I have a 1991 300D with about 180K on it and being that this is my first diesel I thought the level of clatter was normal, until I pulled up next to another 1991 300D with 310K on it. I have used diesel purge and now just replaced the injectors, but it is still pretty loud in comparison to the other car down the street. Any suggestions of what else I can check?

You should have the timing chain checked and the injection pump timing checked. If all are OK, just deal with the noise, the connecting rods bend often on these.

You can't see this on a compression check. The only way is to measure base height.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
300E
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM
OWNER OF MB AUTOWERKS .COM

I had the timing chain replaced about 4 months agao, I assume they shop would have checked the timing. Is there a problem with the bent rods? I am assuming that the malformation is minimal. when I have bent rods on my SSCA car they usually blow right through the block.

If clatter started acting up after timing chain replacement, probably the injection pump was not properly timed.

Diesels also clatter more during cold weather.

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Jake

Here is the latest update. I took the car to two well respected mechanics and they are both coming to the same conclusion. The both agreed that it was not the rods and it is definately fuel related. The timing was check, electronically, not by the drip method and it is ok. I left the car overnight at both places and they both noticed that on the first start in the morning the car is noticeably more quiet until you first step on the gas, then the noise begins. Aside from the first start up it does not get quieter or louder as the car warms up. I was told that it is fuel related, but it is in an acceptable range of "clatter" and that the car that I am comparing this to was probably just exceptionally quiet. The both assured me that this problem is not a sign of a bigger problem to come and that there are different degrees of clatter. I trust these guys and I never complained about the clatter before, but after hearing that other diesel, I began to wonder.
Benzmac to the resue????

If you do a search on the "diesel clatter" question, you will find some good answers. I 'm pretty sure that the conclusion that your mechanics came to is the same thing that was agreed upon here. The diesel clatter varies from vehicle to vehicle. You cant really compare yours to another. Too many parameters involved, i.e. mileage, maintenance history, how hard the previous owners drove it, diesel fuel used, etc.

My '85 300D seems to be louder when I first start it but after about 15 minutes it seems to quiet down a bit. Some people have remarked that by adding Lubro-moly diesel purge they have reduced the noise substantially. You probably can get it thru partshop.

Good luck,

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Thanks.
At least I am not going crazy.