I took a trip up the Sandia mountains today and at around 10,000 feet my '98 E300D was belching out smoke, was knocking like it does when first started on an ice cold day and had a very strong diesel odor emanating from it. It cleared up once I started going down the mountain. I imagine this had something to do with the high altitude. Has anyone else heard of this or know what caused it?

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

it sounds like something is amiss in the altitude compensation devices.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

it can have somthing to do with the turbo

The car has always (and still does) run flawlessly. I only noticed this problem for the first time when I went up to 10,600 feet. If I had to guess, I would say the problem started at around 8,000 or 9,000 feet. Where is the altitude compensation device located?

Thanks,

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Scott,

Is yours an "electronic" Diesel? If it is, the electronics would control the altitude compensation.

My '80 300SD runs fine at high altitude and out ran everything on the road near Vail CO.

P E H

I'm not sure what you mean by "electronic" diesel but it does have OBDII. I actually hooked an OBDII reader to it about half-way down the mountain but I wasn't getting any error codes.

Thanks,

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Scott,

Yes, if it has OBDII it is an electronoc or computer controlled Diesel. The computer should correct the fuel injection for high altitude.

Maybe U shoujld have connected the read out where U had the problem.

It could be that the computer diagnosis everything but itself. That's why I like the old IP Diesels, not so complicated so I can fix myself.

But I will admit, when the computer controlled Diesels are running correctly, they do run fine and have a lot more power.

P E H

PEH,

Since I'm hardly ever at that altitude, I will probably just let it be. I was just wondering if there was a simple fix. The car runs perfect otherwise.

Thanks,

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)