View Single Post
  #1  
Old 10-25-2017, 09:39 PM
boomboomcar boomboomcar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
'83 300D | no smoke, no power, until hot

Hi All - n00b to this forum.

Recently picked up an '83 300D w/ 250k miles from a little old lady that had neglected it for 5 years. On the first drive home, it would literally take 5 mins to get up to 50 mph, and that's where it topped out.

Following a diesel purge, some sea foam, and a change out of both fuel filters, I got decent power and speed back, but the previously smoke-free car poured black smoke - I'm talking people-giving-me-the-finger-at-stop-lights smoking.

Last weekend I changed the timing chain, rebuilt the injectors w/ new nozzles, valve adjustment, changed out all my belts, oil/filter, air filter, and did a full transmission flush.

At first, all was good, outside of disappointing acceleration when the vehicle was cold, and crazy conservative shifting at 1200-1400 rpm. 5 mins in, I get the car up to 60, and all of a sudden I have boost and power, and the car is running great. I also start dumping a ****load of black smoke again. The car remains peppy, and boost comes back at lower speeds/gears as well. I stop for a few mins, while idling, and eventually the car stops smoking and I go from a rough idle to smooth idle.

This trend has continued, cold car, smooth idle and engine operation, no power, no boost, no smoke. Get the car hot, the car has great power, you can feel the boost, and you can clear out an intersection with the black smoke.

Most comments I've seen make it sound like low power/boost is typical while cold. But most people seem to see smoke go away (not come), when the vehicle is hot.

Given the power and smoke, it seems like I have too much fuel (or not enough air) when hot. Does this sound like a pre-combustion chamber issue, ALDA, a turbo issue (haven't purchased a boost gauge yet), or other?

Last edited by boomboomcar; 10-25-2017 at 10:12 PM.
Reply With Quote