On my way to take the 1983 300d back to Enrique (Bakersfield to Tarzana) car got really warm.I pulled over waited a while, then went a little further (heater core open) still no improvement,pull over at a rest stop-now I notice smoke coming out from the right side of engine compartment (under air filter).Oil level fine,coolant tank full (it looks pin in color).New transmission cooler lines were put on because on the way here one ruptured in my driveway.Its now 10 pm and my car is in Lebec (30 miles from home) and its about 78 degrees.Should I go up there and bring it home (its all down hill) right now? Wait till 6 in the morning and attempt to drive to Enrique (57 miles-30 miles through the summit).I have all fluids necessary on board.Could it be the oil line to turbo that is underneath the air cleaner?Please help-I do not want to toast an engine like a certain dealership did to my 85 300 d.Thank you.

mrdhh,

Is the engine water temperature the problem? When you say "car got really warm" do you mean the water temperature or do you mean something else?

If it is the water temperature suddenly rising into the red zone, I would look to make sure your fan belts are still tight and working. If you threw a belt off, you will not be circulating water through the radiator. A new belt would solve that problem, but if it is not the belt, it sounds a little ominous.

If I were you, and the belts are fine, I would call Enrique and have him send a tow truck and pick the car up. Good luck, Jim

__________________
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)

Was it smoke you saw or steam?

It definately was smoke.Like a smoldering type smell.It reminds me of when my power steering pump broke on my 1988 Dodge Ram truck and sprayed on the engine ( and yes caught fire).Also noticed its missing a belt that goes around fan and alternator as well (I notice this in my 1985) when you open the heater core up(or turn to heat or warm) you generally feel a change in temperature coming out of the vents.Nothing on the 1983.As well the outside fan does not come on (isn't it temp activated like a thermostat).I did make it back here last night at 1 in the morning (thank goodness all downhill),it appears nothing is leaking out of it.Weird part is engine was so smooth and transmission shifted so quietly-too quiet for me I think.Since it just replaced transmission cooling line (cracked and fluid all over driveway) it could be another one? Also there appears to be a reddish fluid (it looks like tranny fluid) on top of my aircleaner as well as fluid on top of brake resevoir.Thats kind of weird blowby isn't?Thanks

P.S. Definately smoke!!

mrdhh,

If the belt going over the fan and alternator is missing you have no water pump. The fan pulley also operates the water pump. You will soon loose the charge on the battery if you drive at night with the lights on. Hopefully you have not overheated and ruined the engine. I would get a new belt, then change the engine and transmission oil and filter. If you have some new leaks in either transmission fluid lines or power steering lines, it is feasible the belt damaged them and some other stuff as it tried to leave the engine compartment. good luck, Jim

__________________
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)

There are two belts that go around the fan and crank and alternator. Either you are missing one, and still have the other one, or you are missing both, and didn't realize you were supposed to have two.
One thing that you do have, is an aux. water pump. Its hoses happen to run on the side where the airfilter and turbo is at. I am wondering if maybe you had a failure in a hose in that area, and it sprayed water onto the hot manifold. Also, your expansion tank is on that side, and the drain from it is also on that side of the engine, although a bit more toward the front of the car, rather than by the aircleaner. (then again, if you were moving, the air circulation from the engine fan, could have sprayed some towards that area - who knows...)

Good Luck!

-Larry

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I'd say that the missing belt(s) is your problem if both are missing, but if it's only one, and the smoke was coming from below the air-filter area; your turbo could be at fault. A failed turbo bearing could produce all your above problems (more noticibly when/after driving hard).

I have a BMW that exhibited similar problems when its turbo bearings went, though I noticed smoke in the exhaust gasses too (though this would be nothing new for a diesel and probably wouldn't be noticed anyway).

Sincerely

ATLD

First off (and quite late at that),thank you to all that responded with ideas on this situation.I drove it back (hood partially opened) at 12:30 in the morning and brout it to our Volvo mechanic who sent me over to a radiator shop.It seems the plastic top of the radiator cracked on the sign (hairline) so it was not creating pressure to cool off the engine (odd I really did not notice any steam coming out from it-probably not pressured?)so new radiator installed with fluid -200 bucks.Drove the car it has not budged of the 80 degree mark.Also informed me to replace the major hoses because they are all original (20 years old yikes).So with this in mind as well as knowing I will not blow it up back over to Enrique it goes hoping I did not screw the motor up ( since now I notice when I come to a stop engine feels like it rocks and wants to stall-but when in motion-IT MOVES)

Question?-This 1983 (tranny done about 20K ago currently at 258K) feels like it has more power (especially in passing-push down in pedal and wroommm) and gets little better mileage with more diesel attributes than my 1985 with California emission.does anyone else notice the same or is something wrong with it.Also do these (1983) have any emission systems? Just curious.Thank you