You've verified the gauge? 240D temps tend to fluctuate a bit since theres no overflow bottle (I guess anyway) but mine generally sits just over the 80C mark at temps above say -20F even on the highway.
I seem to remember that Marshall had a magic number at which it was too cold for an MB diesel to overcome the cold air over the engine but I can't remember what it was and its way colder than I've ever seen. As long as I've got adequate cabin heat (which I do as long as the temp is around 80C) I don't see any reason to put any cardboard anywhere... -Curt Date: Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:25:59 -0800 From: ernest breakfield <erne...@backyardengineering.org> To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Subject: [MBZ] running temps in the cold? (was: Re: glowing in the cold) Message-ID: <4b439247.8050...@backyardengineering.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed only slightly related; what kind of operating temps are you guys that live in real cold seeing? here where temps rarely get much below the 20s-40s this time of year, i still don't often see the coolant temp indicate anything above 80C until it's been on the highway at speed/load for many miles. (i've already played with changing out the thermostat to units i've verified are opening at the proper temps.) i'm sure this is exacerbated by the fact that we're running almost pure BioDiesel almost all of the time as we can see the temps come up quicker and higher when we have to run #2 instead of B99 on road trips, but i can run around town all day and never see the coolant reach the normal area on the gauge even when temps are into the 50s and higher. FWIW, the car starts fine on a single glow cycle, but (no surprise!) definitely runs stronger when warm. i know some veteran diesel-heads used to be seen with radiators shrouded or grills even completely blocked in the cold to keep temps up where they're supposed to be; what are the thoughts regarding doing this with a 617 turbo-diesel? cheers! e '85 300D (~187K) Berkeley, CA _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com