Hi all,
I finally got around to checking the compression on my 1984 300SD.
400 in all cylinders with 100 or 125 on the first crank for all of
'em.
I guess that's pretty good. The engine has 215K on it.
When I pulled the injectors out a couple of them had
a lot of black soot around the nozzle. I gently ran my
finger across the tip as I was told that if it snags your finger it's
time for a new nozzle. They all seemed fine for that test.
I've been running biodiesel in it for a couple of months now
and will be switching over to waste veggie oil soon.
Should I leave well enough alone or should I change
out the nozzles at some time as preventative maintenance?
Thank to all,
Jeff
-->> T.G. Lambach <<-- - 02 Feb 2008 07:56 GMT
If it starts well, doesn't knock when cold and runs smoothly leave it
alone. One can always change the nozzles ... later.

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Tiger - 02 Feb 2008 18:06 GMT
WVO takes much more effort to get a fine mist spray pattern than diesel
fuel... and for your car, the rebuilt injectors are dirt cheap... $35 each!
and you need only 5 of them. Change it out. Don't forget new heat washers.
Karl - 02 Feb 2008 18:46 GMT
100 PSI? On the 1st stroke is not enough. Unlike an ignition spark gasoline
engine, a diesel fires on compression. That 1st stroke of compression is
what fires it off. 5 or 6 strokes added together does not mean squat.
Minimum compression is 16 bar. 1 bar or 1 atmoshere rounded up in PSI is 15.
15 x 16 = 240 PSI.
> Hi all,
> I finally got around to checking the compression on my 1984 300SD.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Thank to all,
> Jeff
Rooster - 03 Feb 2008 00:46 GMT
So, then, a new engines should read 400psi on the first stroke?
Also, I did the test on a cold engine that
had sat overnight.
Was that the right way to do it?
Thanks,
Jeff
Karl - 03 Feb 2008 01:09 GMT
You start your car after it sits overnight......
Same cold 1st compression stroke that makes it run.
> So, then, a new engines should read 400psi on the first stroke?
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks,
> Jeff
Tiger - 03 Feb 2008 19:45 GMT
I thought the compression reading is taken at the third compression... third
jump... not first jump. Then again, this was for gas engine...
Rooster - 03 Feb 2008 23:14 GMT
> I thought the compression reading is taken at the third compression... third
> jump... not first jump. Then again, this was for gas engine...
I'm sure it was up to 300psi by the third stroke
and they all topped out at 400psi.
In any event, the car starts fine when it's cold,
doesn't blow any smoke and doesn't burn or leak any oil
and seems to run real smooth--so I'm happy with it so far.
Jeff