Hello
So I brought this 1982 240d 4 speed manual to Indiana from Scotland.
It has never overheated since I've owned it and driven it, but there is a chance it was overheated a long....long....long time ago. It sat for many years and was hardly driven til I purchased it and I have zero maintenance history with it.
That said, it had good compression when recently tested (last year...several hundred miles ago).
I have not ever overheated it, assuming the temp gauge is good.
It has good power...for a 240d I have been surprised.
The only reason I pulled the head is that the water pump was squealing so I went to replace it. When I removed the radiator drain plug BLACK OIL came out. Not a little bit. A lot.
And every time I removed a hose where coolant might have been: OIL. Thick black oil.
The inside of the rubber hoses are caked with oil and years of junk.
I pulled the head, and the rotten egg smell was disgusting.
But it is not immediately apparent whether the head gasket was bad or there is a more sinister problem.
Is there a way to tell? Do I clean the head myself and look for cracks?
It really seems like there is a crack in the block somewhere, permitting the oil to mix with coolant.
ALSO, I never added coolant when in Scotland. Only water. This car has no expansion tank so I was never quite sure what the water/coolant levels were, but again it never overheated and always ran at the appropriate temps.
My plan has always been to pull this engine while it was RUNNING and in decent shape and sell it and the 4 speed manual to fund the engine swap I'm doing
HERE.
Suggestions as to what's next are welcome.
-Clean the head myself and look for cracks? I'm really not interested in pulling the rest engine and paying to have the block tested. Once the engine is out it staying out and the OM605 is going in.
-Throw a new head gasket on it and see?
-part out the om616 and associated parts? (any buyers?)
TIA
Jon in Indy
