I'm looking at buying a mid 80's 300sd locally for cheap. Owner says previous owner dumped wvo in the tank, car will start and run, but runs rough. Am i looking at cleaning tank and possibly new injectors? Or did the wvo do more harm?
Thanks for any advice.

The WVO could have damaged the injector pump and gunked up everything in the fuel lines. Steer clear unless you get a great price on it. By the way - mid 80's could be two different engines depending on year

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

he's asking $500 for it, i'm going to look at it on Sunday. he doesn't say what year it is.

Problems may or may not be fuel related. Try to find out how long he had been dumping wvo in the tank.

Take a gallon jug of diesel with you. Disconnect the inlet and return lines in the engine compartment and hook them into the gallon jug. See how it runs. Make sure you have the $500 deal in place before doing this, as it might change the seller's mind if it runs fine on an alternate fuel supply.
One tank of WVO is unlikely to do permanent damage. 100 tanks on the other hand. . .

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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 never diagnose in front of the PO unless it will lower the price. Look at what it will need in addition to an engine and decide if it is a good deal. Now consider the addition of an engine. Still a good deal? $500 is ~ scrap value. The first thing to do is diagnose the rough running - after you have it safely home. I'd buy it unless it is trashed or I didn't have room or want to fool with it.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

X2

I would probably get into trouble when I got it home!!!!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Thanks for the replies, i think i will take a gallon jug of diesel with me and see how it runs well. if it's in good shape i will be coming home with me.