oil cooler line sliced
 

84 300sd
AC belt sliced the oil cooler line. I pulled over when I saw the pressure drop but may have been too late. I bought a new cooler line and had it running in the garage. I drove out to go around the block and it died. I can't get it to crank. Tried a jump and tried to make sure vaccuum lines were back in place (at least one was pulled apart near the oil filter when I was dismantling the old cooler line).

I've got it on the street tonight and will start calling around tomorrow for help, but I'm sure it's pretty bad. Body is fairly good and all electronics work amazingly well, but I can't sink thousands into this vehicle. I suppose I need confirmation, but assuming the worst, any ideas about what I should do?

Greasecar kit is installed and working (it died on vegetable oil, which is maybe the way it wanted to go). Thanks to forum members for all the help in determining the other problems I've fixed in the car (new alternator and neutral safety switch).
Brian

If you shut it down right when you saw the pressure drop I'd think it'd be ok still....as it wasn't run with 0 oil circulating. Added to that, you had it running, was it running normally? If so I'd suspect the engine is ok but something else is amiss and preventing it from starting. An inspection/compression check could verify that the engine is still ok. You said it won't crank? as in it tries to but can't? You could try turning the engine manually with a wratchet on the crankshaft bolt.........I'd definatley investigate further.......

When you started it in your garage, did you look to see if the oil gauge showed pressure?

I'd be suprised if you got it turned off before engine damage occured.

It doesn't take long for the engine to pump out 5 liters of oil and engine brg damage to occur.

While I have not experienced this personally, my understanding was this happens when the motormounts are colapsed and the belt is the wrong length. So the compressor is kicked over farther than normal to tighten it.



Michael

was running, or at least walking
 

pawosd,
I shut down as soon as I saw the pressure was at 0-- not sure when that was in the oil -loss scenario. Yes, it was running, and seemed to idle fairly nicely. Busy, the presure showed 2 in the garage, which was about normal for this vehicle at idle. When I pressed the gas, it went up to 3, so I took it out for a spin. The car simply died one block away (going up a hill).

When I try to start it, the engine gave one, two, or sometimes three "ruh's" (usually one) and then nothing. Jumping had no effect.
Thanks,
Brian

You must realize that you have two separate issues.

You have confirmed that it has oil pressure of 2.0 at idle.
Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that you damaged the bearings to a point where additional clearance is now present.

So, the issue is to get it started again. I have a suspicion that the WVO is playing a part in this. See if you can get a can of diesel fuel and attempt to prime the system with diesel fuel. Then get it running properly on diesel fuel.

You can't make any determination on the condition of the engine until it is running again. And, we already know that it will run.

The WVO should have nothing to do with the car not turning over at all. If the engine spins over but doesn't fire, then it could be playing a role. If the starter won't turn the engine over, that can't hardly be fuel related.

Was there any other indications of a problem before it died (strange noises, no power, etc)? Maybe you have a couple different problems, for instance starter/electrical system problem in addition to the fuel problem.

Brian's right. If you had severe bearing damage you would have lower oil pressure. Regarding not starting, you said it only spun over a couple times then wouldn't spin at all? How about trying a junkyard starter to at least rule that out? Try smacking the solenoid with a large metal bar and see if that gets the starter to spin. Are you basically saying it seems as though the engine is locked up? Why not either put a wrench on the P/S pulley and try to spin the engine? Turn clockwise when facing the engine of course. You should disconnect the fuel line right before the in-line filter and place a can of diesel there and see if it will run that for fuel. We don't want to start getting mechanical and fuel problems tangled up.

Thanks
David

Clarify this please:

Does the starter fail to turn the engine, whatsoever?

What's the condition and age of the battery?

What's the condition of the cables?

diesel question; milwaukee mechanics
 

The car died on WVO initially (when the cooler line broke), but I switched over and it was idling for about 20 minutes on diesel before I took it out of the garage. That should have been enough time to flush the system, I would think.

I could see the car stalling related to WVO, but the cranking once and giving up would be different-- just hard to imagine putting a starter in at this point.

On that note, does anyone know of a mechanic in the Milwaukee area who would not lose it when I bring in a car that has been converted to WVO? I might finally be way over my head with this car.
Thanks,
Brian

Brian


Clarify this please:

Does the starter fail to turn the engine, whatsoever?
I believe it starts to crank, but it only does it once or twice and then quits.

What's the condition and age of the battery?
Battery is new

What's the condition of the cables?
Cables seem OK

Thanks,
B

Do you happen to have a 27mm deep socket to rotate the engine by hand, using the crankshaft bolt?

I'm curious to see if this engine is rotating freely. You should be able to turn it with a 1/2" socket wrench using a decent amount of arm strength from underneath the vehicle.

If you cannot turn it with this wrench, then things are starting to look bleak.

It would be unlikely that the starter has given up the ghost, simultaneous with your broken cooler lines. Too coincedental.

Worst case, if only you were around here, there are four 617 motors at the local junkyard in cars... a 123, two 116s, and a 126. :( They were $40 + $35 core last week.

This makes me think that I really need to change those oil cooler lines here ASAP, I wasn't aware they were that vital. Sure oil runs through them but I didn't know they were under all the pressure.

X-man,

The 617 oil pump is high pressure and HIGH volume. Much of the excess oil goes through the cooler and back into the pan.

I would tell him he needs to put a wrench on the front crankshaft bolt and turn it clockwise 1-2 revolutions. I bet his will not do this-the engine probably spun a bearing or something siezed.

It is critical to have the correct length belt on the A/C system-enought said. The oil cooler lines ussually give a sign of being wet or slight leakage before they break. I'd suspect that any of these cars with orginal lines being 20+ years old, regardless of mileage are getting close to replacement.

Just check them everytime you change your oil or inspect the car.

Hey Brian- where do you go and see theses benz's(?).

Michael

:eek: Mine are seeping, perhaps I should get more serious about changing them here ASAP.