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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
It dropped below 0 last night and I didn't plug my car in. The damn thing wont even start with starting fluid, just chugs until the fluid is gone. Is there any chance that I got a tank of summer diesel? I didn't go to my normal gas station. I am about ready to put some gas in the tank to try to thin it out. Forgot to mention I missed a day a work because of this. I think I am gonna have to start keeping the tow truck at the house for mornings like this.
 

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1984 300D 375,000 miles 1996 e300d 266,000 miles 1983 300SD 174,000 miles Ascot Grey
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453 Posts
this happened to me recently when i ventured to indiana. After much trial and error, i unscrewed the spin-on fuel filter, filled it with diesel additive (just poured about half of the diesel out of it first. the one with the white bottle, black and red writing), primed it just enough to get most of the air out, put the rest in the tank and jumped up and down on the bumper to mix it up. The car started right up. It was sweet victory after so much cold and misery. Of course i had to give it some pedal, and keep it depressed for a little while. The next night, i parked it in a garage.
 

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money pits of various forms
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5,920 Posts
You should never use starting fluid on these engines. EVER. WD40 is ok. Manual says you can add gasoline in small quantities during winter months if needed.
 

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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #4 ·
I had a wiring problem for about 6 months that caused my glow plugs to be inop and had to use starting fluid on it twice a day and it runs as good as it ever did. We use starting fluid on trucks at work. I know its not exactly good for a car but its not as bad as people make it out to be. Manual says 30 percent gasoline, I don't know if I wanna go that high. I just wish it would warm up.:D
 

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money pits of various forms
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5,920 Posts
..... Starter fluid + glow plugs + prechamber == BOOM. Cracked prechamber to say the least.
 

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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #8 ·
Cracked prechamber sounds right. Thats why I undo the gp relay if I have to use starting fluid. When you spray it and the glow plugs light it can cause a premature explosion and it can wash down your cylinders but I have never seen it bend a rod or anything like that, if it did we wouldn't use it for $140,000 trucks when a idiot forgets to plug it in. I have thought about putting a auto warming system in the car like the newer Freightliners have. That would eliminate this problem and my stupidity problem of not plugging it in.
 

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money pits of various forms
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5,920 Posts
The 190d? has fuel line warmers... Might want to check into that for an OE hack.
 

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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #10 ·
That would be nice, very, very nice. I think I am gonna walk across thr street and put a gallon of gas in the gas can for the car. I have had it plugged in for about two hours now and still nothing. I am hoping a gallon will do somthing ion a half a tank of fuel.
 

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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #11 ·
Nine hours later it runs!!!! I propped a heat gun under the oil pan for like 2 hours and then spent quite a bit of time running the heat gun over the IP, injectors and fuel filters. A lot of jumper cables later and it starts.
 

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2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed
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1,788 Posts
might be worth doing a valve adjustment and ohming out your glowplugs just to be sure....
 

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1977 Mercedes 300D
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157 Posts
Discussion Starter · #13 ·
I wanna do a valve adjustment again because I am all worried I might have done it wrong because of the thread about the valves spinning. My glow plugs should be ok but I do wanna check them again. I just updated to the new style pencil plugs.
 
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