53 w136 170ds Questions & Advice

[300d 4 ME]

Thanks for the link. Still haven't made much progress with the new to me engine. I took apart each injector, they were all stuck. They spray well enough now.

The injection pump seized up(due to rust/ old fuel). I swapped over my known running pump. Fairy certain the ip timing was spot on... Either way, it will not run. It sputters well though. Must be something with that pump timing.... Highly doubt its compression related, This engine has way more than my old one(can feel it when cranking).

[aluminum]

Are You Using any Additive to start the Motor at all Like starting fluid Just a Tiny tad to get it going ?
Expect the entire Fuel passages are contaminated and blocking fuel Passage's all over again in spite of you cleaning the injectors .
I expect you Pumped the lines out before hooking them back up yes >

[300d 4 ME]

I'm not using anything extra to try and start it. Don't even own a can of starting fluid. Been lucky so far.

Yeah I checked the lines after switching pumps. Did finally get it running today.

Was all down to ip timing(very difficult to get perfect on these old diesels). Also it had air in it. Somehow air got in the middle of the fuel filter. I kept pumping until it gasped with no fluid. Couldn't believe it!

Ran it just a little, I need to put the radiator, and belt back on. Sounds smoother than the old engine. Not nearly as rattly...

If it runs decent. I'll then rebuild that clutch linkage. Seems like 5- or more bushings to make. Also not going to run the factory fuel cut off. Kinda a bit redundant.

[300d 4 ME]

After the last post. I let it sit a few hours. Had to crank it awhile for it to sputter.

Finally realized, it yet again had air in the system. Hand primed it about 50 times to clear air from the filter canister.

So it's loosing prime while sitting. Don't see any leaks. I'll get a fresh primer pump, I'm sure it needs a new one either way. Those screw handle types are nothing but trouble when they get old...

[aluminum]

I had the exact same type problem on a Diesel Ford F 350 Crew Cab Pick up.
After changing some parts I had to crank the Motor over / Blead the lines / over and over recharging the " Dual Battery's " twice before it finally started.

Another time I forgot to switch the Tanks and ran out of fuel
on Hi Way 5 at 4 Am one time and Barely got it going on a battery all most Dead before it started . Was hardly still cranking then it just started very surprisingly after some 15 mins ! with the dual battery's.

[300d 4 ME]

So that new primer pump had little effect. My issues were partly due to a bad lift pump(swapped to a better one), and a broken pressure relief valve on the fuel filter return line.

Have a kit coming for the lift pump. Anyway I used a clear pvc fuel line(for testing purposes). Really helped figure this out.

Now I just about cranked the guts out of it. Once it finally got going, it looked like a small forest was on fire nearby.

Like 20 cold Trabants idling on a winters day! Couldn't see the car!


Got a little bit better after some diesel purge. Id say the nozzels are shot, or it has low compression. I'm leaning towards some streamy nozzles. Was tempted to lap them in, but I'm gonna get new monark ones either way.


And this was supposed to be a recently running, "rebuilt" engine...

[t walgamuth]

Getting some miles on the engine surely will help.


Keep up the good work!

[300d 4 ME]

Alright, I finally gave up and got a compression tester($20. harbor freight kit).

The numbers are as follows.

1# 260 psi
2#308
3#305
4#195

I was a little worried about number 1, until that last cylinder. Values were the same after a valve adjustment. Of course with a little bit of oil #4 shot to 245.

So me thinks this "recently running" engine has sat for the past few decades. Probably due to the hard starting, and bad smoke. I was suspicious when switching the oil pans, this motor has been lacking in the oil change department...

Since my original engine is already out, I'll attempt a tear down, and see if its worth saving. At least this wasn't full of sludge.

On the bright side I now have extra spare parts. Was still well worth the low, low price- just frustrating either way...

Maybe a set of rings, and gaskets will be all it needs. Hard to tell with something like this.