1963 Mercedes Benz 190DC Fintail. First start of 2025.

[busmansholiday]

What's the problem with painting the radiator with something like Hammerite spay paint for metal.

It's not going to get hot enough to burn the paint (I've painted brakes calipers with household gloss for the same reason).

 

[Dyslexic Viking]

I did some research and several sources said that alu radiators need a special paint and it is toxic and should be done outdoors which is not possible until May at the earliest.

And I'm not willing to experiment with paint as paint peeling off will bother me and look awful.

And that radiator unpainted  doesn't bother me.

So it will be as it is.

[Justwatching]

Why did the heater need blocking off? 

[Dyslexic Viking]

6 minutes ago, Justwatching said:

Why did the heater need blocking off? 

Everything appears to be original under the dashboard so it's only a matter of time before it starts leaking. And I don't use it so might as well block it off.

I've actually never used the heater in this one and since it's a nice weather car in summer, there will never be a need for it.

[hairnet]

double hard norwegian needs no heater

not bodo

[junkyarddog]

If the heater core isn't leaking and functional,you'd be better off leaving it connected. 

[Dyslexic Viking]

Almost 4 months since last posts and nothing has happened since then. This one is now just waiting for spring and for the roads to be clean and safe to drive on.

Unless something unexpected happens, all this needs before this is some maintenance. And the only repair I know it needs done this year is to replace the front seal on the differential.

So hopefully something will start happening here in a few weeks. And I'm guessing it will be back on the road in mid or late April as usual.

[hairnet]

 

Is there one for winter is over

[rusty_vw_man]

I want a heat wave in Southern Norway so we can start getting pictures of this out and about again! 

[Dyslexic Viking]

On 18/03/2025 at 19:46, rusty_vw_man said:

I want a heat wave in Southern Norway so we can start getting pictures of this out and about again! 

I don't know what kind of weather dance or human sacrifice you've done but it seems to have worked as it's been unusually warm the last few days. So today it has been +10C and warm and nice and the first day this year where it was comfortable to be outside in just a sweater so things have happened, update is coming.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Started today with some maintenance and like previous years I use a copy of the maintenance points stated in the car's manual so I remember everything.

 

Started with the diesel pump. This runs in oil and the level should be checked by unscrewing a level plug on the side.

 

What I usually do before I check the level is to add a little oil to overfill it so I can replace what's in there. The first times something really bad smelling stuff came out, but now it's just clean engine oil coming out so that's good. Adding oil.

 

With the diesel pump sorted, the next step was to oil the bearings in the water pump. This is specified to use 90 weight gear oil and I place paper under the water pump to collect excess oil that comes out of the drain hole. Oil fill hole marked with red arrow.

 

And with the fan belt loose, the water pump was turned by hand to distribute the oil in the bearings.

With this done, the next thing was to check the oil level in the steering box. Oil plug marked with red arrow.

 

The easiest way to do this is to use a zip tie as a dipstick, which works well and the steering box had plenty of oil so it's good.

 

The next thing was to check the air filter and the oil was very black and looked like it contained a lot of stuff so it was changed. The engine's PCV goes in here also which could explain the black color. The old oil that came out of the air filter.

 

Air filter cleaned and new oil added.

 

And the air filter back together again.

 

So with this done, I added some oil to the engine as the top part of the timing chain is probably dry of oil now after standing for a while and the oil fill is over the chain so it's easy to lubricate it.

So since it's warm today, it's time for what I've been waiting for the first start of 2025.

 

And it started easily but was a bit grumpy as I forgot to turn up the idle speed but was happy when I did.

The engine running.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-cDaSykhv5Q

Sorry, but the last one refuses to enter the post and only gets a link.

With the engine running for a bit, it became obvious that there was an air pocket in the cooling system, so I turned off the engine and with a little work I got the air out and after adding about 2 liters of coolant, the engine ran fine and was happy.

 

So the work I did this fall on the cooling system seems to have been successful and the next thing now is to do more maintenance such as engine oil and filter change, greasing etc.

