Have a 92 300D 2.5. Purchased the car last October and have put several thousand miles on it. Car ran great, was getting 34mpg, not using any oil.

About 5 weeks ago, noticed the battery was not turning the starter very fast. Lifted the hood and found that the tension spring for the serpentine belt had disappeared. Figured the top hook had broken and it had fallen off. Replaced spring and belt.

Then, miles per gallon drops to 30 and starts losing coolant. Still running great.

Yesterday, starts making LOTS of white smoke. No loss of power or higher temps. If I wasn't looking in the back mirror, would not have thought anything was wrong.

Got it home, and the oil was low. Starts right up but still making LOTS of white smoke.

Trying not to jump to the wrong and expensive conclusion, but as I told someone the other day - denial is NOT a river in Egypt.

Comments or suggestions?

JV

Sounds like you ran it hot with the belt off. Best case - new head gasket. Worst case - new cylinder head. Get the head off and have it inspected for cracks/warpage.

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Jim

Jim is likely correct on this. I'm not familiar with that engine, however, if it is anything like the 603 you would not get any water pump operation if you lost the tension spring for the belt. You would have seen an immediate situation where the engine would overheat.

Finally got the head off and the pictures show what I think was causing all the smoke. Head gasket cracked at #1 cylinder. Have the head at the machine shop now. Looks OK.

Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

JV

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My advise I'm sorry to say would be to be like all the 603 owners, get paranoid, keep one eye on the road, and the other on the temp guage! ...........BB