Patience Wearing Thin

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

If I owned an 05, I'd trade it in for an 06 CRD. My 06 has been 100% reliable. No tranny issues, no EGR issues, no glow plug issues etc.. I do have a PROVENT, run a 5w-40 oil and almost always run a minimum of B20 with a high of B100.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:01 am

Drewd wrote:

If I owned an 05, I'd trade it in for an 06 CRD. My 06 has been 100% reliable. No tranny issues, no EGR issues, no glow plug issues etc.. I do have a PROVENT, run a 5w-40 oil and almost always run a minimum of B20 with a high of B100.

Hummm, 12k miles + and had Flow Control Valve go bad and a MAF, no big deal as it did not effect the driveability. Did TSD on tranny also early on a 1700 miles and have had no issues and we get 32+ mpg highway and 18 to 22 in town, depending on how much I drive, I were a 16D shoe so I am a little heavy on the throttle in town. We have actually had less issues with the CRD then we did with our Nissan PU, our Toyota or our 2 VW TDI's we had, the Jetta dropped two windows, failed MAF (make for a sudden stop when that happenns on VW's) and a auto tranny, the NB TDI, failed power window regulators, MAF, fuel door release, sunroof failure, and as the CRD both would have had oil in intercooler had I not installed CCV filters on both cars.

Now you want to talk reliable, our '87 Cherokee never had a warranty issue and is still on the road over 250k miles later. The Magnum has also been defect free so far after a 2 years of driving and 24k miles.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:08 am

Jeger wrote:

:-)r

Sometimes this place is the only thing that keeps me going at night. Very descriptive writing BTW I love it LOL

EDIT It was just as funny the second time...read it again!

My sister refers to this forum and the "CRD Therapy Support Group." Maybe we could get a shrink to be the moderator?

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:35 pm

RFCRD wrote:

Jeger wrote:

:-)r

Sometimes this place is the only thing that keeps me going at night. Very descriptive writing BTW I love it LOL

EDIT It was just as funny the second time...read it again!

My sister refers to this forum and the "CRD Therapy Support Group." Maybe we could get a shrink to be the moderator?

Never met a "shrink" that I thought had all their oars in the water, and that includes a couple of personel friends. Don't ask what my major was in college, talk about a waste. Never put it to use, taught HS instead.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:56 pm

oldnavy wrote:

RFCRD wrote:

Jeger wrote:

:-)r

Sometimes this place is the only thing that keeps me going at night. Very descriptive writing BTW I love it LOL

EDIT It was just as funny the second time...read it again!

My sister refers to this forum and the "CRD Therapy Support Group." Maybe we could get a shrink to be the moderator?

Never met a "shrink" that I thought had all their oars in the water, and that includes a couple of personel friends. Don't ask what my major was in college, talk about a waste. Never put it to use, taught HS instead.

Actually teaching HS is probably a better use for that degree than anything. Just wondering one thing. If one of us "goes postal" at the dealer, can they plead insanity and blame it on their CRD experience?

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 1:09 pm

RFCRD wrote:

Actually teaching HS is probably a better use for that degree than anything. Just wondering one thing. If one of us "goes postal" at the dealer, can they plead insanity and blame it on their CRD experience?

Depends on where in the US you are when you go postal, around here too many people carry guns. Pull one at the dealership and you might see several pointed back at you. My magnum always has a magnum or 20 ga inside.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:50 pm

Talk about logic!

Jerry went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got a serious problem. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I'm going crazy!"

"Just put yourself in my hands for one year," said the Shrink. "Come to me three times a week, and I'll cure those fears for you."

"How much do you charge?"

"A hundred dollars per visit "

"I'll sleep on it," said Jerry.

Six months later the doctor met Jerry on the street." Why didn't you ever come to see me again?" asked the psychiatrist.

"For a hundred bucks a visit? A bartender cured my problem for $20."

"Is that so! How, may I ask?"

"He told me to cut the darn legs off the bed! Ain't nobody under there now!"

retmil46 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:21 am

Well, if nothing else, picked up the '87 MB today. If I'd had a car like this 20 years ago, I'd have lived in the bloody thing!

But then, if I'd had enough money to afford this beast brand new, I wouldn't have been in the Navy either.

Not too bad. Filled it up 1/2 mile after leaving the dealership, 80 miles back home on the interstate at 65 and 70 mph, fuel gauge didn't even twitch. Stopped at a station 2 miles short of home to top it off and get an idea of MPG. Only took 1.7 gallons. :shock:

Filled it up the same way both times, until the nozzle shut off the first time, no cramming.

