Took the 85 300TDT out for a highway cruise this morning. The engine seems to "struggle" a little bit under full throttle. Cruising along at 35mph and punch the throttle and the car accelerates and shifts fine but it feels like its fuel starved. Sorta like a gas V8 thats running on 7 cylinders{for lack of a better description}. The car goes but just doesnt feel smooth under hard acceleration. Put it in neutral and the engine seems to run up smoothly. I checked under the hood when I got back and the injectors 1 & 2 are wet with diesel so I suspect the return hoses. I checked the tightness of the hard lines and they are OK. The entire injectors are wet, not just the bottoms. Also the top of the spin on filter housing is wet. I checked the bolt and it is tight so I suspect the "O" ring on that bolt.
The tank was recently contaminated with Algae. The in tank filter screen was changed and the primary and spin on filters have been changed twice in 1000 miles. Fuel tank has been treated with algae killer and seafoam.
Any ideas on why the car feels like its fuel starved under hard acceleration? Could something else be the culprit? Fuel Lines? Turbo?
Thanks
John

Return Line leaks won't deprve the engine of injected fuel.

The ONLY time I have ever been able to seal this bolt 100%, even with new 'O' rings, is to use a light film of Loctite 574 Flange Sealant on both sides of the washer.


I would change the filters as a precaution.


Fuel starvation will often produce white smoke. If you are down on power and not getting abnormal smoke, perhaps check to see the turbo is working...

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

Thanks Doktor Bert,
I'll change the filters again.
No abnormal smoke under load or in neutral. I'll read here and try to figure out how to check the turbo. The car accelerates pretty well...its not a slug....it just feels like its missing or something. Kinda hard to describe with a diesel but sort of like it stumbles slightly under hard throttle. Like its running on 4 cylinders instead of 5. {Cant describe it any better}Smooth as can be under normal driving

What's the 0-60 time?

Personal judgments regarding the condition of the engine are usually wildly inaccurate..........and that's being kind.

Havent timed it but I will today and post back.
Not really making any judgements on the engine performance, just know that it "feels" fuel starved at full throttle. All I can do is ask here for advice because I'm smart enough to know that most forum members have way more experience than I do with these cars.

1985 300TDT: 312K miles, 3/4 tank fuel, about 150 lbs stuff in back, {1} 215 lb driver.

0 to 60: 17.27, 17.56 secs.

I think I read that when new the time was about 15 secs. ?

Do these times raise any red flags?

Thanks
John