Assuming a monster battery was available, would this one eventually "Self-prime" through extended cranking (30 seconds, let the starter cool, 30 more seconds, wait 5 minutes, etc) like the 603 does if you were hardheaded enough?

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

well, there you go - just lose some skin in the process and you'll be fine

WINMUTT was right, you could just keep cranking and eventually it will start but your battery had better be good.

Oh and you don't NEED to fill up the fuel filter, it just helps (use fuel, ATF or diesel kleen).

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

I have this towel I've been using. First time I saw that I was like "You want me to turn what with my bare hands?" I'm not very strong in the arms, and I'm sure my neighbor can turn it.
So all I have to do is pump this thing and start it and it should go? No other things I have to do?

Edit:
My battery is good. Took it for a nice run on the 6th. And haven't driven it much since. I can use all the help I can get. What is ATF and diesel kleen, tried to google it, with no results.
I was told not to keep starting it past 15 seconds, cause you'll burn it out.

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1981-240D-176,000 miles

I'd fill up as soon as you can with quality fuel - your fuel gauge might not be accurate as it nears empty. Many owners run into strange symptoms around 1/8 tank too. Read up on here and you'll learn a ton.

I'm assuming you just bought this car? Wecome to the forum, I'm driving around an '81 too so we can learn together

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

RukatheBlackfis,

Yes, but you need to pump on that pump (pull it up and push it down, and try not to put side loads on it - straight up and straight down) for at least a couple hundred strokes. When you first start pumping you will hear a kind of "whoosh" noise with every stroke, and there will be little resistance. All of the sudden you will hear the noise change to a kind of buzzing noise and the resistance will change, becoming harder to pump. At about this time I look for bubbles in the clear line going to the pod shaped contaner at the front of the engine that houses the fuel filter. You will see that filled with Diesel, mostly, and air bubbles. I keep pumping until I can't get the bubbles to get any smaller or move along any further. I also notice there is fuel leaking from the pump at about this time as well. Not a big deal. Keep pumping until there are no further changes in the bubble size or movement. Then, push the plastic finger cutting wheel down and screw it hand tight in the closing direction.

In this time you have filled the fuel filter, the lines from the tank, and the injection pump, and possibly the line going back to the tank. The lines going to the injectors likely didn't fill, and neither did the jumpers from injector to injector, or at least not completely. Get in the car and let the plugs glow, then push the throttle close to the floor, not all the way, and crank the engine for 30 seconds. Wait about a minute and crank again after the glow plug light goes out, throttle more than half way depressed. It should start, roughly, after a few attempts. Once started let it run until it settles down to a normal condition.

Hope this helps. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I put 3 gallons in it yesterday with Mobil, my car runs the best on Mobil, second is Shell.
But you just put regular diesel gas in the filter?
I've had it since I was a senior in HS, so about 2 years or so now. I just don't have money right now, and thought I had more gas then I did. I once put 15 gallons in, so I assumed it was a 17 gallon tank. I have done well on that assumption. But I waited just too long to put gas in it this time.
Ha XD Just don't try and race people with it. And take it easy on steep hills. Overall it's a wonderful car, and I think I'll keep this one till it dies.

Edit: Jim that really helps! Now I just gotta unlock it. :/
Thanks everyone for helping me!

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1981-240D-176,000 miles

The issue is the starter motor. It is not intended for continuous operation, or anything approaching that. And, using the starter to crank the engine to run the injection pump to clear all those lines is going to take a lot of starter running. So, they put a manual pump to take care of the volume on the side of the injection pump. Once you are done with that pump the injection pump still has to deal with the lines to each injector, which probably won't get cleared of air by hand pumping. At that point you are talking of a relatively small volume of Diesel fuel and the starter, still not an efficient means to finish the job, will get the job done, without a high risk of burning the starter up. Good luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

you know all fossil fuels come from the same pipe dont ya?

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

But some companies put stuff in them, or sometimes the gas itself can be dirty.

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1981-240D-176,000 miles

What color is your primer pump? If the pump top is white then press down and unscrew counter clockwise then pump. If the top is black then it is the newer type and just pump. The old ones sometimes leak so much that you can't prime the system. Also once you get it so you can press down on the pump head and get it to move then you only want it loose enough to pump it and if you keep unscrewing it it leaks more instead of pumping.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

It only took 15 pumps and about 10 seconds of turning and it was on and going. I even turned it off and back on to make sure it was fine.
Thank you everyone! I honestly could have never done it without your advice and help. My spirits are lifted and I'll be sure to never let it happen again, but Jim I'm keeping your instructions in my car just in case

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1981-240D-176,000 miles