OK, I've put a good 600 miles into my "new" 300TD. Has been running very well. An MB-only Mechanic checked it out as well, and agreed it was a strong running engine. Had the valves adjusted, filters replaced, fluid changes, etc.

Today, though, it suddenly is just dead in the water on any hill, and completely lacks acceleration from a dead stop. Once you get up to 40 or so, nothing can stop you! But seriously, I had to put it in "L" to make it up a steep but short hill in my nieghborhood. I've done this hill before in this car, with no such problem. Let me give you all I know-

-Today was the first I've driven since last Sunday. So it was sitting for 6 days, but started right up!

-Have been running B100. This afternoon replaced the spin-on filter, with no difference in performance. In-line filter looks clean (a few specs of black gunk) so I'll change that.

-Very little smoke - even less smoke then when i bought it. Have purged as well, just once. Smoke will be white/light gray and only at acceleration.

-Whirring sound when I am coming to a stop. Is this normal? Are my brakes dragging? Regardless it made this sound BEFORE today's sluggishness, so likely not the cause.

-Replaced the old style glow plugs, which has helped the slow starts i was having before.

-Oil pressure. Reads between 15-30 lbs/sq in at idle, jumps to the top (45) as soon as I hit the gas.

-Idles so smooth. I dont know if it was the B100 or what, but is idling nicely, better than before.

So, all seemingly normal? Why the sluggishness? It seems to run just fine, but suddenly no power.

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1979 300TD wagon (non-turbo)
266,000+