Greetings all--

I'm about to tear my hair out with my wife's '87 300TD. The vehicle was running like a top, but then started having intermittent power loss--stepping on the throttle would have little effect, then, as if a switch were flipped, it would "cough" then take off like a shot. It now has become immobile. Runs, won't move.

It starts just fine, but idles roughly, and the engine will generally not pick up speed even when parked. At times I can (randomly) get it up to 3000 RPM, but then it dies back down, and usually stalls. Oddly, I have noticed that the manual STOP lever occasionally pulls itself down as the RPM's increase, though even if you hold the lever up, I still can't consistently get the engine to pick up speed.

Replaced all fuel filters (even the tank screen)--no change. Did the LubroMoly diesel purge--no change. Plugged the EGR vacuum line--no change (though I suppose it could be stuck open). Checked vacuum lines and "ALDA" circuit for blockage--no issues. Lift pump is relatively new, and pulls well. Checked turbo--just a little side-to-side play, no "in-and-out" play.

I will now state that I have an Elsbett single-tank WVO system on this car, with 30K miles since the conversion. I also have a '79 300GD (OM617) with the same conversion, running on the same oil, with the same mileage on the conversion--no issues whatsoever. I would like to think that my injection pump has NOT gone south, but I am running out of other culprits to blame, and am seeking y'all's collective wisdom.

Many thanks,
Patrick Skelley
Bedford, Virginia
1970 Unimog 406
1972 350SL 4.5
1972 300SEL 6.3
1978 240GD
1979 300GD
1987 300TD
Other stuff . . .