Just today I purchased a Volvo 244 DL that I am really excited about. I feel it to be in good condition and according to the insurance inspection there were no major issues. It's only had one owner since 1988 and it has the maintenance records from along the way. I realize the car is old and it is a diesel but I'm wanting to cure the slight shake that the engine has and improve the acceleration. The mechanic said all pistons are firing and the plugs are good. He suggested that I do a compression test to see what's going on. Can anyone shed some light onto this issue for me? I'm hoping that with regular maintenance I might be able to get a few more miles out of it. Thanks-Ryan

So you are sure - it is a diesel? :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Yes I'm sure.

One of a kind - rare! The engine is the same as was used by the VW cars - make sure you change the oil on a regular basis! 3000 miles top! :57:

plugs==glo plugs, I presume? V Important:get a compression test done, prove your rings good and also check the blow by and PCV system. Reason: Old diesels will have high blowby, which causes crankcase pressurization. The PCV system then bleeds hot oil and air vapours into the manifold & hey presto! you have a fuel source the motor can run on til the sump goes dry. Old motors in this condition produce very large amounts of horsepower and eventually can't be shut down. There is also some oil coming up past the rings contributing to the excess fuel. The only ways of stopping such a motor is stall it under load or strangle it of all air/throw the decompressors. Many industial diesels have crankcase panels that blow off when the pressure gets up a bit so you can know and stop it before the motor is totally wrecked. Don't forget to use the poison in your fuel often, to kill the algae growing in the dissolved water condensate which blocks your fuel filters. the joys of a diesel! the misfire may be a blocked injector or (horrors) a faulty injector system? rebuilds on old diesels aren't cheap, which is why I didn't buy one. Mind you, your average diesel will far outlast, out economy and out reliable any petrol motor of similar BHP, all other things equal. Why such frequent oil changes? It's a diesel, uses hi detergent lubes, should run 100's of hours without changing oils or maintenance of any kind, or it's not worth having. There are lemons about, is this one?