How Does My Engine Sound?

[imgolden]

I have this odd fear that I think my car sounds fine, but actually isn't. So, here's a video of a cold start after sitting for a few days. How does it look/sound to you good people? It's 82' 300D, needs to be glowed about 4 seconds after the light goes off, little smoke.

I've been told I have a low idle, but my cluster reads about 800 RPM, so it could be wrong.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB0wioXtpRI

[Sugar Bear]

Sounds good to me. Let's see what others say. Post a warm engine video also.

[YousefTAK]

It sounds okay to me, given my limited experience. How is the vibration from inside? If it's not excessive and you have no other reason to suspect a problem, it's probably fine! If you want to double check the engine speed you can buy an optical tachometer for $30 or so and check the engine speed that way. That will give you some peace of mind. It's pretty easy to increase the idle a bit as well, if you want.

[Diseasel300]

Starts well, runs on all 5, and runs surprisingly well for idling around 500 RPM. Don't trust that tach, you're nowhere near 800 RPM.

[imgolden]

Thank you everybody, I am going to raise the idle in a few days. I'll probably have questions when I do

[imgolden]

Hi all I'm back. I just raised the idle 'by ear' because my tach is clearly reading wrong, and I don't have an optical tach (yet):

https://youtu.be/mW6ZE341oi0

-How's that as far as a ballpark idle? (in this video, the engine is hot)
-Can you hear anything else?

Like I said before, the engine performs nicely with minimal smoke, but I just want to be sure. The folks over on a Facebook group are convinced my engine needs a bunch of work, so I'm not sure what to believe.

As always, thanks so much!

[Diseasel300]

Have you ever noticed that NOTHING is ever good enough for the armchair-experts on the FaceBook groups? Unless you're one of the alpha a-holes on there, forget about anything you do being considered "good enough".

Watching a video vs. being there in person can be a very different situation, but the videos you show seem to demonstrate a reasonably healthy example. You start easy, it runs smooth, no weird noises, and you say it drives good with very little smoke. Enjoy it. Who cares what the Internet "Experts" think, chances are their cars (if they even have one) aren't in as good of shape as they like to claim anyway.

[imgolden]

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

Have you ever noticed that NOTHING is ever good enough for the armchair-experts on the FaceBook groups? Unless you're one of the alpha a-holes on there, forget about anything you do being considered "good enough".

Watching a video vs. being there in person can be a very different situation, but the videos you show seem to demonstrate a reasonably healthy example. You start easy, it runs smooth, no weird noises, and you say it drives good with very little smoke. Enjoy it. Who cares what the Internet "Experts" think, chances are their cars (if they even have one) aren't in as good of shape as they like to claim anyway.

AMEN TO THAT.
I posted that video in Facebook, and afterwards realized I just need to post here where the real experts are. Thanks much

[Diseasel300]

I'm certainly no expert here, but what you presented appears to be a decent example. Idle speed is definitely better post-adjustment too, I'd imagine it idles a bit smoother with more RPM.

[Shern]

Originally Posted by imgolden

Hi all I'm back. I just raised the idle 'by ear' because my tach is clearly reading wrong, and I don't have an optical tach (yet):

https://youtu.be/mW6ZE341oi0

-How's that as far as a ballpark idle? (in this video, the engine is hot)
-Can you hear anything else?

Like I said before, the engine performs nicely with minimal smoke, but I just want to be sure. The folks over on a Facebook group are convinced my engine needs a bunch of work, so I'm not sure what to believe.

As always, thanks so much!

I agree with Diseasel. Looks and sounds fine.

I am curious though... What work are the FB pros convinced your engine needs?

[imgolden]

Yes it’s definitely smoother and easier to drive with the higher idle.

The suggestions on Facebook run the gamut:

Injector pulse (he wouldn’t explain what that meant.
Diesel purge (already done it)
Motor mounts (done a few years ago)
Prechambers (already done it)
Timing chain stretch
Etc

Mostly valid maintenance items, but all over the place.
Some said my engine shook too much, which is crazy. Whatever!

[Diseasel300]

You have a mechanical indirect-injection diesel. You should ask the guy to elaborate on the "injector pulse" since it's a function of a pumping element rising against a spring. Not like you can adjust that...

I've yet to see any benefit of doing a diesel purge to any of my cars. Any "miracle cure" or "mechanic in a bottle" type product immediately makes me suspicious. Kent over at a certain "source" is a big proponent, but probably because he sells an overpriced "kit". People swear that it makes such a huge difference, but I maintain that it's a placebo effect. The engine runs quieter because of the composition of the purge fluid, not because it's actually doing much to the engine. Record the engine running and idling both hot and cold before a purge, drive a tank of fuel through the engine and record the same conditions after the purge. I'd bet you they're identical.

Motor mounts are worth checking. If they're collapsed or separated they need replaced. If not, rock on.

Prechambers? There's nothing serviceable in the prechambers. They're good or they're bad.

Timing chain stretch is easy enough to measure. Check it at your next valve adjustment. Based on how the engine is running, I wouldn't bother taking the valve cover off to check it until then.

In your first video, the engine did shake a bit. You'd expect it to with it being a 5 cylinder and idling ~500 RPM. The OM617 is still pretty "agricultural" in its design. It's often said that a quiet OM617 is a sick OM617, or in need of a valve adjustment. They're pretty durable. Keep the oil changed and keep an ear out for new/unfamiliar noises that sound out of place. Drive it and enjoy it.

[imgolden]

I did ask what he meant by injector pulse and he just told me to 'look it up'. Ok thanks....

I will say, when I did the diesel purge a few months ago, the turbo was spooling up earlier. Placebo effect? Perhaps.

I'll be doing a valve adjustment soon. PO said it had been done recently, but who knows what that means.

Is it worth me recording a cold start today and posting it here? Or am I overthinking this?

[Diseasel300]

Originally Posted by imgolden

Or am I overthinking this?

[imgolden]

Originally Posted by Diseasel300