Hi, I have a 1997 E300TD with 90k on it, on start up its silent but once you start driving and you ease off the gas if the revs drop to 1200rpm to tick over it sounds horrible like there is no cam tensioner even fitted, and from the lights it seem very lazy to get going, once its over 2000rpm it pulls silently and strongly with no smoke, only when the engine is at low revs while warm this happens, it uses no oil but will only return about 27mpg with normal driving. so i suspect something is defiantly amiss?? I would be grateful for any advice you may have to help me correct this, many thanks steven.

Steven,

Welcome to the board. I too have a 1997 E300D. If you are in the US, its really a E300D and not E300TD as ours are not turbo charged. The sound you are hearing could be whats called "nailing" on mine, its dead silent upon startup but about 5 minutes into driving, until the engine reaches temp its a bit clackity. You also might have a vacuum pump thats going bad. Have you tried to remove the oil cap and see if its louder at the front of the engine?? On mine you can definately hear the vacuum pump if you remove the oil cap. Yours has very low mileage, it might be time for glow plugs, fuel lines, and possibly to have the intake manifold cleaned out. Where are you located? maybe someone here can direct you to a local independant mechanic that might have lower rates than your local dealer.

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

thank you for your reply, I live in the uk and it is a E300TD It is not a glow plug problem, though the intake manifold was quite gunged up with thick black oil?? is that normal?? the noise is most definitely something to do with the cam chain, i was just looking for some one to agree with me before i order the parts.. as i may need more than a cam tensioner? though not sure what else at this point. many thanks steven

Steven, Its somewhat normal for the intake to be gunked up. The way the EGR system works along with the PCV system it makes for quite a mess. I have pulled mine and cleaned it somewhat, next time I will pull it and send it to machine shop so that they can boil it out. I cannot help more the the timing chain tensioner. Good luck

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

Sounds like you may have two problems.

1. Check your belt tensioner for the noise issue.

2. Check your boost circuit, probably gunked up and you are not getting the intake manifold pressure to the sensor, so the IP is not enrichening.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Yours is a turbo'd E class station wagon, right? And tick over means at rest idle speed?

The IP does create a unique hum sound that cycles on and off as rpms drop from ~1200 down to 650 idle. This occurs as the IP leans out the fuel/air ratios.

I can't imagine you have a timing chain issue at 90k miles. That would be very uncommon.

What weight oil are you using?

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)