A healthy 3.0 603 engine has no diesel clatter either. Same engine, same sound, just the 3.5s like to rattle when the piston skirts hit the cylinder walls, ... I think jc is thinking of a 617, I've never had a rattly 60x engine.

Anyway, my '87 has a shiny black engine, it's original. My '91 had a rusty partially black engine, driven winters in Michigan I think is the difference.

Worms loose.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Thanks folks,

yes it does sound noisy, interesting that the 3.0 and 3.5 sound different.

thanks for the tip on the boost problem, I have not looked into yet, but i bet it's something simple - or atleast may not require any expensive parts.

Thanks for the tip on where to find the code, I'll look at it first thing tomorrow. It'll probably be right in front of me - today I was underneath and all around and did not find it.

I'm still weary of this thing, but if it miraculously has a 3.0 and I can get the turbo problem figured out, I still may go for it. I mainly want it as a winter car, but I would rack some commuting miles on it in the summer too. I already have been using my TD in the salt which drives me nuts, I was hoping to put it away before the first snow.

Having owned both. From a 300SDL to a 350SD with a 3.5 liter engine and then later a 3.0. It is my opinion, you're wrong. I used to think otherwise, though.

I think the later diesels had better sound insulation, afterglow startups, and a different exhaust system that made them quieter. My 350SD 3.0 sounds pretty much the same as the old 3.5 liter (when it was running well). It's got a pretty deep exhaust note (more bass sounding than a 300), and diesel clatter is essentially non-existant. Original #14 head, too.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I'm comparing my '86 300SDL and '87 300SDL that I used to own to my current '91 350SD. The 300SDL's at start up, idle and operating temperatures were unmistakably diesel engines from 500 feet away. Relatively youthful engines at 88,000 and 188,000 miles. The 350SD, I've had to open the hood to prove to people standing right next to it had a diesel engine. There's a huge difference in sound from both engines.





'91 350SD 532,000
'94 SL500 44,000

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jcciem
'94 SL5000 60,000
'91 350SDL 545,000
'91 350SD 197,000
'00 E55 AMG 77,000

very true. I had a 350sd, and it was like a gasser with torque

now I had plenty of 300's and they are loud. louder than the 617 usually. I know, I can adjust the IP and get some noise out, but I found that loud means power so why bother...

You guys must have some ratty 603s.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

If your 603 is louder than any 617, than something is wrong with it. Sticking lifters perhaps.

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

It's like I said in the second paragraph of my posting. It's the way everything was engineered in the later years. Plus other issues with proper atomization of fuel.

For instance, run transmission fluid or MMO through the fuel injection system as you would diesel purge for awhile. Eventually you will hear how things are supposed to sound.

There should be little difference between a 350 and 300 underhood at idle.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

at idle the 603 3.0 engines I've owned were all loud. definitely louder than the 617's I owned. a sharper clatter. the 350 was quiet. maybe it had better lifters, I don't know.
anyway, so a purge with tranny fluid does what again?

X2.

They are almost the same engine, same head and AFAIK IP! A slightly longer stroke shouldn't change much.

I was surprised when I realy got to look at a 1991 350SDL what Mercedes did change though. Its certianly not my SDL with a different motor. The afterglow plus better sound insulation helps, I'm sure.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

IP's are different. I installed a 350 IP in my '87 wagon and now it it has turbo liftoff with clouds of black smoke. and that's before the turbo kicks in

loud clatter though.

It sounds like most 603's I've heard, nails quite a bit at idle, but runs quiet/smooth under load. Probably could use nozzles and valve adjust, like most of them.
I must be blind, I still did not find the engine number during a quick check this morning, I'll take a closer look at this and the boost problem tomorrow. Here we go, spending my first Sunday on it!
I agree this thing will probably be a can of worms, and I am still weary.
I guess it'll come down to price, which will only decrease as it sits. I have a feeling it will go down to my parts yard and get snowed in for the winter. It has a car cover that the guy wants me to put on it, which is fine - but this thing is not really worthy of a cover in my opinion, the paint is not great at all. I think he needs to face reality before anything else, I think he has way too much into this car, especially since he does none of his own work - probably not the right car for this guy.
As for my winter transportation, It'll probably be the Tercel to hammer on rough winter commuting miles, but I did see an inexpensive 87 Audi 4KQ that I'll have to take a better look at, It would kill me on gas, but I've always been a sucker for these cars.

You don't adjust the valves on the 60X series of motors.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

indeed, that's hard to do. I did hear that running synthetic quiets them some.

Opps, I didn't know they are hydraulic, never owned a 60X.