I am going to say this one last time, then leave it alone.

While unfiltered WVO is likely a factor, Ether is likely what pushed this engine over the edge. Admitted the car appeared to start and run okay to begin with, but when it got a bit cold, out came the Ether, and it went downhill from there.

Even if it turns out not to be Ether damage, everyone should get the word out that it should never, ever be used on a indirect injection diesel. Any fuel mixed with incoming air, will detonate uncontrollably, as soon as ignition temperature is reached on the compression stroke. If its hard on a direst injection diesel with only 15:1 compression, simple physics would conclude its going to be magnitudes harder on an indirect.

You need to do a compression test, but its surely low and you will have to determine your options. It wont cost anything but time to pull the head, and not much more to drop the pan.

If the pistons only have stuck rings, and aren't otherwise burned or damaged, and if the cylinders and piston size fall within spec, you might get by re-ringing it, honing the cylinders, cleaning everything up, and being able to run it for a long time. You'll probably want to find another IP though.

I tired to start the car on ether only once and that was here after I tried everything else. The speed of the cranking never changed nor did it ever pop on ether. So I have a hard time believe that was the nail. The other Benz I had was always started with ether before I got it and replaced the glows. That thing still ran great but it idled like a paint can shaker....

I just borrowed a compression tester, so I will report the numbers tomorrow.

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On my '85 300D, after I disconnected the EGR and ARV in an attempt to gain performance, and plugged the disconnected lines with four golf tees...at 32 F it required ether to start. Ether did no damage. At 25 F not even ether would start it. Reconnected the EGR and ARV and presto, fired right up. I have no idea why the absence of vacuum signals to the EGR and ARV caused it to fail to start in cold weather...but, it did.

My '83 300D blew white smoke until I installed five tested-good fresh injectors. Doesn't blow white smoke any more.

So I'm guessing you have about the same two problems: a disconnected or clogged vacuum line somewhere, similar to my EGR line, --though, as I say, I have no idea why the combination of a disconnected-and-plugged EGR and ARV plus cold weather would cause it to fail to start --and, I would further venture to speculate that the cold weather caused the fuel to gel inside your injectors, clogging them.

So my suggestion is, swap five good, tested ones in (or send them to Greazzer, he charges $50 to clean and reset them), check all vacuum connections, and then try starting it.

cooljay,

I know you didn't ask me, but I'm going to say it anyway: this car probably needs a new engine, so I would put it in. Even if you want a wagon, (I sympathize with you on this), get this car repaired so that you can sell it. It would be a shame to have all this money put into a car, only to lose it. If you sell the car with a good used engine, new fuel system, etc, you should get enough money for a wagon in good condition (Or two that need work!), instead of spending your last dollar on another car that sounds like a potential issue (Running stiffly? What does that mean?).

Good luck!

Jooseppi

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

He didn't say running stiffly, he said the SLS system was stiff.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Oh, okay. Still a bargaining chip.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

yeh what he said above....

I am literally living in the middle of no where, so finding a good engine locally will be impossible....plus I don't have a garage here nor a lift....so I would have to buy a lift and ship in a good engine. I figure if I get the wagon for 1200....that is what I would spend on an engine...I will swap parts over, and it should run in the summer when temps are above 100....I also have to remember that the car did get totaled over the summer....so my insurance company gave me 2500$ on the car and I paid 450$ for her....so I have spent a ton of time on her and some money but I did get most all of it back....The good thing about living in the middle of no where....I can let the car sit and decide what to do and no meter maid will ticket it..

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For you Ether guys.. The last post of this thread pretty much sums up my feelings on the issue.

Using starting fluid (ether) in an MB diesel?

All right, I see where you're coming from. The wagon sounds nice, if it's been well maintained. Good luck either way -- I'll check back tomorrow to hear the compression numbers.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I didn't read through the entire thread, so forgive me if this has been said. But have you tried soaking the pistons with MMO or Brake fluid? There have been a few cases on here where people have had stuck rings with low compression and soaking has dissolved the crud and loosened the rigs up, thus restoring compression.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Doing that now....been sitting for 2 days....will go out tomorrow and blow it all out, check compression and reinstall the glows...

__________________

Have you checked the glow plugs with them out of the motor to see if they glow good and hot?

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Body of that wagon should be good if it's spent it's life on the Colorado Plateau. Good price too. Well worth looking at.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Not yet, but tomorrow after the compression test....I will install the brand new pencil style Bosch glows that I bought....just to satisfy all the members insisting its the plugs

Though again, I have to emphasize that the car doesn't pop with ether...and you don't need glows for that to start the engine..

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Do folks agree with the statement that it should start with ether without glow action?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.