1984 240 D clatter clatter clap clap

[smiffy123]

ok now this should be a quick one for you guys my baby has developed a noise which sounds like a hand full of nuts has been thrown in the rocker cover but it is only intermittant ie in mid range revs poss 3500-4000 rpm with no great strain on the engine now i had the injectors cleaned and checked and the noise went away for a few weeks now it is back oh and i also changed the diesel filter the other day and again it went away for a day and now it is back by no means does it sound to be anything terminal like bottom ends any ideas, oh ans she has done 120,000 miles

 

[NormanB]

I have no experience of Merc Diesels but understand the basic donk mechanicals are fairly bullet proof and yours is relatively low miles.

What is your oil pressure at idle and on the move?

 

[smiffy123]

oil pressure is wall to wall from cold and it drops down to just under max after a good run down the motorway

 

[dieselman]

Either squiffey squirting injector, air in the fuel system or lose timing chain.

Run some Millers injector cleaner through it before anything else.