winterizing my 300D - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Graplr · #31 10-21-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derburger

Here's my practical idea, that I might try out, as I'll replace my aging battery before the winter. My idea is a portable block heater battery box. I would keep my old battery instead of returning it as a core. I could get a rolling toolbox with a long handle that would house the battery, a trickle charger for the battery, a timer for the block heater, and an inverter for the block heater, and mount them in the toolbox.

It would be self-contained, except to reset the timer, with 2 plugs in/out, a plug going in to charge the battery, and a plug going out to the block heater. Everything would be inside the toolbox housing so it would remain safe from the elements. It could be rolled inside or where ever outlets are to charge during the day, and rolled out at night and attached to the block heater, It could run the block heater for a few hours, I suppose, depending on how many batteries. It could be attached to the car with a lock to the tow hook so no-one could easily take it.

Since my car will remain outside this winter, I would like to use the block heater, but I can't run cords anywhere. This is where a portable block heater battery cart makes sense. I'll have to see how much the block heater draws, and if this is possible using old diesel batteries or maybe more batteries in series.

Suggestions on my crazy idea? Practicality?

This would be a much simpler idea.

Buy this generator from Harbor Freight for $189.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94678
It is a 1000W continuos. So it would easily run your block heater and you could also plug a battery charger into it and charge it. I don't know how much it weighs but you could easily put it on a roller and roll it out to the car. You probably could put it in your trunk or even the back seat.

mobetta · #32 10-21-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

This would be a much simpler idea.

Buy this generator from Harbor Freight for $189.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94678
It is a 1000W continuos. So it would easily run your block heater and you could also plug a battery charger into it and charge it. I don't know how much it weighs but you could easily put it on a roller and roll it out to the car. You probably could put it in your trunk or even the back seat.

I wonder how many times you could fire that up at 6 am in the city before the boys in blue shut you down. now if you had a honda whisper , maybe you could get away with it.

ggspeed · #33 10-21-2008, 12:01 PM

I live in a condo complex at school, and i'm pretty sure the sound mine makes while idling in the morning to warm up a bit is what earns her/i the dirty looks coming home.

a generator would probably get my windows smashed out.... senior citizens don't take any *****. And WWII vets hate German cars....

mobetta · #34 10-21-2008, 12:15 PM

not to mention the smokey diesel haze from warming up. I even get some dirty looks from my neighbors that drive a jetta TDI.

but I made it thru 1 winter w/ no block heater. and it gets cold here(-20f). synthetic oil made the biggest difference.

derburger · #35 10-21-2008, 12:48 PM

Maybe you could put a generator in the trunk, dynamat the trunk, and fabricate an exhaust for the generator to exit through the little drain hole at the bottom of the spare tire well? Might overheat in the trunk though, if it's electric start perhaps you could rig a timer for it to start a few hours before you use the car.

I'll have to look into how long the 300-500watt block heater could be run by the big diesel battery, if it's a few hours, then I should try it. A rolling toolbox with an onboard charger and timer might work, and you could add as many spare batteries as you could roll.

derburger · #36 10-21-2008, 12:54 PM

One of these cheapo e-Bay generators could work, with the microsoft eBay 30% off sale it would be under $100 shipped. Probably not too durable as it's a cheap chinese one, but it is cheap. This one is smaller and you could keep it in the trunk, it says it's 62 decibels. Would be good for running a battery trickle charger or warmer and the block heater.

http://cgi.ebay.com/500-Gasoline-Gas-1200-Watt-Generators-OFF-THE-TRUCK_W0QQitemZ180299660031QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180299660031&_trkparms=72:1207|39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1309&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Graplr · #37 10-21-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derburger

with the microsoft eBay 30% off sale

Please expand on this. Not sure what this is.

I was stranded one too many times last winter. If I could get one of those for under a $100 for insurance of not being stranded, I just may do that.

Bcollia · #38 10-21-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

cost for leaving it plugged in overnight is about $0.32

I was told leaving it on all night would cause more wear than necessary. With a block heater would remote start be an option on a diesel? I've always wondered about that.

Also since I have been running my heat I notice a hissing sound coming through my two center vents after I shut the car off. I'm staying at 80C so I don't think it could be the thermostat, but it does take WAY longer to push out heat than my 300SD, which I drove today because I didn't want to wait 5 minutes for some heat.

derburger · #39 10-21-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

Please expand on this. Not sure what this is.

