I just received a 1980 300d that is in perfect shape. Never having owned a diesel before, I was researching and found this site and had a couple of questions:

Need to top off anti-freeze, what type do I use?
Oil, looks like 10w-40 is what is recommended, is this correct?
Checked the oil and it is very black, is this just because it is a diesel?
Refueling, the manual recommends several diesel types of fuel, pretty sure I only have one type available at the pump here in TX. Do I need to add an additive to the fuel?

I am sure more questions will come up.

I appreciate your response.

Thanks

Your car probably has the incorrect coolant in it right now. If its green then its wrong!

Mercedes Benz Coolant or Zerex G-05(same thing as the MBZ branded stuff) with distilled water mixed for your climate. To do it right you'd need to do a citric acid flush to clean the system out.

Oil, I run 15w40 Mobile Delvac, you'll open up a can of worms on oil questions.

Oil will be black, it is a diesel.

Diesel Fuel in the USA is usually around 40 cetane, never guaranteed like gasoline. No need for additives unless you're in cold weather.In the winter, in colder regions, fuel depots mix diesel/kerosene so it will not gel so easily in the cold, but that will lower mpg's. But forum approved additives are

Diesel Kleen (grey and white bottle)
Diesel Purge
StarTron products
LubroMoly products.

Welcome to the Forum.

Anti freeze- Use MB coolant, Do a flush of entire system. That way you know when it was changed last.

Oil- 15w40 Deisel oil.

Oil is black do to the soot from the combustion of diesel fuel. Change oil and filter now(same reason as above so you have a starting point)

Either do a valve adjustment or have one done.

Change all the fluids and filters. Power steering, brake fluid, rear, Trans. I would also put in new belt(s).

Drive and enjoy.

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

Congratulations on your purchase, Tex.

Mercedes requires a special antifreeze that you can get either from the dealer, or (usually more convenient) Zerex G-05 is the equivalent. If it looks like you have conventional prestone in there, I suggest you mentally schedule draining, flushing and refilling the system with Zerex.

If you are using regular dino oil (as opposed to synthetic, a whole other discussion), I would suggest 15w40. Make sure it's a good quality diesel oil, like Shell Rotella. And get an OEM filter such as Mahle or Hengst, either from Mercedes or an import parts specialist.

Yes, diesel oil gets black very quickly after a change. That is normal.

Additives: you don't HAVE to add any additive. Just make sure to purchase your fuel from a busy diesel pump where you won't run the risk of dirty fuel. Some people swear by adding a quart or half quart of ATF to the fuel tank once a month or so at a fillup. It's an old-school thing and not now in favour as much as it was 10 years ago.

You didn't provide details of the car, but a good insurance is to change the fuel filters if you have no maintenance history on when such stuff was last done. There are two, a big spin-on filter that looks like a regular oil filter on a gas car, and a smaller, clear plastic prefilter below it.

Good luck with your car. There are lots of us here who love the w116 body style. My first Mercedes was a '79 300sd.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Thanks for the quick responses, this was very helpful. The car actually has every record for everything that has been done to it. The oil was last changed on 4-12-08 at 160,000 miles, the car now has 161,300. The transmission was serviced, front wheel bearings replaced and repacked, valves adjusted and all filters where changed at 152,096. Due to the time that has past, I will go ahead and change the oil. The radiator and all soft hoses were replaced at 138,000, so I assume that this was the last time the coolant was flushed. Might go ahead and do that too.

Good to have those records. A huge plus for these older cars.

If the car come from your general area, and if the work was being done by a good shop, that would also be a plus -- ability to communicate with a shop that 'knows' the car to some extent.

It sounds like the car has sat for a while. You may want to lubricate all the metal ball-and-socket fittings on the throttle linkages. ATF is the recommended lubricant. I use an old style oiler can, I guess some guys use brushes.

Probably want to check that the belts aren't dried out either, from sitting.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Time to change the oil.

good call on oil change.
all engine rubber should be gone by now, and the motor mounts when bad can cause issue with the oil cooler, so be sure and check that.
linkages, valve adjusting, trans flush, coolant flush pretty much everything should be gone over with that much sitting time.
you said it's a 300D, not and SD right? so it's a non turbo 123 body, sedan.

plenty of good info on the car here on the forum, so feel free to ask pretty much any question here.
the a/c and heating system controlled by the EVIL SERVO behind the passenger's headlight, and the push button unit on the dash. loads of issues to deal with there.
Glow plug circuit can be an issue. cruise control, likely still the vacuum pulled one. vacuum shutoff, and the vacuum system in general too.
door locks, trunk lock, gas flap lock... hoses, etc. fun fun fun.
I've got an 80 wagon if you have questions specific to the car...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Thanks, the motor and transmission mounts were just replaced in the last couple of years as well as the AC Compressor and hoses. Everything works great, no issues with the vacuum system. Changed the oil and filter, used Rotella 15w-40. Next up is to flush the cooling system.

Hey Tex,

First, you are required to post a pic or 6 so we can all look and droll over the 116W.
I drive one and there are days that I just stand and look at her before I get in to drive.
Just a few weeks ago I was considering selling her, but banged my head against a flag
pole until the thought went away. Mine is silver, what color is yours. This is actually required info, get the camera out.

Second, can we ask what you paid for the car?

Rotella oil is great, but don't be surprised if each person here gives you a different oil recommendation, just make sure it's oil for a diesel. Gas engine oil will just get eaten. . .
Change the oil, it's an easy and cheap thing to do so you have a baseline.

Oh, and hows the interior? , lots of pics. There are only a few 116s out there.

Welcome to the forum!

__________________
Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

imagesinthewind: I will post pics as soon as I can. I think my car a 1980 300D is the 123 not the 116, is that correct? Interior is perfect

Love the car! I use only B100, Delo 400 15w40 and mann filters(Lubro moly diesel purge when changing oil and/or all filters).

Get used to do your own maintenance and love it!


my sources:
Please, do not link to competing websites!

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ large selection of parts, free shipping above 100 bucks.


This is mine:


The time will come when you will need this vacuum diagrams:

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http://www.venganza.org/images/fsmrof.png

I only use B100 made out of recycled cooking oil under ASTM D6751 standards, from Sirona Biofuels in Oakland, CA. Currently $3.90 gal.

MANN/BOSCH filters.

Chevron Delo 400 15w40 or Castrol equivalent, planning to use Bio-Synthetic HD SHP Motor Oil
SAE 15W40 next.