I have a 1983 300SD that was just running great except that it was really hard to start. I was driving on the freeway and when I slowed down to turn around under a bridge the car died and would not start back up. It just stopped. I took it to the MB dealership and they said it needed new glow plugs before anything else so it would start. so after $600.00 it has new glow plugs and starts right up but after it started you can hear a small low end knock. and it runs rough. I took it on a short drive under 50mph just to get it home. it go hot around 100c and then died just like last time when I got a trailer to tow it. it started right back up. the knock is bad but not the worst I heard. I also saw a lot of smoke coming from the tailpiple it looked really black so I don't know if it was unburned gas or oil. I thought these engine where "Bullet proof" so what are the odds it is just a rod bearing? if not that when what else? and can I replace a rod bering without taking out the crankshaft? I really need your help I have spent a lot of money and don't want to buy a new engine. so any ideas would be helpful

was it overheating before it quit?
might be a prechamber that came apart but that doesn't make the car quit but does make the eng knock. me thinks you overheated it.
just cool the engine, top off the expansion tank and crank the engine over.
watch the tank and see if coolant is forced out. rad cap is to be left off.

george

that it is in the bottom end. could be an injector issue. so do the proceedure of loostening each injector til you find one that changes the engine sound. perhaps ;you will find something. if you do then change that injector for another and see if the problem follows the injector or stays with the cylinder. if it stays with the cylinder then you can check back and tell us what you have found.

does the car carry good oil pressure? it is not low on oil is it? water?

doesnt seem like a bottom end problem is all that likely.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It was running at about 105c maybe when it died. also the guy at the MB dealership thought it might be a bottem end problem but it didn't sound like any low end knock I have ever heard. But the longer the car ran and the warmer it got the louder the knock got the oil was changed last thursday by another MB dealership. It has good pressure and the first thing I checked when it died was the oil it is black and there in enought of it. there was no water in it. it was running with the knock and it didn't seem to lack power but I was not really trying to push it, since I would like to not ruin the motor. The thing I was really worried about is all the smoke is that just from unburnt gas? If it just got hot what do I need to check and replace other than oil? I think the heads is fine.

Thanks

Brian