Gotta be due to different pump, foaming, higher temp, etc. NO WAY am I going to believe this beast was pushing over 40 mpg, unless Marathon is selling some really kick booty diesel fuel! This beast was originally rated 25/30 mpg, and from what I've seen on the CRD I could believe 35 MPG, but 45 to 50? I'm not that gullible.

Gent at the dealership was good to his word, he held it until we got up there today. He had 2 people come in and ask about it just in the 1 1/2 hours we were there. When I originally called 2 weeks ago, they had it listed wrong on the ad, and it had been listed in the Truck/SUV Trader instead of the Auto Trader. After my initial test drive last week, they fixed the ad, and by this past Wednesday they had been flooded with so many e-mails and phone calls he had to pull the ad. Had people from as far away as CA and Colorado calling about it. Looks like the diesel gods smiled on me this time.

I already had an alternate car, the old '87 Subaru wagon, which the '87 MB will replace. The CRD and the Dakota before it were supposed to replace it, but never measured up in one or more categories, and we found it necessary to keep the old Roo around. In my book at least, that MB is going to have some big shoes to fill in proving itself as reliable as that Subaru has been.

Strange, I've heard more and more people of late saying that their next car is going to be an older used one. And for the same basic reason - the newer models just don't seem to be reliable and/or preprogrammed to continually return to the dealership for work.

As of right now, the CRD is staying, it's just going to have a diesel stablemate. Perhaps the bloody thing will get jealous and start running properly!

As for the Subaru, I've got it in mind to send it to a certain 17 year old young lady down in TX who is the closest thing I have to a niece, and is in need of a first car. I bought this beast brand new just about the time she went from being a twinkle in someone's eye to reality, and drove it over to their house several times to visit them and bounch her on my knee when only about a year old when all of us were stationed in Norfolk for a few years. As tough and reliable as it's been for me, perhaps there's some good luck still left in it for her.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:44 am

Good write up and I am glad you got the car. The only thing electronic on it is the radio and I think on that model the a/c controls. Once the engine is running you can disconnect the battery and drive it till you run out of fuel as long as no a/c, lights and radio are required for life support. Hope I have the same luck this next spring if I still have an eye for early MB 5 hole diesel, which were the best diesels MB ever built. Most of those cars out lived the first and second owners both. :lol:

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Congrats on the 87 Benz... look forward to some status reports - maybe even some pics of a real factory ccv valve. Something tells me you'll be checking it out to see how it's doing, based on our CRD experience. How does it compare with the CRD in interior engine noise level? About the same?

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Retmil46, after just seeing a Dr. Z commercial, I'm convinced you did the right thing in buying an older MB. That commercial has Zeiter actually showing and touting the 26 mpg EPA mileage rating of the diesel Liberty CRD :twisted:

He evens says it verbally - "the diesel Liberty gets 26 mpg highway and soon we will introduce the worlds cleanest diesel in the grand cherokee." A CRD that isn't even being produced, and using it in commercials on TV. He didn't lie - he just said the diesel Liberty diesel achieved 26mpg epa mileage - conveniently leaving out the fact that their only official announcement says they no longer make them.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:25 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Congrats on the 87 Benz... look forward to some status reports - maybe even some pics of a real factory ccv valve. Something tells me you'll be checking it out to see how it's doing, based on our CRD experience. How does it compare with the CRD in interior engine noise level? About the same?

Zzzzzz....huh?

Had my parents along, as they'll have use of it as well. Took my mother for a test ride in it, she made the comment that you could fall asleep in it. At idle, there's more of that typical diesel clatter, but at speed it's on a par with the CRD if not quieter. with the A/c on low speed, you can barely make out the engine.

Yep, have to get some pics of the engine bay, so everyone can see what a REAL diesel looks like. We just finished a wash and wax job on it, shining like a diamond in a goat's posterior.

On the CCV oil separator, that thought did occur to me the other day. I wonder how much a spare CCV oil separator for an MB diesel would cost compared to a Provent, and how well it would work in comparison, grafted onto a CRD.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:28 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Retmil46, after just seeing a Dr. Z commercial, I'm convinced you did the right thing in buying an older MB. That commercial has Zeiter actually showing and touting the 26 mpg EPA mileage rating of the diesel Liberty CRD :twisted:

He evens says it verbally - "the diesel Liberty gets 26 mpg highway and soon we will introduce the worlds cleanest diesel in the grand cherokee." A CRD that isn't even being produced, and using it in commercials on TV. He didn't lie - he just said the diesel Liberty diesel achieved 26mpg epa mileage - conveniently leaving out the fact that their only official announcement says they no longer make them.

