PEH...get the stick out of your a$$


For those of us whom aren't cheap...changing the fuel filters is a necessary maintenance item anyway, and most certainly will not hurt. I suggested ATF because of its excellent lubricating properties. Mercedes Dealer Techs have recommended putting it in with the oil, and I trust their judgement as they are actually trained, and not a crotchety old man that thinks he knows everything.

__________________
Nick
*****
2002 Sprinter 2500 140" High Roof :

240Demon,

So the Techs said put ATF in your engine, but show me where MB recommends it. ATF is for Transmissions, not engines. I wonder if Mobil mixes ATF in with their Mobil 1? Fat chance!

And I'm not cheap, I'm frugal.

Sure changing changing the filters won't hurt anything, but it won't help anything either and is an unnecessary expense.. Why not change the head gasket, bearings, rings, valves? That won't hurt anything either.

I disagree that changing the filters is a necessary Maintenence item. They work just as good up or better up until the point they won't pass enough fuel to provide what the engine needs to put out full power.

Removing all the injectore is absolutely nuts. ML Dude knows nothing about Engines and you tell him to remove parts he doesn't know where they are or what they look like. Chances are he is going to screw something up if he tries. Better he would remove the GP if someone tells him where they are.

Hey buddy, I may be old, but I'm not crotchety. But with old, there's experience.

P E H

Nothing you do to the engine at this point, before starting it is going to make much of a difference. I have a sailboat in upstate NY. Sailboats in that part of the world routinely sit in yard for six months or more every year.
The proper procedure for the engine in those circumstances is to change the oil before storage so acids in old oil won't eat at anything while stored, and (with gas engines) fog the motor down with oil when last shut down. When starting them up, all you do is turn the key.

Since you took no precautionary measures, whatever bad has happened as a result of having old oil in the engine, has already happened. There is no more a need to preoil it than if it sat for two weeks. Same applies to filters. Starting the engine one time after sitting for a year, in a sequence of tens of thousands of starts for the engine is going to have a negligible effect on wear.
Turn the damn key, start it up, warm it up and drive away.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Kerry,

RIGHT ON !!!!!!!!

P E H

I'm still struggling with the mentality of fixing things before they break. There seems to be a constant flow of this stuff on this board. Everything from changing your brakes because you feel like it, to someone who changes all of his light bulbs when he buys a used car

Of course, as if that's not bad enough, we have to throw in some complete witchcraft that goes something like the "I know a guy who knows a mercedes tech who thought he heard that putting ATF in the tank is a great thing". Come on guys....THINK! Another old wive's tale that should be thrown into the trash just like the change your oil every 3kmiles BS.

PEH is one of the most practical people on this board. His philosophy of repair and maintenance is absolutely correct. Some of the youngsters should do more listening than talking.

240Joe

240Joe,

Thankyou.

P E H

PEH may be one of the most practical people on this board, but whomever called him a crochety, know-it-all was right.

Mr Haiges, you know nothing about me and my mechanical knowledge. I simply asked for advice because this is the first and only diesel I've owned. The car has given me no mechanical trouble at all, unlike it's gas cousins. I change it's oil and filters based on time not mileage to make sure it is as clean on the inside as it is on the outside. I can assure you it's unlikely your cars are better maintained than mine because it's almost not possible, but then again, how would you know.

Anyway, try not to be so rude to people who rarely visit the diesel forum next time, just some practical advise for you.

The the rest, thank you so much for all the good feedback. I feel much more comfortable starting it up and driving it to where I can change it's oil and perhaps even other necessary fluids.

Rgds, Ed

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

This is not the intent of this board...
It is for open sharing of ideas and experiences as they relate to MBZ diesels.

One man's opinion is exactly that and taking it any other way is absolutely out of the question...

No warranties, express or implied is absolute.

If you disagree then state your case but let's keep it within the context of the cars, not the people.

I for one like the multiple views and take great pleasure in reading them all!

__________________
'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

MLDude,

I just assessed you mechanical ability by your question to Fisherman about where the GP were.

P E H