1984 300TD...

I lossened the fittings on each fuel injector and cranked the starter. Fuel seeped out of each fitting.

I loosened the big nut on the filter and primed it and plenty of fuel came out.

Glow plug light comes on and goes out after about 5 seconds.

Turns over real strong, and oil pressure is solid.

I get no sputtering, ignition, firing or any kinda noise that might indicate it's trying to start.

Never had a diesel so I'm sure I've over looked something obvious...

old diesel fuel wont burn worth crap.drain the fuel system and refill.piston rings could be stuck as well giving low compression.1 teaspoon of motor oil into the intake manifold can boost compression enough to get ignition

oil in the intake manifold? Is there an easy place to squirt it? A plug or something that can be pulled and a couple of teaspoons poured in?

Old diesel? I though diesel was pretty much a stable fuel? Surely it would at least try to burn? I'm getting nothing, zip, nada, zilch.

I should have brought the volt/ohm meter in today to check the glow plugs. Can they be checked while still in the car?

how long has the fuel been in the tank?you should be able to remove the air cleaner and drop the oil directly into the intake pipe.location of this varies with model of course.what car do you have?

1984 300TD

I should have added this important info to my original post...

right down the air cleaner...OK I'll try it. I must say I'm a little skeptical that the oil will get sucked all the way to the pistons.

Looking at the Haynes...can I remove the Pressure Switch that is depicted in the Turbo chapter and drop the oil in there?

WD40? I've heard of using WD40 to raise compression.

yes thru the pressure swith port would probably be more direct.wd40 may work.you could also try autotranny fluid.i know this method works well as ive tried it with several old mercedes diesels that others tried and failed.definately make sure your fuel is fresh

Get a can of Diesel Purge and a new screw on filter....
take the old filter off... fill the new one with Diesel Purge and install it....bleed off any air and pump with the hand pump...

Follow this advice and the car should start in seconds.

The problem is the old trash fuel.
If the tank if 1/2 or less, fill it up before you turn the engine off.
A good drive to mix the new fuel would help also.

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I wouldn't get too carried away with oil in the intake. It won't take much oil to hydrlock one of these things.

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There is no way squirting oil or atf into the intake is going to get to the pistons in any safe and EFFECTIVE manner....that is... to where this procedure is going to tell you that your problem is fuel related ( which I think is an easy and proper thing to eliminate first ).
Follow the Diesel Purge suggestion above...
AND put a three second spray of starter fluid into the intake tube as soon as the engine is cranking.
This combination is safe on your car ( since you have no intake heater like my Ford tractor ).... you can do a search for JimSmith's description of this in the archives..... in short, there is not enough btu energy in the starterspray/air mix to hurt your overdesigned engine. So I don't want to hear from any handwringers with overly developed imaginations on this subject.
If it does not start under these conditions you will have to look further than the quality of the fuel.

Gas prices must be getting these oldies pulled out of the weeds. How about the obvious? Critters in the tailpipe or intake? Glow plugs tight (may have been pulled and oil squirted in for storage)? Change those fuel filters. If it ran before then it will start on just about anything resembling diesel (how long it runs depends on how close to diesel it is). Prime until your arm hurts then prime some more. How about a pull start?

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daBenz - 1970 220D

how long are you cranking ? you can prolly crank for 30 seconds or so and if the engine tries to start keep cranking a bit to get all cylinders firing.
if it doesn't start wait for the starter to cool off before trying again.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Wow, lots of good tips!!! I like the diesel purge in the filter idea best. Why not just get a new filter and fill it with fresh diesel. That way you have fresh fuel right at the injectors. Once it starts, the engine should easily burn anything old still in the tank.

Anyway, I spent yesterday afternoon messing with it some more. I got it to fire after just cranking the thing for a long time. Probably 20-30 seconds but it sure felt like more. It finally fired an a huge black cloud shot out the back.

Let the starter cool off a little and tried it a few more times. Just like some of y'all said, I kept the starter cranking after it started firing until the engine started to run on it's own. Reved the engine up and let off and she went to a smooth idle right at 1000.

Oil pressure needle is pegged at the 3 post. Let her warm up a little and drove it around the parking lot.

next issue is getting all the paper work finished. Didn't want to spend the time and $ on title and reg if she ain't gonna run. The title may be a lot harder...abandoned vehicle, sold by the Navy on base auction, no title. I'll have top see what the state says...

BUT SHE RUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!

we knew it would...

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

My 81 wagon with 200k on it sat for 18 months due to AC/Front suspension problems....
TxBill wanted it so I sold it to him... he brought a battery over to put into it.... did not even pump the primer pump... no new fuel, no nothing except battery.... and no one could have been more surprised that it started within 2 seconds of hitting the starter.