Uggh that sounds like a cooler line blew.

The t stat would be wide open on the highway and a lot of oil would be going through it. I hope you didn't ruin the cam or spin a main bearing.

Their is nothing else up their on that side of the car that has engine oil in it.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for all the help.

I didn't try to turn the engine after this happened. I was used to the low coolant light coming on, but what if I was not paying attention and it was the oil light? I was so used to the coolant light coming on, probably from a faulty sensor. I dove for about a minute and the engine stopped.

Not good.

The dip stick _was_ "popped out" of the tube.


I am still in Princeton and will have to make some arrangements to get it towed to a shop.

I feel sick now because I love my MB.

__________________
1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

no sense to panic.

an engine will stand a lot. i had a vw bug that got so hot that it siezed up and wouldn't run at all. and after it cooled down there was no noticable damage to the performance. i have heard stories of engines run wo oil and when cooled and oil added they are fine.

of course this is not a good thing and it is to be avoided at all costs but you may yet luck out.

i once bought a benz parts car in which the engine was "locked up" and it turned out that only the cam was locked. we changed that and got a good deal of service out of it before it blew from my brother running 10 w oil in it because he understood the owners manual to say so (it was a misunderstanding).

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I just got a 1980 300td and took it to Hunt Valley Imported Auto Service in Cockeysville, MD on York rd (a few miles north of Baltimore) for a few things. They seem very honest, not overly expensive and knowledgeable (on the 123 at least from my experience). The two mechanics I spoke to drive a 240D and a 300D. Had a bunch of parts cars out back. I will definately use them again. The number is 410-666-3600.
Good luck

The car was towed to Cignatti today. He looked at it and the oil cooler was damaged, maybe by a rock. The weird thing is that there was no oil and no coolant in the car! What would do that??? Also, the dipistick was "popped out" like there was pressure in the crankcase.

He said that at best it is a new oil cooler. At worst an engine replacement.

I wonder if State Farm Insurance would cover it if it was the rock that did the damage?

Thanks again for all your help.

I only had the car for a short time and it is my first MB. It is rather disappointing that something like this could happen so easily. I may be shopping for an engine.

__________________
1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

That's not good news. Low coolant from the overheating I can understand, but no coolant?? Did the same rock hit the radiator? Even if it got hot enough to warp the head and lose the head gasket, you'd think there'd be some coolant left. Could the shop mean no visible coolant? Did they open the drain on the radiator to see if any flowed out?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

If your insurance would have anything to do with it, it would come from your Collision coverage (which you may or may not have, since it is above the legal minimum). Damage that happens to your vehicle when it is in operation and there is no other auto involved is Collision, and damage that happens to your car when there is no other auto involved and the car is NOT in operation is Comprehensive.

To convince them it was a collision, and not just a mechanical problem, make sure you've got a bit of a story, that you saw a big rock on the road, tried to avoid it, but couldn't in time, and it creamed the engine as you went over it. The physical evidence helps too.

Remember that it would be a claim against your own insurance and would be subject to your deductible, and would likely raise your rates in the future. I'd save it as a last resort, but if you can't make the repairs on your own, and you carry Collision coverage, it could work...

peace,
sam

PS I live in Missouri, and since insurance laws vary a lot state to state, this might be completely wrong in your location.

__________________
"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

I would sudjest contacting Metric Motors if you are in need of a rebuilt engine. They seem to know these engines better then anyone. Or direct from a MB dealer is another but more expensive option.


I'd plug the oil cooler now and fill it back up with oil and coolant to see if it will start. Then take it from their.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yesterday I visted Cignatta on my way back to Charlottesville from Princeton University. This is the first time I have been stranded by a car, but I was lucky to have a good friend in Baltimore that could help. I was also fortunate to be referred to Cignatta by this site.

I can reccommend Cignatta to anyone in the Baltimore/Washington area. The owner has a 126 diesel and everyone there is into diesels. They wanted to chat about my experience with biodiesel with Mercedes because I have been running B100 for about a year and they noticed my biodiesel emblem on the back.

The problem turned out to be a broken oil line to the oil cooler. Apparently this one flexible oil line is the only flexible hose in the oiling system. The hose broke as the result of a previous repair being sub-standard. A fitting on the oil cooler was braised by some hack too. This appears to have been done as the result of a small oil leak in the cooler.

There seems to be no extensive damage to the engine. It has good oil pressure and is not siezed. The engine life is probably shortened as a result of this incident. Cignatta is fixing it right this time. I don't have my car back yet, but don't want it back until it is right. I asked Cignatta to look the car over to see what they can find.

There was still water in the engine (not oil). I opened up the water reservoir after this happened when it was hot. A bunch blew out on to the ground when I did that, so that is probably what happened to the water.

It is not drivable yet because they are waiting on a part, but it has started and has good oil pressure and no weird sounds. Cignatta says that when the engine is blown or overheated it has a bad smell, and he is sure mine is not that bad (no smell). I am still worried about the dipstick being popped out of the filler tube, but Cignatta doesn't seem to be concerned.

I took some pictures at the shop and am posting on my web site in a few minutes. http://bob.albrecht.net/biodiesel/shop.html

Thanks for the help everyone. I will post an update when I know more.

__________________
1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

Don't you just love the folks at Cignatta? They live and breathe this stuff.
What did you think of some of his other cars there in the shop?

As for getting help on the repair from your insurance company; probably not going to happen in Maryland. the trucking industry is pretty cozy with the democrats who have run this state for generations. The law on truck debris actually requires the rock, or whatever to hit your vehicle directly off the truck. If it hits the pavement and then bounces thru your grille or hood, it becomes road debris. As soon as it hits the road, it is road debris. You would have to be tailgating in the extreme to actually make the trucking comapany be at fault.

I really think the folks at Cignatta are great. It is the best auto shop I have ever had my car in.

As far as insurance goes, I don't think I would have a legit case because it was a mechanical failure. I could purchase a warranty for my car for about $2800 for the next 50,000 miles. I looked into it, but it is pretty restrictive and doesn't cover things that are wrong now or engine wear. Also, their payout is limited to the trade-in value of the car.

Had it actually been a rock or some road debris, then I believe my comprehensive coverage from State Farm would have covered it with a $500 deductible. Again, their coverage is limited to the value of the car.

__________________
1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

I just posted some pictures of the cars at Cignatta at http://bob.albrecht.net/biodiesel/shop.html

Take a look at the red BMW sports car and the silver Mercedes sedan with a 6.3 liter V8.

-BOB-

__________________
1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

No surprise someone probably stripped the threads in the past removing the cooler and was to cheap to fix it right. $600 for cooler and lines is cheaper then $6k for an engine.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My oil cooler and oil cooler lines are in good shape, but I've got a spare oil cooler (with good threads) waiting in the wings for the day when I may need to replace it. Next time I run across a good set of lines too, I'll snag them to put with it in the basement. Good to be ready when the day comes.

peace,
sam

__________________
"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)