As you guys (and gals) know, I've been struggling for sometime with the disparity in performance between Marlene and Lilly.

300D vs 300TD Performance Disparity:
300D vs 300TD Performance Disparity

Near-dead miss at idle:
Near-dead miss at idle[/url]

I think I'm finally onto something. Yesterday, I took Marlene's injectors to Austin Fuel Injection (3500 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702 512/385-4890).

A bench 'pop' test revealed 3 of the 5 were intermittently squirting as opposed to spraying a fine mist of fuel. So, right now, they're being rebuilt with new nozzles. Tonight, I'll drip time the engine and reassemble with the rebuilt injectors.

I'll report my findings soon.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Austin Fuel Injection is a pretty good shop! I used to use them when I was living down there. They did a set of injectors for me and set/checked the timing whenever I messed with the pump. They also retail Stanadyne Performance Formula. They also used to take used antifreeze which can be tough to get rid of. Oh how I miss Texas.... :-( RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Agreeded... just took my injectors to Austin Fuel INjection last week. They were tested and cleaned and reported back that they were in tip-top shape...

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Mark Herzig
1995 E300D 153K
1985 300D 142K (sold)
1979 450SL 122 miles (sold)
1992 500E 127K (sold)
1987 300SDL 132K (sold)
1986 300E 161K (sold)

OK, so I have my rebuilt injectors installed, the IP has been timed to spec using the drip method. Now, Marlene pulls well from idle, there's no excessive smoke (never was anyway) and she seems more responsive to the throttle at all speeds.

However, she still has that light miss/lope at idle in the idle->1500rpm range.

Any ideas?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

What condition are the valves in? I don't remember if you've done a valve job on Marlene yet.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

No valve job that I know of....the PO promised but never delivered on 'all service records.' Supposedly she's got about 220,000 miles. No real blowby, no oil consumption.

Is it time for one?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Compression test first. If you have lower compression than you would like, or it varies between cylinders too much, I'd think valve job.

By now, the valves have a groove in the seat surface, and that will give poor sealing.

This will be worse if the PO didn't keep them adjusted properly.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Well, Sunday I installed new front motor mounts and amazingly, at idle you can barely tell that there's the slight/light miss. Under acceleration there's no detecting it at all.

Go figure.

Since her off-idle performance now pretty much on-par with Lilly, I'm going to take a page from the P.E.H. book of Diesel Wrenching and "...if it aint broke, don't fix it."


Thanx all.

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.