87 mercedes 300td - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gwenn · #1 04-23-2013, 01:23 AM

I just got this car, it sat for 2 years. Started right up but had a lovecraft veg oil kit that went bad. So, i removed it all seemed well. not so much, loss of power, changed both fuel filters and tank screen, new lines from the tank, and put in tank cleaner, ran great for a day, now fuel is showing black in in-line filter and loss of power again, please help.

winmutt · #2 04-23-2013, 07:18 AM

More contanimation. Put some kind of algae killer in there. Stratron or whatever. Any truck stop will have it. As long as its running good at some point you should be able to get back to that all the time. Did you dump the tank? Try running off a liter bottle.

vstech · #3 04-23-2013, 09:36 AM

I have used power service's DIESEL CLEAR. it's a white bottle additive with green letters, if you are looking for it on the shelf.
many wall marts have it, I've seen it at truck stops, and some auto parts store have it.

because algae/bacteria/fungus/buggs, etc... it's just diesel. breaking down into asphalt... there's nothing living in your tank.
however, it's unknown what the lovecraft driver put in there, so you may want to pull the tank and have it professionally cleaned...

gwenn · #4 04-23-2013, 01:58 PM

try running off liter bottle? not sure what you mean, i drained all fuel when i changed out screen but have not cleaned tank per-say. I put diesel clear tank cleaner in it after change. going to put a bio-cide in it today, and change filters again...the fuel is barely pumping into pre-filter. should i try a purge and if so, what do i run through the lines?

homepagz · #5 04-23-2013, 02:12 PM

"Running off liter bottle" - he's referring to remove the entire tank/lines out of the equation and fill a liter bottle with diesel and connect the fuel and return lines to the bottle (sitting in the engine area).

This will help you determine if it's an issue back from the firewall toward the tank.

-John

gwenn · #6 04-23-2013, 04:39 PM

It worked, started up took a minute but sounded great..so, what next? can i clean the tank myself? should i check the tank screen first, even though i put a new one in on sat. i got biocide, but not sure if i should put it in if im going to end up having to drop the tank. what about cleaning the hard lines?

jay_bob · #7 04-23-2013, 05:14 PM

I would try the biocide first with a full tank of fresh fuel.

The biocide kills the critters and breaks them down into bits small enough to go through the filter. Then they get burnt with the fuel in the engine.

After you have solved the problem do the bottle trick again, except fill the bottle with Lubro Moly Diesel Purge (2 cans), take it for a spin, then change your filters.

And we want to see some pictures of that wagon!

gwenn · #8 04-24-2013, 11:10 AM

Thanks you guys, I put the algae killer in changed filters and all seems well. When should I do the purge?

Not sure how to upload pic on here

jay_bob · #9 04-24-2013, 02:09 PM

I would do the purge after burning through your current full tank of fuel and you are sure all is well.

I would put 1-1/2 bottles of the purge in the purge bottle, and save the last 1/2 for prefilling the new fuel filter.

Dump the contents of the old filter in your waste oil collection and take it to be recycled.

Don't forget the crush washer and check the condition of the o-rings on the main filter stem. Fill the new filter with the reserved portion of the Diesel Purge before installing. If you have any fresh DP left over after pre-filling the filter, it's ok to pour it in the tank.

Be gentle on cranking after installing the new filter, you might want to take a 14 mm and slightly loosen ("crack") the injector hard line nuts to help expel the trapped air. Don't crank more than 20 sec out of every minute and give it a rest after 3 tries. Parts of the starter are plastic and they don't like constant cranking.

Also when you pick up the Diesel Purge, get a bottle of the Power Service in the gray bottle (for summer) or white bottle (for winter). Add 4 oz per 10 gallons after each fill up to keep things running along.

Picture posting, the easiest thing to do is get a free photobucket or picasa account, put the pictures there, then share a link with us.

New members have restricted link and photo privileges so that is why you might be having trouble. Nothing personal, it is to help cut down on the spam content.

gwenn · #10 04-24-2013, 09:29 PM

Ok, I wrote that all down. Yes, all seems well enough i drove today and she cruised up the hills.

