81 240d won't start
 

I'm new to this forum and hoping to get my merc going again.
I'm not much of a mechanic so I have taken my car to a mechanic who can't get it starting. I have spent nearly a thousand dollars but still won't start.
The car cranks over well. It just won't catch. I have installed new glow plugs, a new glow plug timer relay, remanufactured injectors, primary and secondary fuel filters. The starter, battery, injector pump, and lift pump all check out fine.
The car will start with starting fluid and continues to run and run well. It will start again after sitting for a short time. I dont know how long it takes for it to not start again but definitely by the next morning it will not start unless I use starting fluid.
Any thoughts out there? I really love this car and want to drive it. Any help will be greatly appreciative.

Tha valves have been adjusted. I thought compression could be a problem however, I've been told that when the engine does run it runs to will for the combustion to be bad. Perhaps I should run a compression test. Thanks Forcedinduction

Would it make sense that an engine that runs very well would not have a compression problem?

Hello, I suspect a tiny air leak in your fuel system, Yes it will run well once started. There is a cheap temporary solution you can try. that works well on old on diesels like ours. I buy a https://www.walmart.com/ip/Attwood-3...-Bulb/19792646
3/16 primer bulb and a couple of good matching clamps plus a couple feet of 3/16 fuel hose . Start your engine and warm it up. Shut it down and splice the squeeze bulb in to the line ahead of the fuel filter. Hand pump until fuel comes out , then connect it to the filter. Pump it and it should get hard. Restart engine. Leave it overnight. Then before starting engine squeeze it until its hard. You should be able to start normally. Just a hint from many years of diesels, The lift pump may appear fine, but they are prone to loss of prime. Allan