'83 240D was on highway, all of a sudden wouldn't go faster than 10 miles per hour, had to drop down to First gear, car barely climbed hill . Engine not getting much RPM's even in neutral, finally I pulled over at Rest Stop, had an adjustable wrench, so figured problem was fuel filter, took it off and drained it, but couldnt locate the "Hand Pump" in the Haynes Manual to bleed air. Suspect problem was listening to Post to add Transmission fluid to Fuel to "lube" injectors; perhaps I added too much. Anyway (1) What are possible faults and (2) How do I find the hand pump to bleed air. I am going back in two hours after a nap. Please help. Thank you.

Your hand pump is mounted on the left, lower side of the injection pump assembly. It has a round handle, about an inch in diameter, which you can stroke. You don't have to loosen anything to bleed the system. Just pump the hand primer, and air will be bled off the air bleed bolt on top of the filter. Some pumps though have a small screw in top of the injection pump housing which you can loosen while bleeding / pumping.

If you've still got power problems, try this:

Check your pre-filter. This is a small filter located on the suction line, before the hand pump.

Check your fuel shut-off lever. Your shut-off cable could be pulling on it a bit, and limiting fuel a big bit.

More difficult: Check fuel strainer inside fuel tank.


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Jake

When the hand pump assembly is loose, the engine will lose power and you can smell diesel fuel also. If that is the case, grip the whole hand pump assembly and turn clockwise to tighten it. If the hand pump is leaking fuel, replace it.

Good luck.

Daivd