One other thing...

A 240D and 300D are very similar; both naturally aspired. A significant power loss due to steep hills is not a strange thing. These cars weigh A LOT more than a standard sedan and have considerably less power: I believe you are in the 60's (HP) and I'm in the 80s (HP).

Learning to drive a MB diesel fast is quite fun and amusing, it just requires practice, planning and knowing your route. If there is a hill ahead you should greatly accelerate as much as possible beforehand. Horsepower for a diesel at any given throttle, is proportional to engine speed, so enter a hill as fast as possible, and in the lowest gear that is feasible (pretend you are driving a "big rig"). Also learn how to downshift and get the most out of the 60+ HP you have.

Don't expect it to drive like a sports car, it's not.
As for smoke, it is most noticible at night when there are cars close behind and you are really throttling it. It is really funny to "smoke out" the cars behind you!


Good luck.

ATLD

Note: the filter changes that you are preforming are a good start to get the most out of your engine. That may help you significantly, but within reason it won't make your car that much faster.

I couldn't help laughing. I had finally gotten around to registering my 24OD. As many here know, it has a pretty significant appetite for oil. You can smell it in the exhaust. Anyway, I got stopped by one of those hicktown cops near where I live for a burned out taillight. Here is this cop sitting behind me, taking FOREVER to get back, and I can see the smoky and notably rank smelling exhaust in his headlights, wafting over the hood and all around the driver side of his car. I can just imagine just how nasty the inside of his cruiser got. :p

Hi TXBill
Thank you for your words of encouragement on changing the fuel filters.

This afternoon I looked under the hood again and found there are plenty room to work around these fuel filters. So I have decided to give it try.

I will order the parts from "FastLane" and this will be my next weekend's project.

Thanks again



David
1985 300D

I changed the two fuel filters on my 1985 300D in about 30 minutes, including clean up.

I really can tell the difference, the car has more power now, especially going up the hill.

Thanks to every body's advice.



David


_________________
1985 300D

No, changing the fuel filter is pretty simple and straightforward. Buy the new filter cartridge and the new in-line filter. Both the old ones come off very easily (top bolt on the cartridge and then unscrew it, and just hose clamps on the in-line). Fill the new cartridge with diesel or diesel purge and screw it back on & tighten the bolt. Put the new in-line filter back on & tighten the hose clamps. Use the little hand pump to re-prime the system. And off you go.

It's a very basic job that most anybody can do. Hard to go wrong. The only problem is likely to be not sufficiently re-priming the fuel--just keep pumping.

If you're just starting, it might be a worthwhile investment to buy a Haynes manual ($15) which describes the process, with photos. You'll save way more than the cost of the manual by doing it yourself, instead of taking it to a shop. And you'll have a starter manual for all the other jobs that need doing.