And as I have said earlier, this one won't hit the road until it's safe to do so, as the salty chemical soup they spray on the roads here in winter kills cars, so I'll  have to wait until it's completely gone before this one hits the road. Which is hopefully is mid April.

Thanks for reading.

[Dyslexic Viking]

And I forgot it had been sitting for 6 months now, so with that in mind it started easily.

[Dyslexic Viking]

One question, this one is dirty after winter storage and I'm trying to keep it dry so is there any alternative to get it clean that doesn't involve traditional washing?

I know that some people use some spray stuff but I have no knowledge of it or how good it is so it would be interesting to know.

[Rustybullethole]

Love the sound of a proper diesel. Great stuff. 

[Wibble]

20 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

One question, this one is dirty after winter storage and I'm trying to keep it dry so is there any alternative to get it clean that doesn't involve traditional washing?

I know that some people use some spray stuff but I have no knowledge of it or how good it is so it would be interesting to know.

I use this on the Cortina, it works and leaves a really good shine. Found two bottles in my late Aunt’s garage, haven’t actually bought any:

k

[captain_70s]

I've used Williams Racing wash and wax to good effect. No use on a properly dirty car, but storage dust and the general grime picked up by summer driving should be fine.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Both of these products are unfortunately not available in Norway and getting them shipped from the UK will be expensive so I will have to find something else but at least now I know what type of product I should be looking for.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax It's easy to find and gets very good feedback from many, so I think I'll try this.

 

[Wibble]

5 minutes ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Meguiars Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax It's easy to find and gets very good feedback from many, so I think I'll try this.

 

That’ll do it. Let us know what you think of it.

[JMotor]

I was going to suggest getting the cheapest waterless wash and wax you can get from likes of a supermarket or Lidi/Aldi. With some cheap microfibres too. Keep flipping the cloths over if it's properly mucky. Just to stop rubbing the shite about. 

I used Tesco's own gear for a quick go over of my Corsa to put a wee shine on it after I washed it at that show it went to last year. Looked good enough for me.

However. The Meguiars stuff is good and smells nice too. 

[hairnet]

still double hard?

oh you took it out of garage

ha det hyggelig når du går for dagligvarer

[sdkrc]

On 20/03/2025 at 17:34, Dyslexic Viking said:

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

5 hours ago, JMotor said:

I was going to suggest getting the cheapest waterless wash and wax you can get from likes of a supermarket or Lidi/Aldi.

I'm not sure cheapest exists in Norway. Lidl/Aldi certainly doesn't. Whenever I visit my brother in Bergen I walk round in a daze at the price of a loaf or other basics.

It's all par for the course for @Dyslexic Viking so maybe the Meguiars is everyday reasonably priced. Who knows, I certainly don't.

[Dyslexic Viking]

4 hours ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

It's all par for the course for @Dyslexic Viking so maybe the Meguiars is everyday reasonably priced. Who knows, I certainly don't.

The Meguiar's product cost about £25 per bottle, I don't think it was that bad?

I can get a cheaper one for about £7 per bottle but it's probably not as good a product so I'd rather go for the Meguiars.

[jim89]

1 hour ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

The Meguiar's product cost about £25 per bottle, I don't think it was that bad?

I can get a cheaper one for about £7 per bottle but it's probably not as good a product so I'd rather go for the Meguiars.

Maybe buy both & try them out alternately & report back? It's nearly a 4x price difference!

[Dyslexic Viking]

5 minutes ago, jim89 said:

Maybe buy both & try them out alternately & report back? It's nearly a 4x price difference!

It's possible, I'll see what I do.

[Dyslexic Viking]

This has been a long day and is quite broken but has now got all the remaining maintenance done. Engine oil and oil filter change and the oil filter is as terrible as ever, greased all grease nipples, removed all wheels and brake drums and inspected brakes and quickly cleaned brake shoes and brake drums with brake cleaner, painted the inside of the wheels and more.

This is now ready for the 2025 season.