Im glad you mentioned the starter parts.

Because my ex was helping me remove the lovecraft kit and broke a "few" things. So, i am not letting him touch my car. I will do what i can myself.

Im not sure exactly what its called...

but it is metal with a plastic bar that had an x on the back of it. it controls my throttle or idle or both.. I think he broke it trying to start it(cranking it) when he put new fuel line on backwards, He rigged it up to a metal bracket, duct dape, zip tie)i put a screw in it to keep it still but it moves and my idle gets all crazy and the car vibrates BAD. so i push back and it stops for awhile.

Anyway, he also broke the plastic socket trying to take off what he broke.( rigged that to, with a hose clamp).

i think all this is effecting my transmission. shifts hard 2-3 and the petal doesnt feel right..it almost sounds like its working real hard when its not. the rpm tack doesnt work so i cant acually see.

He also broke the plasic male piece that screws in and out

to change the tension on the cable. He put rubber hose over it with a hose clamp.

He made a mess!!but i needed to deal with the fuel problem first.

Im new so some of this might be incorrect. Im learning..

jay_bob · #11 04-24-2013, 10:21 PM

Welcome on board and sounds like you made a wise choice about your ex not touching things

Post a picture of the affected area, I'm sure we can help you get it sorted. Also be sure to post where you are from, there are members all over the country who would be more than willing to help.

Have a look at gsxr's site w124performance.com. It has a treasure trove of photos of everything you could imagine that has to do with a W124.

Factory service manuals for this car are available at w124-zone.com You have to register but it is free.

Also go to startekinfo.com and register for the EPC. It is free for US residents to look up parts on a US VIN'd car. This is the same system they use at the dealer to find the parts at the counter.

Here are some hints to help with navigating the online reference material.

Mercedes loves numbers. They use number codes to describe everything.
You have a model 124.193, with an OM603.960 engine and a 722.317 transmission. The car is called a 300 TD because it is approximately 3 Liter engine, Transport (station wagon), Diesel engine. Your car is an identical twin for most of the body elements to a 300 TE (E stands for the German word for fuel injection, gas powered) so that is a good source for most things not related to the drive train. They produced the gas model for several years but the Diesel wagon only 86 and 87, so it is good to search on eBay (or junkyard websites) for both models if they don't involve the drive train. Also your car is identical power train wise to a 300D sedan and shares the same front end body up to and including the front doors.

The part numbers for many items on the car body take the form 124 xxx yy zz. The xxx takes you to the appropriate chapter in the service manuals that covers that part or the section of EPC where the line drawings for that part will be found.

When searching for parts on Pelican use the form 124-xxx-yy-zz with hyphens. Looking for parts on eBay, use the form 124xxxyyzz.

gwenn · #12 04-24-2013, 11:30 PM

Thank you so much for the info/help I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and covered in diesel

. I will post pictures asap.

I included my location,

Gwenn

gwenn · #13 04-29-2013, 02:28 AM

My brother borrowed my car, went to the gas station and the guy put gas in my car

. He says he realized what the guy had done and didnt start the car. ( we dont pump our own gas here)

They sent a guy out to pump out all the gas and they filled it with diesel..

What if he did start the car, what could happen? what should i look/listen for?

winmutt · #14 04-29-2013, 06:50 AM

Should be OK. In winter you are permitted to put mix some gas in with the diesel. Did your brother ask for gas?

gwenn · #15 04-29-2013, 10:53 AM

Great!!!! I thought it ruined the ip and did damage to the internal motor.

No my brother didn't ask for regular, a girl almost did the same to me the other day, thankfully I was out of the car at the time because my fuel door wouldn't open so I had to get in the back to release the door..

I'm going to put a sticker on it today...good thing is I got the tank pumped out I'm hoping it got all the gunk in the bottom...

I was trying to get to the end of that tank of fuel so I could do the purge.

Can I go ahead and do that with a full tank? And should I put more biocide in it?