1969 220D 4-speed
No P/S No A/C
miles unknown
Engine: good power, adjusted valves, needed a new starter and bigger battery
Block Heater: coolant guage registered 110 F before tow start

I believe I could just as well have titled this thread "Don't do like me just did do" lol. Live in Montana now, but came here from Illinois. In Illinois I stripped the aluminum female threads on the engine oil housing. I retapped and she tightened to specs and did not leak. Put around 2500 miles on it since, including 70-75 mph from IL to MT. Filter never leaked a drop. Cars been sitting for a while so I decided to tow start it in 2nd gear; done that many times rather than wreck an already weak starter. My fault for not telling tow driver to tow me at 12 mph like we've done a # of times in the past. When it finally sunk into my consciousness that we were up to probably 22 or so mph and it was running under it's own power I pushed the clutch in about half a second too late. At that moment before I had engine disengaged the bang I heard left no doubt what it was: blew the oil filter housing off. So, no material in engine oil housing to retap. In second gear 22mph is not too fast to wind the engine, but I also knew that I had a functional but weak set of aluminum threads. Was running about half synthetic and half dino 5w-40. Before the tow began I consciously told myself to not rev it too high before the oil warmed, but, like I said, I made a mistake I never should have made. This happened about an hour ago so I apologize if this sounds a bit disjointed.
I have a 1985 BMW 735i that has electrical problems, very fixable, that I towed up here from Oregon several months ago. My feelings tell me to leave the 220D sit; not sure if I can scare up an old housing on this or other forum. If somebody has one for sale, let me know. I know I'll get over my stripped feelings (lol) and find the part somehow and fix it and work on the BMW in the mean time. "Thinking beforehand", how many times have I learned and relearned to think ahead? I don't blame the tower as it was my responsibility to remind her, plus, I should have pushed the clutch in at 15mph and had the tow stopped, reclarified, and started again.
Evidently, my first read on this, the problem was the failed threads couldn't take the oil pressure with cold oil. I guess this is the point where I show whether I'm a real mechanic or a quitter. I'll likely find a new-used housing somewhere and get the little 2.2 back to life. I feel a bit down at the moment, but I'm also glad it didn't happen on some Montana road in the middle of the night at 20 below zero.
Actually, it was quite remarkable the power the oil pump has in that little motor. When it came off (I haven't calculated, but probably at around 2800 rpm) it didn't fall and rattle it's way to the ground. It literally exploded the filter housing off, cleaning up every suspension part it hit before finding the road. Well, I guess the point is I made a very preventable mistake by not thinking ahead and not reacting quick enough. Didn't think ahead.

You should be able to find a used part. Don't forget to include European ebay in your searches (figure out the german word) since they have/had lots of those engines over there.
I'm not familiar with the 220d so I'm not sure what the part is. Do you have a picture?

__________________
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

kerry,
Thanks for the tip on Euro-ebay. The part is an aluminum housing to which the steel oil filter cannister attaches to with a single steel bolt. I don't have a picture, but it has it's equivalent on most engines, though some engines are milled to accept the filter or filter cannister directly. There were 412,830 69 220D's manufactured, so I'll find a housing somewhere. Thanks for the reply.

A new starter could prevent this happening again.

Contact oilslick, he may find a used one at the salvage yard.

Parts Run again! 1975 240D. What do you need?
Parts Run again! 1975 240D. What do you need?

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Drill it out to a larger size, tap and screw in an insert with the original size threads?

__________________
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

The long bolt that attaches cannister to engine oil housing precludes a retap. It has to be the size of that bolt and I have zero material left to retap in the engine oil housing.

If you can find a counterbore the right size then installing a Helicoil would be easier than changing the base assy. Of course working on that will give you a crick in the neck the way its situated high up under the car.

One thing I hate about the 220 (gasser) I own is changing oil, the dreaded filter cannister on 115's is a bad deal.
I had one experience with the long bolt that holds the housing on, it was real loose when I went to change oil last year, I could unscew it by hand, yet it never leaked around the filter for some reason so I consider myself lucky as it had been over a year since the last oil change (at the time I didn't drive it very much).

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Good thinking. I've been sitting here thinking whether there was an alternative to a new housing. I'll look into that, dieseldiehard. Your contributions on this forum have helped me once again.

http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil/

glad to help. I can send some aspirin if you need it (that will be real headache!)
If you had a remote filter adapter it might could be welded on then run hoses to a spin-on filter adapter topside and never have to sweat oil changes again!

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Yes, that is the best long-term solution.

I guess I wasn't clear. That's what I was trying to suggest in my earlier post. I have a vague recollection of someone onthe board recommending a brand other than Helicoil for this kind of application.

__________________
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

I do believe I have oil filter housing and the aluminum part it mounts too of a EURO 220D that is good. I am almost certain I did not turn it in for scrap metal but there is no light where the junk metal pile is located. Tomorrow I will take a look if it is still there you can have it for $1 a pound plus shipping it would be nice to see it live on instead of becoming a Coors can. The EURO cars at least this one had no oil cooler but I am pretty sure that has no affect on the part you need. If you do not hear from me tomorrow, send me a PM, which will send me an email to remind me. I am just swamped and I may drown soon if I don’t get a decent break, Teenage girls if I knew what trouble they could be I would have had a vasectomy even if that meant I had to perform it my self
Dave S

Thanks, Dave. My 220D does have an oil cooler. I haven't looked close at the housing yet, but will tomorrow. This car has proved impossible to overheat and I suspect the oil cooler contributes to this significantly. I'll also look in my FSM and grab a part #.
Ralph

Thanks, Kerry. I'll do a search. I've been to "helicoil's" website with the link given to me, but I'll look at any and all alternative's before proceeding.