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  #1  
Old 03-10-2015, 10:25 PM
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New to me 1983 grey market

I recently bought this 83 grey market. I know little about it other than it was traded in to a kia dealership in Huntsville, AL. It has been painted, probably wrecked, but drives straight and has zero rust. Import sticker says it came in to California. It shows 179K on the odometer which seems right based on pedal and interior wear and the look of things under the hood.
It is very low on power and heavy on smoke. I knew that when I test drove it, but it was pretty cheap so I bought it anyway.
I got it home and realized that it actually has exhaust smoke coming into the intake when running.
I started with a valve adjustment, which it needed. That helped some but it is still way low on power and still smokes out the intake on deceleration. It also smokes out the tailpipe on deceleration.
I am wondering where to go next. My suspicion is that it is a timing issue but I have never tried to mess with the timing on one of these.
I am also planning to adjust the valves again. There was so much soot in the intake I have to assume there was carbon buildup on the seats so my initial adjustment will probably not last as that wears off.
Has anyone seen this before? I did some searching and didn't find any other examples.
Is there an easy way to check cam/crank timing? It seems that would cause this but I am unsure if it would run a tooth off.
Also worth noting, the damn thing starts great in cold weather. Teens with no block heater is not a problem.
Someone at some point has put some money in it as well. It has a sanden conversion on the ac that appears recent, also a nice JVC head unit and new tint on the windows.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #2  
Old 03-10-2015, 11:35 PM
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Does 1983 grey market mean the Engine is not turbocharged?

What color smoke are you getting and does it smell like Diesel Fuel or Oil.
Do you think it is buning Oil meaning when you check the Dipstick is the Oil level getting lower in a short period of time?

When you remove the Oil Fill Cap when the Engine is running do you have a lot of Blow-by?

Remove the Valve Cover and on the front Camshaft Bearing Tower on the Right side is a timing Mark. Rotate the Engine in the direction of normal rotation by hand and line up the Back ot the Camshaft Gear timing mark with the one on the Camshaft bearing Tower. Do that extremely exactly and get your face right up there to get a good look.

When that is done look down at the Cranshaft Damper and the Pointer and see what degrees the Pointer points to. That will give you a rough estimate of the Camshaft Timing.

When the Engine is new it is set at OT (that is top dead center) on the damper. You will see O a line and a T on the other side of the line.

At 198K mine had about 2.5 degrees past OT (top Dead Center) doing that test.

Even though you said it starts good might think about doing a Compression Test. I am not sure what the cost now but Harbor Freight has 2 Diesel Compression sets. I am guessing they are around $40 now when they are not on sale but you can go to the site and take a look.
Also off Road Magazines often have a %20 off Coupon in them for Harbor Freight.

It is also possible that one of our Members in Your area has one to loan.

We have a tool rental section but I don't know what is offered.
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If the Valve Stem Seals are really bad Oil can get into the Cylinder that way.

Also I would think that there is no EGR on it but if there is make sure it is not on all of the time or Block off the Vacuum Line to keep it closed (as a test).
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  #3  
Old 03-11-2015, 07:28 AM
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Thanks for the reply. It is a 240D non turbo four speed. Smoke is black, both the smoke coming out of the intake and that from the exhaust. I am confident it is from overfueling or poor fueling. I have put about 500 miles on it with no apparent change in the oil level.
It does have more blowby than I would like. The oil cap stays on at warm idle, but does dance.
Thanks for the cam timing information. I figured there was a way to do it and figured that was worth verifying before messing with the injection timing.
I have never seen any diesel put exhaust smoke out the intake when running
I have a harbor freight compression tester and will head down that road once I have readjusted the valves and checked cam timing.
__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #4  
Old 03-11-2015, 03:36 PM
Diesel Preferred
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston SC
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I'll bet $1 that your EGR valve is failed in the open position, constantly dumping exhaust into the intake manifold and choking your engine.

I had an '85 Euro wagon with a five speed, same issue. Bought at an auction for $1100, it was a total dog and smoked like crazy. I spent months and months trying to figure it out, tried adjusting the valves several times, new fuel filters, rebuilt fuel injectors, adjusted the injection pump timing, checked the timing chain stretch, reversed fuel lines to make sure a clogged tank strainer wasn't the cause.

One day I read that blocking off the EGR valve would reduce soot production and give a small bump in power. I blocked that puppy off, and it was like I had a new car. There was a night and day difference in the power.
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'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
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  #5  
Old 03-11-2015, 10:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxbumpo View Post
I'll bet $1 that your EGR valve is failed in the open position, constantly dumping exhaust into the intake manifold and choking your engine.

