my 87 sdl tonite going home began to lose power ,would not go above 40 ,black smoke,temp ok,oil pressure ok,eventually got down to 20 mph,had to get off of freeway,had it towed home.it has 175k,never has it overheated.too dark now to check anything.it starts and idles,but with pedal really sluggish and lots of dark smoke.im assuming filters first,but it is a 14 head-gaskeT?MAybe ip pump?any ideas where to start.ive taken alda off a year ago.

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

Start with new fuel filters!

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

If the smoke increases as you press down on the pedal, it is evidence of a functioning fuel supply and pump.

If the engine stumbles when pressing the pedal, then the fuel system could be suspect.

Whats missing is the burning of the fuel due to a lack of air or poor compression. If the idle is healthy and does not stumble, it points to air supply.

The turbo and air filter would be the first things on my list unless you find, in better lighting, that it is burning crankcase oil.

Since you removed your ALDA, how hard have you driven the car and how often did you see "black smoke" before?

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Brakes binding?

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

ill check air intake ,will bad turbo produce such low performance and large volume of smoke.with alda off there was smoke upon acceleration,otherwise ok.ive had plugged filters before and in that case there was a stumble and eventually no go

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

black smoke means unburned fuel, yea?

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

do check the filters but sounds to me like the ole #1 cylinder head gasket failure...Just can't burn off the oil being dumped into that cylinder. I have experienced this with a #17 head at 240 k miles. Very common problem with this model 603 engine as you probably well know. It will make you think its a turbo problem but unlikely.

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Western NC
1987 300SDL W126 Turbo Diesel 335,000 + miles
1976 300D W115 275,000 miles+

im afraid of that

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

Air filter and turbo would be my first suspects, most likely the turbo (I have spares in parts now also on ebay).

Pull the air filter box first, look for possibly an animal has built a nest in the intake, filters don't naturally clog that quickly.

If the filter system is clear, pull the rubber elbow leading into the aluminum box beneath the filter box, reach your figers in and press on the aluminum door, see if it pushes open smoothly. I haven't heard of it happening but in gassers this airflow-meter door can sometimes get damaged by backfire and stick.

Next would be the turbo. Pull the rubber elbow on the turbo, reach your fingers in to see if the impeller spins freely. Also push/pull to see if there is end-play. Last look in there to see if it is full of oil. If it doesn't spin freely, you've found your problem, the most expensive and PITA of the three I mention, but magnitudes better than a head-gasket job.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

i changed all filters,air filter ok,took turbo elbow off reached in no play in shaft,some oil, spins,but maybe a bit stiff,my 617 turbo spins more freely.i guess a compression check would have to be next,i dont feel ok about doing head gasket myself,

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

would fouled injectors give these symptoms

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

Did you try running it with the turbo elbow off and looking in there to see what is happening? Keep your hands out of course.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I agree will all suggestions above, let us know what you find.

May I also suggest altering the thread title?

Would anyone ever search for "broken sdl going home from work" ?

Might it be better: W126 OM603 Loss of Power.

Maybe add HELP! to the thread title if its an emergency.

Does "going home from work" have anything to do with your issue? Maybe if you stayed at work it would have been ok?

It could also be interpreted that you have a broken SDL at your place of employment, its been there for a while and Hooray! its finally getting to go home !


Best of luck.

I had power loss issues with my OM603 in a W124. no black smoke during power loss. Turned out to be the main filter. With black smoke as you indicated, there is something else at play here.

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85 300D 3 pedal. Current project.
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

good idea about thread title,ill try with elbow off and report back.

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

turbo elbow off,increasing throttle ,smoke from turbo and a bad noise-from turbo-doesnt sound right-i think its been going on a while-trouble is my 79sd turbo is off the car right now and i cant really compare sound-ill check u tube-is this turbo much more of a pita than a 617-if it is the turbo -then that would explain loss of power and dark smoke

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd