On the good side: replaced/repacked front right wheel bearing that had been whining, after a two hour wrestling match with the caliper bolts (which should give you some idea of both my mechanical skill and tool inventory).

Then, while poking around the engine with a flashlight, saw a 'pregnant' fuel line, the top one coming into the fuel filter. Thought it could have been low pressure fuel line used where high pressure was needed, so replaced it with a piece of hi-test I had.

Did not bleed air out immediately. Started engine, could tell right away that it wasn't 100%. It lacks power, maybe 15-20%. Makes more noise than usual, at 45 is not the usual 'purrr' but more of a dieselly clatter. After 3 miles, did bleed air. Tried again another 5 miles later. No change.

Drove to town (60 miles). Put 16oz of PS supplement in, thinking perhaps a plugged injector (which I still suspect and have done a couple searches on).

Seems odd that it would plug immediately after changing this little (6") piece of hose, my guess would be that if there was a little piece of crud in the hose the filter would have caught it.

Any thoughts? Sure do appreciate the insight on this board...
(Oh, parts are 60 miles away, shop is 120, hopefully driving these won't cause further harm!)

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1983 300D- silver blue, tan leather, 205,000.
1975 Datsun 280Z. Stock, ready to restore.
1983 San Juan 23. Dry docked.

Hope you didn't throw out the old line. It's supposed to be pregnant.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

The hose is supposed to look like that. It's commonly called the "Cigar Hose". I believe it's used to damp out the oscillations from the fuel pump. Without the proper hose.....well, you found out what happens without the proper hose.

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Fred Johnson
1977 240D
1983 300SD

THANKS!!!!

Nope, didn't throw it out, and will re-install it tonight. Sounds like that might do the trick, sure hope so. In reading the archives on the cigar hose, I didn't notice any complaints about power loss though...I'll find out tonight!

Thanks a ton y'all. This forum is outstanding. Hope the archives are backed up somehow!

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1983 300D- silver blue, tan leather, 205,000.
1975 Datsun 280Z. Stock, ready to restore.
1983 San Juan 23. Dry docked.

yup, y'all nailed it. Replaced cigar hose, ran like a top.

I am amazed that, first, the engineers figured this out. Gives me a whole new appreciation for how complex this simple sturdy engine is. Second, I'm amazed how much that threw off the performance on my engine! I was ready to start pulling injectors, etc. Even seemed to mess with the shifting...

thanks again forumdudes!!

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1983 300D- silver blue, tan leather, 205,000.
1975 Datsun 280Z. Stock, ready to restore.
1983 San Juan 23. Dry docked.

Its hard to believe the "cigar" hose would have any effect on the running of the engine. Its just a return line to the fuel tank.

Seems like it would have no effect even if it was removed completely except for the loss of fuel. Others have said they replaced it with regular hose with no difference in performance.

P E H

rhino

"wrestling match with the caliper bolts"

I bought a used impact wrench from a friend and the sockets from Hbr freight. I never realized what a handy tool it is for flex couplings, alternator pulley nuts, and caliper bolts, just to name a few uses. I shoulda got one years ago. No more "wrestling matches".

I also find it heard to believe that the cigar hose substitution would have made any difference, but if it running good now, .....who knows....60 miles to town,..and I thought I lived out in the "sticks" When you go to the parts store you better not forget anything.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

When I bought my 300CD last summer I changed all the hoses including the "cigar hose". Not knowing that it was a special hose I replaced it with a normal fuel return line. Car was driving great, no complaints. After reading this post this morning I went to the shop and bought a "cigar hose". After switching the hoses it seems that the car starts better, it fires right up and less shacking, it's very subtle but there is a difference. If it drives better is hard to say, plenty of power just like before.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).