I was stranded one too many times last winter. If I could get one of those for under a $100 for insurance of not being stranded, I just may do that.

It's for buy it now items, and a promotion of microsoft Live search. Go to www.live.com, and in the search box search for "cheap wii" or xbox, etc. The first sponsored link will be eBay, and 30% off for buy it now items. You buy a buy it now item, and MS refunds 30% of the purchase price excluding shipping in 60 days. This link explains it in detail. I've purchased some headlights at 30% off because using the MS live cashback. Good for knocking down the price on the already overpriced MB parts that are buy it now. You can get a set of valve wrenches on eBay for around $60 using this, and those are the OEM wrenches and not made by someone else. Dieselkids wrenches are $40 using cashback.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=846962

Jeremy5848 · #40 10-21-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bcollia

I was told leaving it on all night would cause more wear than necessary. With a block heater would remote start be an option on a diesel? I've always wondered about that.

Also since I have been running my heat I notice a hissing sound coming through my two center vents after I shut the car off. I'm staying at 80C so I don't think it could be the thermostat, but it does take WAY longer to push out heat than my 300SD, which I drove today because I didn't want to wait 5 minutes for some heat.

The hissing is probably a vacuum leak of some sort, most likely a failed vacuum pod for one of the "doors" in the climate control system.

Remember that as designed the center vents don't blow hot air, they are for cooling only. You can wedge the center vents so they stay open all of the time, which is what I did. Much nicer.

Depending on the year-model of your 300D and SD, the engines and heater systems should be very similar and should work in a similar fashion. If your 300D does not throw heat into the passenger compartment as early as the SD, it may be because of a partially clogged mono valve, hose, or heater core, or a failed aux water pump.

Jeremy

babymog · #41 10-21-2008, 07:09 PM

If your car starts hard, and you're in a persistantly cold climate, and you don't want to fix the hard-start problem, ... carry a nice big battery in the trunk to jumper and run synthetic oil. A good fast crank goes a long way to starting a diesel, even one with marginal compression in cold climates.

piccolovic · #42 10-22-2008, 12:37 AM

I would keep Howe's or other comparable antigel additive in the trunk in case it gets very cold. For the most part, you don't have to even worry until it drops below 0 deg. Nothing bad will happen if you add it during warm times, as the anti-gel also has injector cleaner. My experience as a truck driver, is that the Philly area generally doesn't get cold enough to worry. You shouldn't have to do more than double-bump the glow plugs. However, if you decide to go to Twin Cities area in Minnesota, or Fargo, you will need a course on how to keep your car running . . . .LOL.

Good Luck,

LadyTrucker

Graplr · #43 10-22-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolovic

However, if you decide to go to Twin Cities area in Minnesota, or Fargo, you will need a course on how to keep your car running . . . .LOL.

I wish there were a course!

I had to learn the hard way...

Right now I am looking into getting a Webasto or one of those cheap generators in case I get stranded. The winters are actually pretty fun when you are prepared.

awsrock · #44 10-22-2008, 10:37 AM

Be sure your glow plug relay is working, too. Probably not a very common thing to go bad, but if it is, a must to replace! I just found out that mine is dead, and that is why I was having hard starting when cold...cold so far being mid 40s, mind you. Looks like I have some good compression!

My relay was shutting off after 5 seconds...letting it cycle for 5 seconds 3 times made the engine catch instantly!

Bcollia · #45 10-22-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

The hissing is probably a vacuum leak of some sort, most likely a failed vacuum pod for one of the "doors" in the climate control system.

Remember that as designed the center vents don't blow hot air, they are for cooling only. You can wedge the center vents so they stay open all of the time, which is what I did. Much nicer.

Depending on the year-model of your 300D and SD, the engines and heater systems should be very similar and should work in a similar fashion. If your 300D does not throw heat into the passenger compartment as early as the SD, it may be because of a partially clogged mono valve, hose, or heater core, or a failed aux water pump.

Jeremy

Thanks Jeremy, gives me a good place to start. The 300SD is an 1981 and the E300 is a 1996. I didn't know that the center vents did not supply heat. The hissing only started after I began using the heat. How would I go about checking/cleaner the mono valve and such? Time to flush the cooling system?