Help! 1987 300D Turbo sputters, but no Start...

[the tenor man]

Hello all,

It's been a while since I have posted...thanks for looking.

I was driving the car and noticed that it needed some fuel. I pulled into a truck stop and fueled up. But after fueling, I noticed that the diesel fuel that I put in was for "off-road" vehicles only. Only later did I noticed that it was dyed red in color. (Please don't call the authorities, I can't afford the fine.)

I then drove the car 35 miles, played a four hour gig and then returned home about 3:00am.

The next morning (this past Sunday), I went to start the car and all it would do was crank and sputter...it would not start.

I cracked the fuel line from the lift pump to the large filter (that's when I noticed the fuel was red) cranked the engine, and it did pump, but no big spray.

I removed the large filter and emptied it, put it back on and cranked the engine again...still the sputtering.

The only clue that I have is that it made a strange noise when I first cranked it...not normal but no clunking...

I cranked it for another few minutes until the battery died...just a bit of sputtering...it never started...

Your thoughts would be appreciated....

[sixto]

You'll have a heck of a time starting and stabilizing an engine with an empty filter. Either fill it and reinstall or use the bleed-by-starter procedure.

Generally sounds like a fuel problem like a clogged tank strainer, clogged tank vent, clogged filter, stuck shut-off actuator or open return check valve. Could also be a clogged cat.

Sixto
87 300D

[kerry]

Initial problem could have been bad glow plugs, then you introduced air into the system by emptying the fuel filter. I'd bleed the fuel system and check the glowplugs.

[the tenor man]

My first thought that it might be the dyed diesel fuel, but I think I have ruled that out.

It would not start even before I pulled off the filter to see if there was any fuel in it. I thought maybe something was plugged and that would inhibit fuel from reaching the large filter. Admittedly, it hasn't been changes in years.

I read in another post that the lift pump should "spray" diesel when the line was removed...it did pump the fuel, but it was hardly a "spray".

My thoughts are that it is something mechanical due to the strange noise I heard when trying to start it for the first time that morning....

I may pull the lift pump to double-check that it hasn't failed...

Keep those cards and letters coming in....and many thanks!

[pdrayton]

It can take quite a bit of cranking to get the air out of the system, ask me how I know....

I don't know if it's bad or not, but I spray a little carb cleaner in the air intake to help it kick over and suck the air out faster when cranking.

And check your fuel supply all the way from the tank - put a mityvac on the system, directly to the line from the tank, moving 1 piece at a time towards the IP i.e. through the filter, prefilter, etc until you find the restriction (if there is one).

replace the filter, don't just drain it.

[Maxbumpo]

Fuel filters should be changed, fill the main filter with fresh clean fuel or diesel purge or diesel 911 prior to installation. Check your glow plugs. Start with simple stuff, work toward complicated.

You may have gotten some water in your tank with the off-road fuel.

[Hogweed]

only difference w/ off road diesel is that it isn't taxed, and is dyed red neither of which should hinder vehicle performance.

[daddi]

It sounds like your feed pump kicked the bucket.