylinder is producing the noise. Then swap that fuel injector to another cylinder, and re do the test. Your looking to see if the noise follows the fuel injector.

Oh, and start running it on diesel, you might be able to save the engine.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Sounds very much like you're losing your vacuum pump. Don't start the engine until you do a search on the subject, it can total your engine if it drops parts into the timing chain.
603 vacuum pump failure (How to Diagnose?)

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Vacuum pumps do fail ,the bad for these motors is its a commen problem,easy to check if its bad ,remove and see if the piece looks good,the arms that hold the bearing in place is the culpriet in these failures ,long wear fitigues the piece and breaks off the stressed arm.EAasy to reassemble to.

So do I take this to a normal diesel mechanic? There aren't any Mercedes shops in our area that I know of except the dealer. I don't know if it is worth the $$$ to take a $2500 car to the dealer for this type of work?
Thanks, james

Difficult to say.

Since the vacuum pump and its problems are unique to the marque, it seems that taking it to a dealer is better than paying an indy for his learning curve (and possibly losing an engine). If you can find an independent shop that has Mercedes diesel experience, he would also be a good choice.

Don't go to someone inexperienced in the engine, even for free.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Bad injector or injectors ,possible air in fuel although it would not really clank that hard with air in it,but the sound on videos is always harsh

Rich exhaust fumes and idle altering tie in with the above.

I would not drive this engine until at least establishing what the problem is. Look up the serpentine belt tensioner in the archives. I am not that familiar with your model but it probably has one.

just another suggestion, possibility of a piston slap. It seems that some cars run on veggie have a tendency to end up with fouled piston rings. If that is the case, it is possible that if the rings are not functioning properly, it is allowing the piston skirt to "slap" up against the cylinder walls, causing the noise.

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96 E300d

Welcome to the forum redjim,
as you can see we are a friendly group & always willing to help.
I dont know how mechanical you are, at least you realized the noise was a problem.
I would use a large screw driver as a stethoscope & place the end on the vac pump & see if the noise is coming from there. If not, you can listen to various spots on the motor to see if you can hear where the noise is loudest. I am always concerned with taking a car to a dealer, experience has shown me dealer mechanics have a "replace things till it is fixed mentality". You really need to find a good old mercedes benz mechanic.
If you try the injector line loosen it may lead to one cylinder.
Once you have tried finding the noise, please get back to us & we can offer more suggestions.
Good Luck !!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

You may want to loosen full lines and run it into a bottle of straight diesel for a bit, or at least while diagnosing. A diesel Purge certainly would not hurt either.

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1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000