the 82 wont start. its about 32 deg F, not the coldest morning so far.

i tried starting it at first, it cranked over fine, caught and then stalled. i didn't give it any more fuel at the time, so i figured that as the issue.

tried cranking again, engine spun slowly, didnt start. discovered i had accidentally had the rear defroster on, turned it off.

after that engine cranks fast, no start.

- strip fuse OK
- got white partially burned fuel smoke a plenty
- oil in crankcase
- fuel in tank / filters

what is going on? what do i check next?

dd

__________________
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I see you are running biodiesel. What is your current blend? Perhaps the fuel is gelling.

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

Try doing two or three full glow cycles (about 45 seconds each) before cranking the engine. Keep the car cranking until it catches.

If you are not running 5W40 synthetic oil, switch over as soon as you can.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Thanks for responses.

I went out to the car to give it another go. Let it go one full glow cycle. Then glowed again, waited ten seconds, and started right up like it was 50 degrees out. drove 25 miles to work on the mass turnpike, no issue. had to go to a meeting, went back out to move my car, started right up. weird.

Im currently down to 50/50 bio/petro, which on my soy wvo bio is good to 15 degrees F.

I do use regular 15W-40 rotella. This may push me over the edge to go synthetic, especially on my 'winter' car (Im still driving the 'summer' car).

something in my glow system must be intermittent. when i tried to start the second time it spun right around fast, and didn't catch.

thanks,
dd

__________________
-------------------------------
'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

It might be worthwhile to make note of the amount of time that the glow plug relay remains closed. It usually makes an audible "clunk" when it opens.