That is understandable. It makes sense to me. Next valve adjustment I do, which will be soon, I will do it with the lobe at a 1 O'clock postion.

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1976 w115 300D

Thanks for pointing that out. I will look up how to replace them if necessary.

After driving it some yesterday and starting it up today the smoke is noticeably less even when starting it up cold.

I still have yet to rule out the injectors. Judging by the lack of a valve adjustment I think it is safe to assume that the injectors have not received any attention over the years.

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1976 w115 300D

Diesel Giant's bad info instructions strike again !!!

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Yup.

So I have a more pronounced symptom today. I held the throttle down about 1/4 of the way with my foot in the cab of the car while I was outside watching the smoke volume coming from the car. Its still pretty smokey, but strangely enough, not upon start up now.

I heard a whistling sound at that throttle position and a little more to about 1/2 and it was drowned out by that point. The sound was coming from the exhaust pipe. That would mean that it is a valve letting gases by ever so slightly right? Is it possible that I have a burnt valve?

__________________
1976 w115 300D

A whistling sound is usually a leak in the intake system...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Well I have 5 new Bosch nozzles and pintles (made in france if that actually means something) and 5 injector heat shields on the way.

Ive read that these nozzles are rather loud, like a tractor.

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1976 w115 300D

I changed out the nozzles, while doing so I gave all the injectors a good soak in some lacquer thinner. The picture shows an old nozzle next to a new one. The pintles on the old nozzles are almost gone, completely rounded off.

The car runs much smoother and there is a little less smoke, but it is still very noticeable through out the rpm range. Also, I want to detract what I said earlier, the smoke is noticeable through out the rpm range while driving with light to heavy throttle application regardless of the engine temp, but more noticeable when cold.

I am wondering if the timing is retarded causing the white smoke. I will have to look at the timing chain for stretch. I tried moving it while doing the valve adjustment and didn't see much movement at all.

Edit: I just read up on a procedure on how to measure the amount of stretch in the timing chain.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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1976 w115 300D

Very important to have the injectors pop tested - otherwise, you may have differences in the injectors causing rough running.

While the injectors are out, test the compression in the cylinders.

Also, those valve stem seals keep oil from leaking down into the cylinders.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

I had overlooked some oil on the block right under the exhaust manifold. When I first saw I did not look at it carefully and dismissed it as oil leaking from a bad valve cover seal. It almost looks like it has been leaking past the manifold gasket. I read about some members putting a paper towel to the intake to see what color/ moisture shows up on the towel. For me the towel was dry but was covered with black soot and smelled unmistakably like a burnt petroleum product. The inside of the tail pipe did not feel oil, it was just dry and sooty. I know its hard to see much from the pictures, but do any of you think this is leading me somewhere?

Attached Thumbnails

         

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1976 w115 300D

Have you seen the warnings on recent diesel fuel problems? Seems a lot of folks are getting smoke and poor performance from bad diesel that was sold. Try some cetene booster and some injector cleaner/purge. How many tanks of fuel have you gone through since you started this thread??? Maybe filling up at a reputable station that has consistent quality will fix the problem.

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1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

Hmmm, I think I have filled up to 1/2 twice since this thread was started. I am not driving it now because the smoke issue is rather bad. Performance, as far as what other owners with healthy 300Ds report, is good. I did notice the diesel klean helped clear up a good bit of smoke a while back. Is the filter in the tank filtering the fuel that is going to the engine?

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1976 w115 300D

That should be the exhaust/intake manifold gasket leaking.
It is costing you power + making a mess if it is leaking.


.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

That sounds like a large part of your issue is poor quality fuel.


.

Am surprised that Hunter didn't bring up his recent "other" post to you. But his thread is listed towards the top of the diesel threads. He states:

Warning ALL Diesel Owners
For three months there has been a high (and rising) volume of calls from owners experiencing EXTREME POOR QUALITY FUEL...
There is no discernible pattern across North America.

I strongly recommend diesel owners begin carrying a quart bottle of Cetane Boost additive.

Symptoms are abrupt, after filling the fuel tank:
* Massive smoking.
* Vile stench from the exhaust pipe.
* Stumbling or nailing.
* Moderate to extreme power loss.
* Some cases the fuel was bad enough to shutdown the engine.

Certainly, the problems you're complaining about are in the above list. Cetene booster is the recommended fix.

And yes, any filter at the tank is filtering the fuel going to the IP. Don't remember if you changed the other two filters recently. But if the tank filter is having problems from algae, there are products that are very effective for that.

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002

Well, like I told my partner while I was out on the road trucking about hurricane evacuation. "Take my 300D, because there are more options for fuel. If you can't get decent diesel, you can make your own by mixing regular unleaded 2 gals to one gal of 30 wt oil." It may not be considered desirable, but our army vehicles ran fine on it, when necessary. Just make sure you premix it before adding it to the tank. It is expensive, but might help clear up some stuff. Then I added: "and if you can't find regular gas and oil to mix together . . . run into publix for a couple gallons of wesson." All of a sudden, the ugly, boxy looking "taxi" became a valuable item at the house!!!! If you can't find reliable diesel, then I suggest you try making your own premix, and getting the tank cleaned, replacing it with the other fuel mix. Might be easier to use a "purge" or "cleaner" as well as changing your filters.

__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002