1987 300d turbo suddenly dies.......please help

[tashinamgyal]

Hello - I'm new to diesel ownership. Just bought a clean 1987 300d
4 door turbo. It's been running great for 2 weeks. I had the oil changed, and added a little bit of lucas oil treatment, and a bit of diesel fuel conditioner to the tank.

Coming up a hill, it just died. It cranks over, but won't start. Glow plug indicator looks fine. It was warmed up and running fine when it died.

If this was a gas car, I would say timing belt. But I don't know enought about the engine to even guess. Please help!

 

[dieselman]

Probably an air leak into the fuel system. Diesel fuel systems rarely leak fuel because they are under vacuum all the way from the tank to the pump.
If air leaks in there is no fuel reaching the pump.

 

[voorhas]

Just out of curiosity, doesn't it have any kind of fuel shut off solenoid that might have stopped working?

Gonçalo D.

 

[LakeCoastie]

:idea: Try checking the fuel shut on top of the pump first, its vacuum accuated and can get sticky, changing both fuel filters to rule restrictions out, and check the idle setting after you get it going.
*This is a small black canister (35mm film can sized) with numbers on top and two sets of retaining clips to prevent the top from coming off. It is located under the driver side hood hinge area behind the fuse box. I set mine to "5" as it was idling a little rough at "4".
***I would not recommed any additives that "boost cetane" as they will cause a very expensive repair to your Trap Oxidizer. Today's diesel fuels are increasingly lower and lower in sulfer content (a lubricant for the injection system) and older diesel owners are forced to use a fuel additive (Stanadyne Lubricity additive is OK to use) to save their injection pumps and injectors form increased wear.
OH! read in depth what dieselmann has on his site about diesel care. (www.intellidog.com) GREAT STUFF!! Hello to Dieselmann.