1980 MB 300SD WILL NOT START BELOW 30 deg F.

All New Glow Plugs and Double check GP system, thanks to Diesel Giant. ALL SYSTEMS GO!
Battery checks at 12+ volts not running.
Charge checks at 13+ while running.
Both filters changed.
Fuel vapor exits tail pipe while attempting to start.
Fuel Lines purged using replacement to stock prime pump.
All petro in tank. (no WVO)
Warm Compression Test results - 280, 290, 305, 310, 310.
250K miles
This car starts immeadiately in warmer weather (40 + degrees).
Shows a little hesitation between 30 & 40, but below 30 is a NO GO.
No amount of GP cycles seems to help.

What gives? My starter is new as of 4 months ago, but seems to turn the engine slower in the below 30 degree temps. It is hard to tell seeing how quickly it ussually starts, I never got a good feel as to how fast the engine turns without an immeadiate start.

I wanted to check you all before I go and drop $260 on another starter. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.

Noel

body to engine ground and battery terminals and battery life itself. measure volts while cranking at the terminals and on the battery clamps. should be the same, and should be 10.5 or higher while cranking, if not FULLY charge the battery and try again, if still not, replace the battery.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

That your compresson is reading on the low side, secondly you don't state the type and viscosity of the engine oil currently in your engine and you don't mention anything about a block or engine heater

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

with a diesel of this vintage take the easy route.a few minutes on the block heater will save wear and tear on your starter,glowplugs,battery and patience.when its this cold its great to get a faster warmup as well.

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michael cole 1980 300SD gone now but not forgotten,87tdt,90 300te 4matic 95 e320 wagon

a lot of the southern cars have no heater, but the 617 should not need the block heater above 15F anyway, IF the GP's are good, and the valves are adjusted. good call on the oil, 20W50 will be thick at 30F... I have 5W40 in mine. if the motor cranks slowly, check the battery as I mentioned above. if all is well, drain the oil, put in some 5W40, Rotella synthetic is cheap and easy, and a New Fram 2930 filter, and try again. Plug in the heater if you have it, but you should not need it.

John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

my 300sd has a rebuilt engine with a little over 60kkm.it will start successfully down to -30C with out aids.but i still use that block heater for the above mentioned reasons.theres no shame in doing this why fight it?

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michael cole 1980 300SD gone now but not forgotten,87tdt,90 300te 4matic 95 e320 wagon

how much was your rebuild? I am jealous! I would love to see a how mine would start at -22F (same as -30C) over 400K miles on mine... runs real well though! almost time for me to check chain stretch and valves again.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

sounds like some good advice.

I use the block heater religiously, but do not have access to electric at work. It's one thing to get stranded at home and another to get stranded at work. It's 40 miles away.

I use and have aways used Rotella 15W40. For no real reason other than that is what the previous owner suggested. I did make a mistake recently regarding oil. I put in a quart of 5w30. I know mixing oil types is not a good idea. I really know now, because the oil started leaking (blwoing) out of my fill cap. I changed the oil and filter, using 15W40 and no more blowing out the fill cap. Could I expect the same thing to happen with 5W40?

Thanks Folks,

Noel

I recomend using 0W40 Synthetic in the cold winter, it will allow much easier starts than 15W40.

my Car with 15W40, wouldnt turn over quick enough to light, even with good glow plugs, Im sold on the 0W40 sythetic for winters.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

the rebuild was around $2k for parts and some labour.i had the sleeves installed by a machine shop.that was over 10 years ago.WOW how time flys when your having fun

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michael cole 1980 300SD gone now but not forgotten,87tdt,90 300te 4matic 95 e320 wagon