1979 Mercedes 300D Smoking Problem

[MBony]

I am having a problem with smoke coming out the exhaust after I crank it up. After about a minute the car smokes (not terribly bad, but enough to notice). It smokes for about 10 minutes and then usually becomes unnoticeable. I put a piece of paper on the ground where the smoke usually hits and it looks like tiny drops of diesel.

Is there a fuel filter that I need to check or any other part that might need replacing to keep the car from smoking so much?

Thanks

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've yet to see an old Mercedes that didn't smoke.

 

[MBony]

The reason for this post is that I am going to be registering my car with the state and it will have to pass an emissions test and this scares me that it may not pass.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Sounds like it is running very very rich.
Beyond that I don't know enough about the MB diesels to give you a proper internet diagnosis.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Is this a new development or has the car done this for as long as you've had it?

Bottom line is that it's a 1979 diesel engine. There's going to be some smoke, that's just the nature of old diesels.

ZV

 

[DivideBYZero]

You might want to take the car on a 30 min run before emission testing and ensure you get some highway speed time in there, too.

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You might want to take the car on a 30 min run before emission testing and ensure you get some highway speed time in there, too.

Yeah, those were my thoughts as well. It has done this as long as I've had it. Only difference is that I'm in a state that requires emissions test where before I wasn't.

 

[LTC8K6]

What state requires an emissions test on a 30 year old diesel?

Are there even any emissions controls on it?

 

[MovingTarget]

You may be grandfathered in as far as emissions testing goes. A car of that age...well.... it can be expected.

 

[sjwaste]

It's a 300D. Threaten to use it like a tank to tear down the shop if they fail you 🙂