I have a 1982 300TDT (station wagon).

I have been having a hard time getting it to start in even slightly
cool weather since our fuel dealers here in California were forced by
regulation to switch to ultra low sulfur diesel.  Everyone says that
has nothing to do with my car not starting, but I have been going
through all the other possiblities with little success.  I first
noticed the problem last summer after parking the car overnight in the
High Sierra at about 7,000 feet.  In the morning I had to crank the
motor for a long time, like it was 15 F, but it was only about 40 F.
Now that it is winter and the morning temps are in the 20s F I can
sometimes get the car to start if I had a block heater on all night,
but today it would not start at all.  The new fuel tends to flood the
engine and then I need a tow to about 50 mph and drop it in low to get
it to start.

I have replaced the filters.  (but I had cracked a line and made sure
that there were bursts of fuel when I turned the motor over.)  I have
also replaced the glow plugs.  I just ordered a new glow plug relay
from Bosch that keeps the glow plugs energized for three minutes after
the engine starts.  Maybe that will help.

I use 2 oz of automatic transmission fluid and 3 oz of Power Service
brand diesel additive for lubricity, centane boost and anti gelling per
10 gallons of fuel.

I also bought a new Sears DieHard International battery, but I still
have trouble getting the motor to start with the new fuel.  I bought a
tank of low sulfur, the old stuff, on the Navajo reservation last month
and the next morning my TDT started fine even with frost on the windows
and the grass.  That afternoon I filled up with ultra low sulfur diesel
in Moab and the next morning it was 42 and I could not get my car to
start.  I had to have someone come from a serivice station and give me
a jump start and run a hair dryer under the hood for two hours warming
up the injection pump and lines.

I live in Easten California, and our fuel all comes from the L.A. basin
and is mixed for their conditions.

My motor has been well cared for, but is getting tired with 394,000
miles on it.  But the starting problem got worse precipitously when the
ultra low sulfer diesel came along.

I hope to do an overhaul later this winter, but I would really like to
be able to get the car started for now as it runs great when it is
going.  It has excellent power and does not smoke excessively.

Does anyone have any other ideas to try for corecting hard starting?

Thanks.

Paul Fretheim
paul@inyopro.com