Hmmm. That's a good question! I went out and looked at the car. AHA! What do you guys make of this? It looks like a heat-exchanger that has been plumbed in-between the fuel tank and the heater hoses! Certainly my 1983 240D doesn't have anything that looks like that... From what I can see, it appears to be a set of copper tubes with the heater hoses hooked up to it, and a copper coil running in a helix around the copper tubing. The whole thing is wrapped up in some kind of foam insulation! (See the picture)

I have got to assume that this was to heat the fuel as it comes from the tank, and I also assume that this is for SVO/WVO use. What do you think?

If this is the case, then I would think it stands to reason that his significant blow-by and and smoky startup might be caused by excess carbon and varnish in the cylinders caused by WVO use?

OK, if this IS the case, then what is the cure for all this?

Thanks,

PE

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!