Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

After changing glow plugs at -10F one night when Marshall insisted "Only replace the glow plug that fails" I made it a practice to replace glow plugs proactively. When I got a new to me old car I just replaced them all. I never wanted to be doing that job out in the cold with a flashlight

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

The Polei SDL with that same OM603 wanted to sort of roll coal at cold start. I thought of it as blowing her nose, with maybe colder glow that had not warmed up the cylinder enough for full combustion. The SDL had about twice the miles as your w124. clay 1974 450sl - Frosch - Two tone

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

> Bob wrote: > Over the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed that every time I > start my W124 (to be clear, ‘86 300D, 176K miles) for the first > time of the day, it just smokes like crazy. Rollin’ coal. Heavy black smoke? Grey smoke? Does it start okay - normal like? Is the air unusually cold?

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

Yeah, I was assuming the GPs were good.   While you are in there, pull  the big plug off the GP relay and check the GPs too.   Fix change any bad ones first. Bob Rentfro via Mercedes January 13, 2020 at 12:22 PM Now that everyone mentions it, I remember the bad

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

On that engine, test the glow plugs, and if any are needed, pull the intake manifold and replace them all. Not very easy to get to some of the plugs with the manifold in place, plus if you pull the manifold (need a new gasket) then you can also refresh the delivery valves with new washers and new

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

Now that everyone mentions it, I remember the bad glow plug scenario. For Curly, it’s freezing for AZ (low 40s). I reckon I’ll go after the glow plugs first...unless I decide to unload it. Getting to the point where I gotta downsize for retirement and I don’t really need the extra car. Bob R

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

May be as simple as a dead glow plug or two, maybe a glow plug relay issue as Curly mentioned, maybe an injector is not spraying a fine mist anymore until it warms up, might be time for a "rebuild" of the injection pump delivery valves. Start simple / cheap (glow plugs) and work your way through

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

Black smoke? Or white smoke? What's the ambient temp when this happens? White smoke is not unusual.   It needs longer glow.   Could be your GP relay is on the way out.  Take the small plug out of the GP relay, take the cover off the small plug carefully, so the pins don't come out. Find

Re: [MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

It's telling you it needs a hood stack and the back springs cut down to get that squat look --FT On 1/13/20 12:31 PM, Bob Rentfro via Mercedes wrote: Here is something I have never experienced the whole time I’ve owned diesels. And, mind you, that stretches back to 1977. Over the last couple

[MBZ] A Great Deal of “Rollin’ Coal” at Start

Here is something I have never experienced the whole time I’ve owned diesels. And, mind you, that stretches back to 1977. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed that every time I start my W124 (to be clear, ‘86 300D, 176K miles) for the first time of the day, it just smokes like crazy.