I have noticed two 'new' noises in the 84 300 TD, when the weather is aroud zero degrees out.

The first is what appears to be a ticking sound comming from the vacume pump, or the little box above the vacume pump, that is attached to the fuel control rods.... any Idea?

And the second one sounds like noisy tappets, or followers, again only on a really cold day and it goes away after the engine has warmed up. I just adjusted the valves 2000 miles ago... or is it a oil flow problem?

Jason

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46 WDX Power Wagon

84 300TDT daily driver

the second noise is probably the valvetrain making noise waiting for the oil pressure to come up. I'm more familiar with the Cummins engines, but they do the same thing in extreme cold. Synthetic oil seems to help this problem a LOT for me. I've only had my 83 300DT a few days now, but I notice it behaves similarly on the coldest mornings when the oil is thick.

My vacuum pump is noisey too when its under 20 degrees outside and the engine is cold. I have an 84 300D. I have had brand new cars make noise in those temps too so its not limited to our older cars.

I neglected to state that the vacume pump noise is durring the glow plug cycle, but it does not seem to be the glow plug relay... as that is what I thought it was at first.. could a glow plug click/tick?

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46 WDX Power Wagon

84 300TDT daily driver

Time to isolate that noise. I use either a length of hard plastic tubing or part of an old rake handle, preferably hickory or ash.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

JD, I had ticking sounds from that area on 2 occasions, both serious. Neither of the ticking sounds near the vacum pump/timing chain cover area were related to the engine temperature...they ticked the same sound level all of the time. I have the old style vacum pump, but the cam follower stuff with the tiny bearings may be the same style as your 84 330 TD, I dunno??.

The first occasion was the bearings on the vacum pump were failing. I found out about this when they suddenly disintegrated and fell into the oil pan while driving. A new pump and that ticking sound was gone.

The second occasion was from the timing chain beginning to disintegrate because the circlip link came off at some point while driving and also fell into the oilpan. Luckily I replaced the timing chain in time so I had no engine damage. The second ticking sound is also gone.

FWIW, I would recommend checking the condition of the vacum pump and then carefully examine the condition of the timing chain. Either one failing could spell disaster.




1979 300D with old-style vacum pump.