Dr. Z shot a commercial using a Liberty CRD and didn't invite us? Ranger 1, you can get 26 mpg out of your if you can get it to run long enough, right??? Or did he mean 26 mpg on oil consumption?

Saber · **Joined:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:48 pm **Posts:** 160

I had the EGR go at 17k, but other then that it's been trouble free. Dealer replaced it, and I had my truck back in 4 hours. I'm hitting 28-31MPG depending on how heavy my foot is

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Quote:

Dr. Z shot a commercial using a Liberty CRD and didn't invite us? Ranger 1, you can get 26 mpg out of your if you can get it to run long enough, right??? Or did he mean 26 mpg on oil consumption?

Yea, as long as its running, fuel economy is great. Its just those lapses in between. But having Zeiter stand in front of a Jeep Liberty CRD and Grand Cherokee, crowing about mileage on the Liberty diesel when they don't even make it anymore comes off as cheesy advertising.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:46 pm

Ranger1 wrote:

Quote:

Dr. Z shot a commercial using a Liberty CRD and didn't invite us? Ranger 1, you can get 26 mpg out of your if you can get it to run long enough, right??? Or did he mean 26 mpg on oil consumption?

Yea, as long as its running, fuel economy is great. Its just those lapses in between. But having Zeiter stand in front of a Jeep Liberty CRD and Grand Cherokee, crowing about mileage on the Liberty diesel when they don't even make it anymore comes off as cheesy advertising.

Ranger1 just hold your horses, it is just done for the model year, it will be back for '07 models. Man you be making a mountian out of a mole hill, you remind me of the Chicken Little and the sky is falling story. :roll:

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Oh yes, its good business to advertise a product no longer for sale. Maybe some commercials with Dr. Z. showing some 1930's Chryslers would generate crossover sales into cars built in this century. Who knows, stranger things have happened... :-)

retmil46 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:43 pm

Maybe my "jealous" theory is working. CRD seems to be back to it's old self, fuel mileage doesn't seem to be affected by the new EGR.

Perhaps this little Italian youngster decided it had better behave itself, now that Grandpa Benz is here to look over it's shoulder and whup up on it if it misbehaves! :lol:

With the clear prefilter on the MB, you can really see the poor quality of diesel we have around here. There's only about 150 miles of driving on that prefilter, and you can already see a bunch of chunkies stuck in it.

First thing I did after I got that beast home - went to Advance and got a spare prefilter and secondary. AMEN, I've got a diesel now that someone actually carries parts for!

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:54 am

retmil46 wrote:

Maybe my "jealous" theory is working. CRD seems to be back to it's old self, fuel mileage doesn't seem to be affected by the new EGR.

Perhaps this little Italian youngster decided it had better behave itself, now that Grandpa Benz is here to look over it's shoulder and whup up on it if it misbehaves! :lol:

With the clear prefilter on the MB, you can really see the poor quality of diesel we have around here. There's only about 150 miles of driving on that prefilter, and you can already see a bunch of chunkies stuck in it.

First thing I did after I got that beast home - went to Advance and got a spare prefilter and secondary. AMEN, I've got a diesel now that someone actually carries parts for!

If you have little black specks in the pree filter you have dead critters in the fuel. This is either coming from your MB tank or the fuel you just bought. This stuff will block filters like crazy and the MB also has a filter screen in the very bottom of the fuel tank were the fuel line comes out. That link I talked about has a good picture of the thing on their website.

If these black spec's were not visiable in the fuel filter till after the fuel you bought local then it could be the fuel. However if it's not the fuel (bad B20 would do this very fast) it could be that the B2 to B20 fuel is cleaning out your 20 year fuel system on the MB. That is what I bet is happening.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:16 am

Well, it's not bad Bio, haven't put anything into it except straight dino so far. filled up at a Marathon station after leaving the dealer, and topped off at a chevron station after getting home.

I'm not putting anything but straight dino in it for now. When i started using bio in the CRD, they were handing out a little flyer giving some FYI on bio. I remember the part where if your vehicle was made prior to the early 90's, some of the fuel hoses/components/seals were probably not rated to handle running bio, would soften them and cause them to fail. For now, I'm taking that warning seriously.

Patience Wearing Thin

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