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Author Topic: love my mercedes  (Read 18585 times)

bschwartz

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love my mercedes
« on: January 07, 2014, 02:35:38 PM »
I think my 1982 Mercedes 300SD will run on butter or chicken fat.....

It started this morning without issues on 90% WVO/10% RUG (petrol)........ it was 20 degrees F ( that is -6.6 C)

Granted, the back window doesn't work, the AC doesn't work, the cruise control crapped out a long time ago, the interior is cracking from age and heat......
..... but it ALWAYS starts and gets me where I need to go.
-Brett

1982 300SD, 1995 Suburban 6.5, 1994 F250, R170, Metro 6/ sold :( , Witte CD-12 ..... What else can I run on WVO?

LowGear

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2014, 05:36:17 PM »
Wow Bret,

Is this a brag?  I sure hope so.  I'm looking for Cherokee stick so I stick a Merc engine into it.  And look at the prices of these proud stallions here in Hawaii.

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/cto/4231854832.html   :o

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/cto/4260860828.html  OK, both riggs are pretty nice looking units but these cars are 30 years old.  I see dogs being advertised for $3K.

Pretty neat huh.

Casey
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bschwartz

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2014, 10:06:52 PM »
Would you like to come to New Mexico to purchase one here?
Hawaii isn't the only place where people think these old cars are worth a small fortune......

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/4269128235.html
-Brett

1982 300SD, 1995 Suburban 6.5, 1994 F250, R170, Metro 6/ sold :( , Witte CD-12 ..... What else can I run on WVO?

LowGear

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2014, 06:38:56 PM »
Getting a true Arizona or New Mexico car is just a fantasy for most of us here in Paradise.  It doesn't get or stay green without lots of moisture.  $11,000 is just a click above the dream for me.  And these units are just too big for me for just running around. 

We all know of these "perfect" solutions.  I always wonder why they need to be improved?  We're just too smart for our own good.

Casey
NPR Tipper/Dump Truck
Kubota BX 2230
Witte BD Generator
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Hugh Conway

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2014, 09:57:48 PM »
Maybe I should try some duck fat too.
My old Toyota is a 4WD 2.0L normally aspirated Diesel one ton. Old, but still does the job.
Still sitting level with about 1800 pounds of iron on the back.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2014, 10:59:44 PM by Hugh Conway »
JKson 6/1  (Utterpower PMG ) Off-grid
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1978 Royal Enfield (glutton for punishment by Indian iron)
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mike90045

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2014, 01:32:39 AM »
Maybe I should try some duck fat too.
My old Toyota is a 4WD 2.0L normally aspirated Diesel one ton. Old, but still does the job.
Still sitting level with about 1800 pounds of iron on the back.

dang that's a big doghouse on the alternator.  Any vibrations with it  8)

BruceM

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2014, 01:49:52 AM »
Sweet SOM, Hugh. 

I'm a fan of the 300D's myself, have one on the road, one for parts (bad IP).  The '85 is the last of the mechanically injected diesels by MB.  Sweet 5 cyl engine.




Hugh Conway

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2014, 02:00:36 AM »
@Glort.....indeed, I am in Canada, though where I am on the west coast,  the snow is rather rare. That truck sure "will not go up any mountains at 100KPH", in fact, an alarm bell sounds when 100KPH is exceeded on the flat. But it does pull........with a bit of traction weight in the back, I use it for logging. And it can carry... once hauled nearly 2 yards of gravel in it! Try that with your F150.......
Also, as seen in the photo, the sides fold down to give a flat deck of 9ft long X 5ft wide. No electronics, basic good strong truck.This one is 25 years old and had seen a lot of hard use before I got it 6 years ago.
Cheers,
Hugh
JKson 6/1  (Utterpower PMG ) Off-grid
Lister 6/1 Start-O-Matic engine......running with PMG
1978 Royal Enfield (glutton for punishment by Indian iron)
1963 BMW R-27 project

listerboy

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2014, 03:37:56 AM »
BruceM,

Are you sure '85 was the last year for MB mechanical injection? I have a '93 300D 2.5L 5cyl and the pump sure looks mechanical to me. I could be wrong....it's happened at least once before.... ;D  ;D 

BruceM

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2014, 03:28:30 PM »
Yes, Listerboy, 1985 is the last year of the mechanically injected 300D/SD/TD MB diesel cars.  Electronic fuel injection started in 1986.

 I'm not sure how long they continued with the vacuum controlled transmission, a copy of an older Borg-Warner model.  They added a vacuum pump and all kinds elaborate plumbing and mechancal valves off of the throttle linkage to simulate intake manifold vacuum in order to keep that transmission happy. They also used vacuum for turbo boost control of the  IP, IP shut down, door locks, etc.  Finding vacuum leaks via Mityvac is an essential skill if you own one of these.

 The turbo is a big help here at 5600 feet elevation.  The 240Ds with NA, 4 cylinder engines can barely get out of their own way. But the turbo's limit engine life to about 400K miles.  NA's with 600k aren't that uncommon.



 

honda lee

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2014, 12:44:23 AM »
I have an 81 300sd and love it as well. Always seems to be needing something though like window regulator or window switches but the only thing that has stopped it from running is a plugged filter. Presto changeo and off you go!

bschwartz

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2014, 01:51:46 AM »
I thought the 1986-1993 3.5L 6 cylinder was still mechanically injected.  Aluminum head and other issues meant it wasn't NEARLY the engine that the earlier 4 and 5 cylinders were.
My NA 240D is so slow here at 4,700ft elevation, it almost feels like it's going backwards.
-Brett

1982 300SD, 1995 Suburban 6.5, 1994 F250, R170, Metro 6/ sold :( , Witte CD-12 ..... What else can I run on WVO?

BruceM

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2014, 05:07:14 PM »
Similar problems plague the pre-'86 turbo'd 300Ds.  There is an elevation compensator that goes out of adjustment over time, and opening the seal and re-adjusting that for just a bit of black smoke on full throttle acceleration yields amazingly improved performance.  Correcting for timing chain stretch and retiming the IP (offset keys are available) helps performance some, but cold starts more.  Turbo boost pressure can be adjusted slightly, also.  Re-adjusting the transmission downshift linkage also is often needed. They can often be brought back to quite lively performance. Valve lash is critical for cold starts.   




deeiche

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #13 on: January 11, 2014, 03:38:06 PM »
SNIP
My NA 240D is so slow here at 4,700ft elevation, it almost feels like it's going backwards.
but going backwards is a New Mexico trait.   :D

BruceM

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Re: love my mercedes
« Reply #14 on: January 11, 2014, 08:53:15 PM »
240Ds are a bit slow at elevation, but I know a guy here at 5600ft who has one with over 600K miles on the original engine, and it still gets him to work and home every day, 45 mile round trip. I wouldn't mind a 240D as long as it had a manual transmission (rare and hard to find).

 Fortunately it's a rural road with 50mph posted speed limit, so he has little risk of being rear ended by a speeding semi. ;)