'85 300tdt runs lean with ALDA maxed out.
 

My 300 TD Turbo is still pretty slow (0-60 aprox. 17+ sec.) It seems to run lean even with the ALDA adjusted to let max. fuel flow. I took the ALDA completely off and it only seems a bit rich/smoky before the turbo spins up. Is there a mixture adjustment that I can change besides the ALDA to get more fuel? Am I on the right track?

What makes you believe you need more fuel? The IP full load setting is rarely set too low.

Ever check the engine for camshaft and IP timing?

Set the valves recently?

We seem to think the '85s are lean stock, heck I only had 8psi! :eek:

If the alda is set to make the engine run as rich as it can (adjustment screw all the way out. It should run rich even if the valves are a bit out? It is a used motor and the alda adjusted top its max before I got it. I Don't know when valves, or inj. timming was done. I took it to a mechanic friend who said all I need to do to get up to speed is adjust or replace the alda. I also did the Blowby test described in this forum and there seems to be very little blowby.

Thanks for your help.

whats the miealge on the motor? alda on higher mileage engines tend not to do as well- my 274k replacement one doesnt compare to my original 170k one, the car is definitly slower and this one is maxed out with no smoke.

Problem #1.




Problem #2.

Just to prove to you that the "mechanic friend" is clueless, you removed the ALDA completely and the vehicle did not change it's performance. Therefore, the ALDA has nothing to do with your problem.

This is a California motor and the turbo setting seems pretty conservative. My makeshift pressure gauge is not very accurate but, I estimate about 6-8 psi boost. Can this be adjusted? I just thought I should start with the mixture since it seems lean.

Mine is at 25X K

I've been wondering that too, my car isn't as fast as my dad's (doesn't feel as powerful) it has 246k, quite a bit of blowby etc... but starts down to 0F pretty readily. My dad's has almost no blowby at 274k, it may have been rebuilt at some point, we don't know....but it can start at 10F with 2 glowplugs and 50 seconds of cranking. (yes it actually did that, and started!! :eek:)

Oh well, when my engine dies I'll just have it rebuilt or find a better one. :o

I'm hoping to make it past 300k before it becomes "ill".....

I gess I will have to look in to this more I am a little hesitant to mess with this stuff it seems pretty involved. Is this a common problem? Should I hire it out? What should I expect to pay if I do?