Identical 300SDL - One is gutless at slow speed & start up. Same power on freeway.

[ah-kay]

I have 2 300SDL and both are in excellent shape and daily drivers. However, one is kind of gutless at start up and at slow speed while the other pulls strong. Once on open road both pull great and can do 80 mph all day. All filters, primary/secondary/fuel tank filters are new. It has been like this since I bought the car, so what do you think? What could be the issue with the slow car? What shall I look for? I suspect it is something with turbo spooling up, is it probable cause?

[ah-kay]

Bump. Any ideas? Does not matter how wild.

[tjts1]

Slow one has an ALDA problem. Remove the ALDA on the slow one and take it for a test drive.

[dkr]

How about glow plugs? Have you tested them on the slow start car.

The ALDA would affect performance both while the car was getting to operating temp and afterwards. If it was a glow plug issue, performance on both cars would be normal at operating temp but one car have slower performance while it was getting to operating temp.

It couldn't hurt to pull the ALDA to see. It could also be the turbo has more wear on the slow one. Once you get into fourth gear, you're pretty much done with the turbo.

Dkr.

[jake12tech]

If everything is correct like you say just remove the ALDA.

My buddy's 87 OM603 was a slug and he asked me why. Took off the ALDA with a wrench and took it on a highway spin, and it had its balls back. Little more smoke at WOT, but who cares?

[shertex]

Yes, often a night and day difference to remove the ALDA on a 603.

[ah-kay]

Thanks for the information. I will play around with it.