My 240D doesn't leak a drop of oil with the listed miles on it The oil pan is dry (dirty but dry).

I mostly replaced the pan gasket, all the hard seals around the turbo drain, valve cover.

I either need to do the IP gasket or the oil filter tower gasket. One of those is giving me grief.

Also I had to replace my oil pressure sender But I think it was just at the end of its life...

I dropped the lower pan on this 300SD and it was amazingly clean- as were the rockers. The PO had been using Mobil 1. I just hope he had been watching the oil level as it was burning clouds through bad turbo bearings and leaking big time from around the vacuum pump. I replaced the pan as it had been smashed in from curbs (I guess?) and did the pan gasket and turbo gaskets as I swapped in another turbo I had.

I drove her last night- pretty sweet ride. A very different experience from the 300D turbo. The transmission works pretty well but I need to tinker with the control rod and do some fuel system work.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Suprisingly most of the damage to my pan came from dropping off some pavement into gravel. The tires dig DEEP into the gravel and the suspension no longer can keep the car from touching the ground.
And mash goes the pan

I still need to replace mine...20min of hammering got it better but its still pretty..well...unhappy.

Seems as if there are some pan gaskets experts in this forum. My pan gasket is leaking pretty badly. The entire underside is a lovely shade of sludge. How difficult is it to replace the pan gasket? Or is it difficult? What about the oil pickup? Any special instructions for that?

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Location
Southern California

Paul
1980 300SD (350K)

Hey rs899,
Do you have a webpage in mind for a 1983 300sd w123? I would really appreciate the manual. Thanks.
DK

Doug K-

Not sure whether you are talking about a W123 or W126 but both the manuals are here:

http://mb.braingears.com/

1980-300SD-

I am not an expert on pan gaskets, but the one I did is sealing just fine. I would get a new gasket as I don't think they are expensive. Drain oil. Remove pan. Clean everything. Replace gasket. I smeared both sides with non-hardening permatex. This is not difficult. While you are in there , pull off the oil pump screen and clean it out , and think about doing your turbo drain seal as you will have some access from the bottom.

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

The 300SD is either a w116 body or (in the case of 1983) a w126 body.

The w123 would have been badged a 300D TurboDiesel

Past owner stated 110K miles, but I believe there is another 100k. Someday I'll do a title search.
No leaks as of today.
Lots of salt issues.