When should they be replaced? Mine are original as far as I know with 233K on them. My engine starts kind of rough, I am going to start be replaceing the glow plugs and take it from there. But fastlane offers rebuilt injectors for $46.86 should I just replace them all? The seconed one back is leaking fuel real bad, so I will have to remove it to fix it, I was thinking about replaceing half of them now and the other half in a few months. Can you do that or do you have to replace them all at once?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Injectors seem to last a very long time, some people never change the injectors. If there is a fuel leak, check the rubber return line - its probably leaking, not the injector. If you are going to replace, then do ALL at the same time and get them pop tested prior to installation. If the injectors are set to widely different pressures the engine will run roughly. I would change injectors LAST. When its cold outside, the engine WILL run roughly for seconds, that's just the way IDI Mercedes diesels are. Using a block heater at low temps (<20F) may help.

HTH,

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Brian Toscano

Hatterasguy,

Your engine is running roughly after a cold start?
HTH gave you a good explenation. If there is really an injector problem you should see smoke with a warmed up engine too.
Are you shure ALL your glow plugs are working? If not, you'll have smoke after a cold start that will disappear together with a clattering sound after say 15-60 seconds, depending of ambiant outside temperature. Knowing your usual mpg is a good indication too.

Danny

Thanks guys I am 95% sure that leak is comeing from under the injector. It's the seconed one back from the front. Under the braided line that comes off the top there is no fuel that I can see leaking. What are those lines? Fuel return? I think I'll wait till I start driveing it and get some mpg numbers. It smokes a lot and skips when I start it, and you have to keep your foot down to keep it running. It does this for like 30sec after I start it. Than the smoke dies down and all the cylinders catch. When I drove it home it didn't seem to smoke much after a few miles. BTW it was 15 degrees with no block heater when I started it last. Maybe I just need to get used to diesel's.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well Hatterasguy,

Sounds definitely as more than two bad glowplugs!
You could do this simple check up to verify your gp's.
Look at the "black box" on the left inner fender, normally behind the ABS system. This is the glowplug relais. There is a large black cover on the front side. Take this off and you'll see an electric plug, one nut holding the thick wire coming straight from the battery (clamp "30") and two nuts clamping a fuse (metal plate).
Take off the plug and look into it. There is room for 6 pins all numbered from 1 to 6 corresponding with the numbers of glowplugs. The number of pins in use depends off coarse of the number of cylinders.
Than take a short piece of electric wire and make a bridge between the hot contact "30" and pin 1,2 ,3, etc. Just a short while : the amperage drawn by the working plug will cause a visible and audible spark. When this is not the case, you'll know exactly what glowplug(s) isn't functioning anymore.
This trick is so simple and effective that I only replace the gp(s) causing the trouble...
Good luck,

Danny

P.S.: Is the preglowing indicator light propperly working? If not it could be the gp relais itself !

Hatterasguy,

What you describe may be normal. As the cars age the glow plug light becomes "optimistic". Hold the key in the glow position for up to 20 seconds AFTER the light goes out. You can probably hear the glow plug (GP) relay kick out if you listen carefully. Hold the key until just before the GP relay kicks out if you can. Some have good luck glowing like this twice. Your owners manual (if your car came with one) will tell you in cold weather to depress the accelerator pedal all the way....

When the fuel return lines leak, it can be small enough that you may not see it coming down the braided fuel return lines, but it may be that. I would recommend replacing the fuel line first since its cheap. It comes in meter lengths at Partsshop (click above on this site) or even the local dealer. If that doesn't fix it, look elsewhere - but that is probably the most common fuel leak.

Hope this helps,

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Brian Toscano

270,000 miles and the injectors are still fine... no hammering, and no white or black smoke during normal conditions.

I have learned that I need to glow for 15 or more seconds after the GPL turns off for it to start and run smoothly on all cylinders. The PO says that the GPs were replaced last winter, hopefully with Bosch units.

Thanks, the light comes on fine. I glowed it twice and waited 10-15 sec. after the light went off each time. Then turned the key and put my foot down. The battery is kind of weak and it didn't seem to turn as fast as it should. Thanks 95300 I will try that trick this weekend before I replace the glow plugs. I have six new ones and am just waiting for it to warm up alittle.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ever decide to sell it and i think you may have a buyer! My dad has asked me a couple times on the progress of your car. I tell him when I see something new. Get it running right becasue it's always cool to hear about a diesel being resurrected. I am looking into either an'85 or '86 SD that has been sitting in a relatives drive way for 10 years with a bad heater core. Seriously, I'm that dumb.
Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Well I can't wait to get it running right! I was hoping to work on it this weekend but Sat. is supposed to snow and Sunday it's going to be in the mid 20's. Also the shop manuals haven't arrived yet. Next weekend I'm skiing. But don't worry progrees will be made by March. I've decided I'm shooting for the 2nd week in March to get it on the road. Then comes the euro lights, euro bumper, black grill, and maybe some AMG rims down the road. Nothing burns threw cash like an old Merc.:

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hatterasguy,

I am very sorry but I don't agree :"Nothing burns threw cash like an old Merc".
Yes : a new Merc will!
Happy greetings,

Danny