240D Finally Done ?

[sgoodhart]

Hi everyone,

My 1981 240D would not start once the temperature went to 40 degrees F or lower at night. The Glow system and battery/cables are both fine. Finally jumped it on Saturday after the weather warmed up and after repeatedly trying. It took awhile for it to turn over fast enough to start. I took it in to a shop to have a compression test done. The shop checked the valves (two were a little tight) and then told me that a compression test would be wasting my money because there was so much blowby out of the Cam Cover hose that they could tell it was a tired engine. Short of major engine work I thought I would ask your opinion. Do you think that replacing the starter with a heavy duty one and changing the oil to Mobil One would make a big difference and allow it to start ? I use a long glow cycle to start. Once started it runs well, it just does not turn over fast enough or long enough when cold. A block heater would not be practical since I have no place to plug into where I park it at work. At home it would be no problem. Lowest temp I experience is about 20 deg F.

Thanks.