Baltimore and Washington via the B&O railroad's "rail diesel cars"...a kind of self propelled coach that could operate on suburban service either as a single car or a train...the smell of diesel exhaust while walking down the platform...along with the odor of creosote...are very early memories.

Like this pair of Budd RDC-2s:


Oh gawd, you know you're hopelessly hooked on diesels when you already know how these things work...each power truck is diven via a big fluid drive torque converter and cardan shafts from a '6-71 pancake GM Detroit Diesel'.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I realized while watching the film "28 Days Later" that a London "black cab" used in the movie was diesel-powered. I understand these vehicles (AND the lovely old double-decker bus) are going out of style / service, but I'd like to know more...who makes the London cab diesel engines...in fact, who built the whole cars and over what period.

I always thought '80s Peugeot 505 diesels were really beautiful cars (supurb ergonomics...a dashboard change holder that belongs in the MOMA). Think their worst point was limited dealer / service network...PLUS the tendency to rust. Any thoughts on their engines?

I'd say about 14 when my grandpa got a Chevy 3500 with the 6.5L for the Oklahoma City paper run.

My wife is not at all pleased with our diesel-smelling garage but have given up complaining.

My nightly ritual includes popping up the hood to check the oil, coolant, brake fluid levels. I also check for oil in the clear filter I installed in the vacuum line to the shutoff valve which will indicate faulty shutoff valve. I keep my engine pretty clean and with a flashlight I inspect for possible fluid leak and any abnormal change under the hood (e.g., loose vacuum line, etc..). I have a piece of cardboard under the engine to capture any oil leak, if any, that may drip. I wash my car once a week without a miss rain or shine. So far, ALL buttons, gauges, levers, switches and flaps work the way they were designed to function without any trouble.

I feel rewarded when from time to time a note is left on my windshield with a name and telephone number of a potential buyer should I decide to sell my car.

Is this an obsession?

That might be a little overkill for me. I'd worry about these items in a car that's not reliable but these cars are about as dependable as they get. I might peek at the dipstick every now and then but its always at about the same level everytime I check it. I'll look at the other items you mention at every oil change or before a long drive. I mainly rely on the gauges in my MB and I check them often as I drive. I only worry if I hear or smell anything unusual.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

YES to all questions for me!!

I have been a diesel fan for years but am new to the mb diesels. And I am totally hooked.

So is Honda. Did you all hear that Honda will produce a 40 mpg diesel? I'll still sticking with my mb!!

Could someone logically explain to me why diesel is so high? We all [or most of us] know the refining process and it makes no sense that diesel should be higher than gas. Seems to me that the cost of diesel spiked when folks started buying $40,000 diesel pickups enmass. Around 1998 it jumped from .82.9 to $1.25/gal. and now is higher than the highly refined gas. Makes no sense to me.

Cheers,

Bill

As I stated in my early posts, I owned 186 MB diesels 115,123,126(use to buy and sell them to pay my tuition,years ago),last week I bought number 187,for personal use this time,anybody can beat my record?

I think the refiners and oil companies blame it on winter months and the increased demand for home heating oil. Personally, I believe it's just an excuse to make more money.

and I am a MB'aholic!

Kevin

Count me in...diesels are the only way to go. If i could only get my hands on a S400CDI...mmmmmmm torque monster. If I didn't get my E300, i would have opted for a dodge ram with the cummins, its just so loud and dieselly

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2002 G500 74K
1998 E300 200K and rising
1995 S600 73k


"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering
if they've made a difference. The Marines don't
have that problem."-Ronald Reagan

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them
what to do and they will surprise you with their
ingenuity."-General George S. Patton

Do I count? I've had 3 Peugeot diesels. I'd buy more but while there are more Peugeot diesel engines out there, there aren't many Peugeot cars left.

The closest I've come lately is talk my brother into getting a Ford F250 diesel.

I miss the smell of diesel in the morning, it smelled like victory.

__________________
5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

Diesel in Salem Oregon is 3:25$ in BattleGround Washington its 3:49$ crazy

What's even crazier the fuel comes from the same supplier on Swan Island.
Go figure.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Are you obsessed with MB diesels?

Not so much anymore, though I used to be with my W126. After being out of it for awhile and into a newer one, I realize that the engine is probably no better than my current one, the seats were rather uncomfortable compared to just about any japanese car or any other car, including my E300.


Do you keep a log book that even NASA would envy? no

Do you go for a long drive; just to hear the clatter? I used to, but now with diesel prices so high, I don't.

Do you love the smell of your MB diesel in the morning? I can hardly smell any, but yes I do.

Do you get obsessive about calculating your mileage? YES, I just tried the method of filling it up to the brim.