Geez, what is it about these cars!?!? I just got a beat up old 300D (a 1975 model) to drive as a winter car (my first RUNNING diesel, or MB for that matter! Some of you may recall that I picked up a 220D project car last month that's still a work in progress). The thing was covered in mossy fungus (inside the rear window, all over the tailights, rear deck lid, etc...), the back seat was home to about ten ears of corn, and the trunk houses a pair of mice. Still, with very little preparation, she started after sitting next to a corn field for a couple years untouched.

Anyway, I pulled into the closest Amoco I could find to fuel up, and a trucker pulled up to the pump next to mine. "That old girl still running?" he asked. After a brief and VERY pleasant conversation about the nature of diesel engines, this fellow proceeded to warn me that it was going to get "down to freezing" the same evening, and insisted that I take what was left of his fuel treatment (some kind of very expensive trucker stuff that he swears by). What a nice guy! So I thanked him, and headed home (with enough anti-gel stuff to last me another four or five tanks of fuel!).

I got home, and after tinkering for a while with the "new car," I just sat there in the driver's seat, trying to quantify the "magic" qualities that these cars seem to possess. It struck me, when I finally got out of the car, that the easiest way to justify MB ownership to any if the "nay sayers" is to simply let them shut any of an old MB's doors. There is a solid feel to these cars, even those 25+ years old, that is unparalelled even in brand new American and Japanese cars. In fact, I don't recall ANY other make of car feeling quite like a MB in build quality.

This old 300D, and my 220D project, for that matter, are amazing in this regard. As rusty as these cars are, the doors still close with a solid "clunk!"

Amazing... magic!

Chris
cscmc1@eiu.edu

The thing I most like about these cars is you feel like youre in a tank. Extremely durable, well built and rugged. I feel indestructable in my 300SDL (that could get me killed one day..). Your right, all you have to do is close the door and you know it. But yes, thats what keeps me coming back!

So the worst they would do is "squeek, thunk!"

Chris, do you recall the name of this diesel additive? One of the most popular is Power Service.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

My wife won't fill her 1998 E300 TD, as she hates the smell of diesel.

When I'm at the diesel pump, I get lots of sideways looks. A fellow in an old 220D rolled in next to me, and fell in love with our car. He was so sad to find out there are no new diesels sold "over here."

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Amen...

I love my SD more each time I look at it, and even more behind the wheel.

I've done a lot of searching about additives. I'm in Michigan, and my diesel has started FLAWLESSLY down to 15, sitting outside (I'm hoping to clean the garage tomorrow). I've been using straight fuel from the pump, no block heater. I let it idle for a 5-10 min, and go.

I've asked people I've seen w/diesels at the pump...mostly Ford F350 & Dodge Ram drivers, and they don't use additives.

I've been absent from the forum, forgot how much I liked it!

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83 SD 143 K miles
93 Grand Caravan 130K miles
92 Buick Regal (winter car)

The heavy tank sensation along with the turbo really combine to form a potent love for the machine. Every time I get to drive my wife's or my daughter's 300 I feel like I'm in a candy store.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

Just a little FYI for everyone here. I have just returned from the Philly auto show. I went with the MBCA, we got in for free and 1 hour early. Anyways, the MBUSA representive said that diesels will be returning. However, first they have to get the engines to pass all 50 states standards. I only overheard him talking about it. He did say that there are about 4 or 5 states so far. Recently Mass. was added as a state that would accept the new MB diesels.
What I don't understand is, how can VW sell diesel engines in the Jetta, Golf, and the Beetle, yet MB can't sell even one model.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

It's not their cars, it's our fuel. I sent an email to MBUSA asking if and when we would finally get to see the CDI engine stateside. What they sent back to me was a statement regarding the new emissions regulations that are to take effect for the '03 model year, and when the new fuel regs are supposed to go into effect. MB could not justify the costs of certifying the CDI for the two years that they would have been able to sell it before they would have been forced to stop due to the EPA regs. I would want to hazard a guess that they may be currently working on certs with the upcoming new fuel regs to be put into effect in '06. The timing seems about right to me from what I've read about the time frames required for new engine certification. The 90 hp TDI engine that VW sells here meets current regulations, and they've had them here since '97. I'm holding my breath on the availability of the TDI in '03, when I will be able to dump my Saturn SC2 in favor of what I would like to be a Jetta TDI wagon.

Chris:

So you did get the 220D started! Cool! Love mine, slow and noisy and all!

Let me know if you are interested in interior parts -- a buddy of my brother's has five or six of them he is bored with and wants to get rid of, and I think the interiors are decent. At least no corn in the back seats!

Diesel additive for anit-gel usually isn't necessary in areas that get really cold weather as the stations winterize their fuel. Here in the lower Midwest we can go most of the winter with only slightly below freezing temps, but get periodic deep-freeze conditions, and not all stations will winterize fuel if they don't move much. I keep RedLine additive on hand and put some in the tank if the temp is supposed to drop radically. I've been caught with gelled fuel a couple times, big pain as the car won't start until it warms up.

You will also discover that all the fastners will come out (except some plastic ones) with no trouble -- the only stuck screw on the 75 my brother and I are restoring so far was a trim screw on the passenger front door. Everything else looks new.

On the subject of MB diesels -- VW can get by because the engine and car are so small -- emissions are regulated in grams per mile, not by engine or car size, and hauling a 3500 lb car vs a 2500 lb car will require a larger engine, hence more tailpipe stuff. The issue is particulates, and that can be easily cured by upping the quality of diesel fuel. American diesel is simply a cut of crude oil, nothing else. Has too much aromatic content and too much heavy end to burn well, causes excessive soot. Higher quality fuel would reduce emissions more than screwing around with the engines!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Rick -- I don't recall the brand, and I don't have the car with me today (I walk to work 90% of the time). I'll try to remember to check it for you, but it looks as though I don't need to worry as much about additives as I thought (judging by the responses here). My point was just that it was pretty nice of the trucker to offer his advice and even some free fuel treatment!

Have a good day!

Chris