I had an '85 Euro wagon with a five speed, same issue. Bought at an auction for $1100, it was a total dog and smoked like crazy. I spent months and months trying to figure it out, tried adjusting the valves several times, new fuel filters, rebuilt fuel injectors, adjusted the injection pump timing, checked the timing chain stretch, reversed fuel lines to make sure a clogged tank strainer wasn't the cause.

One day I read that blocking off the EGR valve would reduce soot production and give a small bump in power. I blocked that puppy off, and it was like I had a new car. There was a night and day difference in the power.
If you had asked me whether this car had an EGR I would have said no, but I just checked and there it is tucked under the intake. I will block it off this weekend.
Thanks for the tip.
__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #6  
Old 03-11-2015, 11:53 PM
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A stuck open EGR could cause the thing to foul out the air fuel ratio and get a poor/dirty burn and stuck in a loop-cycle of this behavior. About the only way you would be getting black sooty smoke in the induction on a running driving engine. And it would certainly cause lots of smoke and poor power.
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  #7  
Old 03-12-2015, 01:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shadetreemechan View Post
Thanks for the reply. It is a 240D non turbo four speed. Smoke is black, both the smoke coming out of the intake and that from the exhaust. I am confident it is from overfueling or poor fueling. I have put about 500 miles on it with no apparent change in the oil level.
It does have more blowby than I would like. The oil cap stays on at warm idle, but does dance.
Thanks for the cam timing information. I figured there was a way to do it and figured that was worth verifying before messing with the injection timing.
I have never seen any diesel put exhaust smoke out the intake when running
I have a harbor freight compression tester and will head down that road once I have readjusted the valves and checked cam timing.
Burned Intake Valves? But, that is inconsistant with easy starting.

If the Smoke is coming into the Intake Manifold by way of the Crankcase Vent system you there might be a head gasket issue or some issue with the Valve Stems/Guides/Seals allowing Exhaust Gas to pass by them.

Is it possible to remove the Intake Manifold by itself?
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  #8  
Old 03-12-2015, 02:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
Burned Intake Valves? But, that is inconsistant with easy starting.

If the Smoke is coming into the Intake Manifold by way of the Crankcase Vent system you there might be a head gasket issue or some issue with the Valve Stems/Guides/Seals allowing Exhaust Gas to pass by them.

Is it possible to remove the Intake Manifold by itself?
The easy starting has been throwing me off as well. The intake valves were very tight, so I thought exhaust could be coming out of them, but that would not make for easy starts and good idle.
I am excited to get into the EGR valve. Probably won't get to it until Saturday.
__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #9  
Old 03-13-2015, 10:24 PM
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Maxbumpo,
You win the dollar and a beer if you are ever over this way. I am not sure whether the egr was bad or not. I blocked it off with a piece of sheet aluminum, and when I went to remove the vacuum line I traced it back to find that it was directly plumbed into the main brake booster vac line. That meant it had full vac the whole time and would have been held fully open instead of being plumbed into some throttle sensitive location.
Its gone now and the car runs great and all the smoke is gone.
Thanks
__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2015, 09:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shadetreemechan View Post
Maxbumpo,
You win the dollar and a beer if you are ever over this way. I am not sure whether the egr was bad or not. I blocked it off with a piece of sheet aluminum, and when I went to remove the vacuum line I traced it back to find that it was directly plumbed into the main brake booster vac line. That meant it had full vac the whole time and would have been held fully open instead of being plumbed into some throttle sensitive location.
Its gone now and the car runs great and all the smoke is gone.
Thanks
From the last line in Post #2 "Also I would think that there is no EGR on it but if there is make sure it is not on all of the time or Block off the Vacuum Line to keep it closed (as a test)."
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  #11  
Old 03-15-2015, 07:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel911 View Post
From the last line in Post #2 "Also I would think that there is no EGR on it but if there is make sure it is not on all of the time or Block off the Vacuum Line to keep it closed (as a test)."
I'll buy you a beer as well. Here is insight into my forum reading skills (or lack therof). When I saw the hyperlink to repair links at the bottom of your post I assumed it was a part of your signature and didn't read the rest of the post.
I also thought there was not EGR, because it was tucked so nicely under the intake.
Thanks again.
__________________
1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660
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  #12  
Old 03-16-2015, 09:37 AM
Diesel Preferred
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 2,788
That's great news, glad it was an easy fix!

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC
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