PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Somewhere in Vacaville, there's a diesel dying from starting fluid abuse

joshhol · #1 03-04-2005, 01:19 AM

In a parking lot at lunch today.

Old dude: "What year is that?"

Me: "It's a '63."

Dude: "I've got an '01 S430."

Me: "Oh, that's a nice car."

Dude: "Ya, it's got everything. My brother just picked up a '79."

Me: "A Mercedes? What model, a 280CE?" (just taking a stab at it)

Dude: "A diesel"

Me: "A 300 or 240?"

Dude: "I don't know. The body is really straight, the paint is nice and the interior is good. The only thing wrong is my brother has to use starting fluid to start it."

Me: GASP! "That's the worst thing you can do to a diesel engine! Tell your brother to stop doing that right now."

Dude: "Well the thingy, er uh the starting. . ."

Me: "The glow plug system?"

Dude: "Ya, the glow plug system doesn't work and they want $500 to fix it."

Me: "Really? The glow plug system is dead simple, it shouldn't cost that much to fix it."

Dude: "Well, there's something wrong with the uh, thingy in the uh. . .thing."

(Does he mean the relay?)

Me: "Tell your brother to stop using starting fluid."

Dude: "Well, he just got it."

Me: "It is going to destroy the rings."

(The best part)
Dude: "Well, my brother's a mechanic, he doesn't mind replacing rings."

Me: ?

Dude: "Ya, that S430 is really nice, have a good one."