200D finally starts, but smokes alot
 

Hello forum,

I've got a 200D here that has sat for 12 years. Now it finally started to deliver fuel to the injectors, but when it finally starts, it quickly dies again, after a few revolutions.

I have video of it, and i would appreciate any help and ideas of what could be wrong.
Trying to start a Mercedes W115 200D after 12 years. Failed - YouTube

Thanks in advance, and greetings from germany,

Moe


Oh and I forgot to mention:
-Diesel pre and main filter are new,
-oil is new
-Clear diesel lines replaced, hence no visible air in the diesel system
-I freed the IP up with some rust easer, because it was stuck

What i haven't done yet:
-Adjusted the valves (they were all more or less in spec, so I will adjust them once I get/make the special wrenches). But i think if this would be the problem, it woudn't even start a little, right?
-Adjusted the injection timing. Does the same apply as with valve clearance above?

Are the glow plugs working? I would not have released the starter as soon as you did. I would have helped it run with the starter for a number of seconds to get it running well before disengaging the starter. It behaves exactly like a diesel trying to start at 25 degrees below zero which makes me suspect bad glowplugs. I'd also consider giving it a separate fuel supply in a gallon jug to rule out any fuel delivery problems from the tank.

Fuel delivery is fine, I have propably pumped over a liter of diesel with the handpump, no problem.

Hmmmm glowplugs... Is it normal for the coils between them to become hot?

Edit: right now the battery is charging, so later i will try to engage the starter a little bit longer, to see if that helps. Would be awesome if that made it run :D
Also thanks for your quick answer :)

Yes, if the squiggly wires between the plugs get hot, they are energized. I suppose it is possible for the wires to get hot and the plugs not work if the insulators were not in the right places, but that's not likely.
Engine was turning a little slow with the starter in my opinion but I thought the battery might be low.

Well then only time will tell. I will update this thread when I know more.

:D:D:D:D:D

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Video to follow

1975 Mercedes /8 First start in 12 years! - YouTube

and here is a second video of the smoke that comes out of the exhaust:
Mercedes 200D Start - YouTube

Next thing I'll do is adjust the valves, but first I have to bend some wrenches... :)

It could be an issue with the Pneumatic Governor Diaphragm or a leak in the system.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check that tomorrow.

Another thing i remembered: the idle seems to go up-down-up-down, by about 100 rpm every 2 or so seconds

Mojoan-
Glad you got it started. Perhaps everything is fine at this point, but I heard one noise in your videos which I wanted to mention. It is a high pitched whoosh of air, that sounds like a dummer tapping on a snare drum (or maybe high hat). I got that noise on my car when I overtightened a glow plug, which broke it. This caused a leak of air to occur after each ignition in that cylinder. My car was able to start with this condition, but would not run well. So I might be imagining the noise in your videos, but I wanted to mention it.

Oh, and by the way, I challenge you to a drag race!

Thanks!

I accept the challenge but only if the amount of smoke you produce gives points too because you have an unfair advantage with those 10 extra horses ;)

Oh and i never touched the glowplugs, they are fine...

Just a thought: Could the diaphragm get dried out from 12 years of sitting?

This car does not have the rapid heat glow plugs that are used today. You have to hold the knob on the dash in the first position until the indicator glows red inside- this indicates the GP's are up to temperature. This could take as long as a minute.

There's a neat Bosch "quick glow" system that's available for these older models that works just GREAT!

Fluctuating idle RPM can be caused by sloppy throttle shaft at the intake butterfly, or sloppy shaft in the rear housing of the injection pump. Both need to have very minimal to no up and down play- some axial play is OK.

Replacing those with good tight ones makes all the difference in these old Diesels.

Black smoke is unburnt fuel. I'm betting your compression is low from sitting so long so you're getting incomplete combustion. I think after driving it a while the smoke might go away. Or, your air filter may be dirty.

After 12 years, all the soot in the exhaust system will come loose and blow out. That could be what you're seeing. If it continues, it's something else.