Hello Forum,

I recently passed my SDL to my son and as he drives it a lot more than I was and a small issue has shown up. The engine is from a '87 300td and has ~230K. Over the past few weeks it had become increasingly harder to start cold and was smoking like a train. Glow plugs work fine (manual glow plug relay setup). Noticed the typical leak on the top of the injection pump around the output ports and ordered the seals, O-rings and socket.

On Saturday we went to start it and move it to the shop and almost killed the battery trying to start it. He had driven it the night before. Would not start. Turned out the lift pump was moving almost no fuel. Re charged battery. Replaced both filters. Replaced all rubber fuel lines under the hood with new. The fuel thermo switch was removed several years ago. Still no fuel. Determined mechanical lift pump is almost dead. Installed an electric lift pump (Airtex E8153). Starts much better. Almost zero smoke when idling. Runs better as well. Barks the tires again when shifting between 1/2 and 2/3. Still leaking at injection pump port seals.

Changed injector pump seals and orings. Purged and starts right up. Runs great. Son drives it 15 miles away. Stops to get fuel. Will not start. I drive over and check it out and there is fuel at filter/pump/injectors. Electric pump humming away. Weird. So we are standing there talking for a few minutes and try to start it and it fires up. Off he goes.

Yesterday it does the same thing several times. At gym, at friends house, and store. Starts fine cold. Drive anywhere you want to go. Turn it off and you have to wait 20-30 min before it will restart. Like it needs to cool down. Very strange.

I'm working through Sunday and will not be able to get to it until then but can yawl shoot me some ideas? I have no idea where to start with this one. Got any ideas why it will not start hot? I figure it has to be air somehow. But why does it clear up in 20-30 min?

__________________
Shane Lowrance
1991 350SDL parting out.

1884 300TD 173K miles. Champagne w/ Palomino interior and third row seating.

North Texas.