I don't disagree with your analysis of potential problems at all, just that particular video isn't a miss. A miss is a very distinctive sound. That video is a surging, rather than a missed power stroke. Sorry to sound so argumentative (pointless)...carry on

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

Just to follow up, today I started the car and let it idle for a bit. The engine ran smoothly without the "lope", without the PSI gauge pulsing and without the valve tick. I figure that this was because the engine was cold. When I noticed it running poorly, it was after coming off the cam after a 3 hour drive on the Interstate.

The first stage filter was quite filthy and I changed it. I did not do anything else as my day was already filled with a crazy amount of stuff.

Next week I'll take it out and let it get good and hot and see if the anomaly still exists. If it does, I will also change the spin on fuel filter and try that.

If its no good, and or it "ticks" again, I will certainly adjust the valves. Thanks for all the info. Two days ago I couldn't tell you the difference between a Rod Bolt and Dennis Rodman. Now I sorta know. One is on the back of the injector pump, and the other is in Pyongyang.

I had the jumping needle on my 240 when hot. Especially after a very long drive.

On my car, a two hour highway drive wouldn't do it. I needed a four hour drive with mountains. I was told that it was the little o-rings on the shaft of the oil filter cap being worn out. I bought a kit from a well marketed diy Mercedes fixit site.

You can probably get the o-rings from the dealership. They looked the same but there are supposedly two distinct sizes for the upper and lower. That's all I recall. I don't even remember if it solved the problem. I do remember having more trouble getting the oil filter cap on.

It's really foggy. I think it still wiggled a little when very hot but it didn't bounce as much.

Edit - our sponsors carry the part.

Part #: 015-997-94-48-MBZ

I recall there being two sizes. The top one being a little bigger than the bottom one. But it has been too long and I just don't remember.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles