I just bought an 81 300sd and I love it to death. I live in Canada though and I want to make sure I am ready for winter. Any Advice? I am planning to get a strong battery (1000 amp), will this type of battery adversely affect the starter or any other electrical components. Also, what if any, are the benefits of so called diesel additives, i.e. sulphur additives, octane boosters. Thanks in Advance for all replies.

The battery is a good idea and won't hurt anything. The other things you will want are a good block heater and some anti gelling agent for the fuel. I have heard of them but am not fammiliar with the name brands. Local shops should be able to help.

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Benzmac:
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
LEAD TECHNICIAN FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

I also live in Canada, and asked this question some time ago. The answers went basically as follows: if you can plug it or store it inside when it is cold (-10/15 C), all is well. If not, you need to be carefull about a few things:
- battery, needs to be the best possible. You need lots of power to rev that thing up;
- low-viscosity oil. Someone wrote me that he was using 0W30/0W40 oil in it. This is synthetic oil, so there might be issues there;
- letting it glow before starting, even after the indicator has gone out. I didn't know the glow plugs kept glowing after the indicator had gone out, but it seems they do, from one guy's info;
- good glow plugs. Worn or old glow plugs may not heat enough;
- don't worry about additives. I called a few petrol companies, and they add stuff to make it more cold resistant, depending on where you are. If you want to add something, check the user manual as it gives cold driving directions;
- finally but not least, make sure the compression is top notch on the engine. I'll have the valves adjusted in the automn for just that purpose.
I bought mine 2 weeks ago, and don't have anywhere to plug it. I spoke with some people who owned one, and one guy told me he'd only plugged it in once over the winter (a mild one here in Montreal, only 3-4 days below -30 C), and didn't have a problem.
As a final note, I haven't spent a winter with mine yet. Hardly more than a week. Just repeating the advice others gave me...

Good luck, hoping this helps.

Nicolas

Diesel 1 & 2 are available, but as the other poster said, I have only had problems once with 7 diesels in relation to gelling, and this has to be at -45 or so.

Biggest advice, go where the trucks go in the winter.

In glowing, some of the relays stay on a split second after the light goes off, it is easy to see, as the lights inside will get brighter when they shut off.

The colder it gets, the more you might have to glow.

My record is 4 cycles of glow before starting.

The high amp battery is a good bet.

An excellent synthetic is a good bet.

Park her downwind.

Administrator: Mark your calender and ask me for an indepth article on cold weather driving in the fall. Whom better to ask than a canuck.

P.S. Cold here is when the ski-doo's dont start, and the air burns your lungs.
-65 or so.

I know this is a little off the topic, but do any of the Canadian members know if 300Ds were sold in Canada with the 5 speed like they were in Europe? I know you guys have euro-spec lights on your cars, so what about other "european only" options?

For the off-topic subject, I haven't seen any 5-speed W123. Mine is 4-speed auto, and I've seen many 4-speed manuals. My car has euro headlamps.