My uncle just took delivery of his new 86 300SDL, 165K, here's the ebay auction..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1814222349

I went with him to pick it up from the truck, I drove the car while he followed behind in his 84 300D..

First thing I notice, the car is belching out smoke while its idiling, granted it was just started dead cold, so I kinda shurgged it off.

So we take off, and at every stoplight, I see smoke wafting up in front of me from the exhaust. When I took off, I nearly blinded the cars behind me with a cloud of smoke. At this point, I'm getting a little nervous.

Then he calls my cell phone, a nervous wreck, telling me that sparks are shooting out of my tailpipe. Now i'm downright scared.

After about 30 minutes of driving, the smoke seemed to die down, and no more burning cinders coming out of the exhaust..

Car seems to run great, except for the excessive smoke.. Any ideas?

Do you know when it was last run?

I'm wondering if it sat for a while? Alomst seemed like it was clearing it's throat...like there was something stuck in the exhaust, or maybe a serious soot build-up in the muffler or somewhere in the pipe...maybe a bird nest somewhere in the line (don't laugh; I've seen this before)?

Other than that, very nice lookin' car!

Just some thoughts...good luck! If the car seems to run fine otherwise, I'd say it's gotta be something in the exhaust...probably aft of the turbo if it seems to accelerate okay.

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I noticed that the "Turbo" and "300SDL" badges are reversed in position on this car! I've seen a 420SEL and a 560SL locally with their model badges on the right side of the trunk lid. Was there a year, 1987 maybe(?) where MB did this on all their models, or was it an option, or did people switch badge locations for some unknown reason during the late 80's? This is weird...

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

No, Mercedes never did that from the factory.

I suspect that the car, or just the trunk was repainted at some point, and the guys didn't know where they originally were, so they improvised.

That's one way to tell if a benz has been repainted, thier emblems in the back.

I wonder what the sellers definition of "uses a little oil" is. This is THE main problem with my 240D. Now I need get off of my a$$ and get busy with the valve stem seals and valve cover gasket.

Mine blew major smoke on the way home from picking it up with 248,000. The engine was cold and it was a long steep hill to climb.
After several months of running Redline it hardly smokes at all. I can't even "cloud" the jerk that is ridding my bumper any more.

When I bought my 83 300d the PO had used the car for years as his daily driver. About 15 miles each way in city traffic. It would blow black smoke at startup and every time I got on it getting on the x-way. I remember one afternoon after I had started to run some bio in it when I was going up an on ramp and had wound it up to about 4k it hit 3rd gear and looked like it caught on fire behind me. Giant black cloud that blocked out all the cars behind me, then nothing. Has not smoked since even at startup. I think 20 years of crap broke loose in the exaust system and came blowing out, car also seemed to have way more power at the line after that. I do mostly highway driving now, most of it at 75-85 mph and the car seems to thrive on this kind of driving. Take it out and run it hard for about an hour to see if it helps.

Nice Car!!!
diesel purge it and new filters etc.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

It seems to me that everyone here says to replace the fuel filters way too often. They will have no effect on the running of the engine unless they are about 90% restricted. I only replace them when I notice a loss of power and I determine which one is restricted. Then I take them home, clean them and use them again.

Some time they last 40,000 miles or more and other times they may only last a few miles depending how much dirt is in the fuel you get. I got fuel in CO once that plugged 3 filters in 500 miles. It was no problem because I always carry spares but I won't buy fuel there any more.

P E H

I'm pretty sure it's valve guides, the engine smokes like CRAZY, blue smoke for the first half hour after it's started cold. The engine is also mechanically a little noiser than my 300SDL, I think this one is over my head and going to my mechanic for a diagnosis.

What exactly is this redline and where can I pick some up?

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W126 1983 300SD 286,000 miles and ticking
Baby blue exterior Grey MB tex
Recent work:
Replaced air cleaner mounting brackets and heat shields
Replaced alternator, fan and power steering belts
Replaced positive battery terminal
Replaced negative battery terminal and cord
New Duralast Battery

My car needs work.

adiaw83,

The product is Diesel Fuel Catalyst, and it is made by RedLine Oil Company. I believe it is available on the FastLane or Partsshop sites, and at some auto parts places like Pep Boys. I use it in my Diesels regularly, and it helps keep the fuel system clean. Reduces knocking noises and smoke. Hope this helps, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)