350 head pulled. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brian Carlton · #16 03-30-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenzDiesel

After further review of the photos, it looks like replacement of the head gasket is going to benefit this engine significantly independently of any other engine work that will be done.

........replacement of the #1 piston.........the one with the holes in it..........might provide a tad more benefit...........

barry123400 · #17 03-30-2006, 11:24 AM

I see no reason not to buy one of these cars upon reflection as long as you have a good 3 litre block set aside for when the day comes. Obviously owning the replacement block will mean you possess one of the 3.5litre engines that will last. Or thats the way it usually goes in life. But if the unthinkable happens at least the first time you repair it should be the last. This consideration should be worked into the purchase price if possible. You should not be stuck on the road with a 3.5 as I believe the engine gives a fairly long warning before things get really out of hand usually.

DslBnz · #18 03-30-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

Obviously owning the replacement block will mean you possess one of the 3.5litre engines that will last. Or thats the way it usually goes in life.

That's usually the common opinion. But I ask, how many of us actually own one of these 350's with the stronger engine? How many of us have 204K miles on the block?

Mine was the one with stronger pistons and rods. It happens to the best of them.

Keep a 3.0 liter indeed.

Eskimo · #19 03-30-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenzDiesel

After further review of the photos, it looks like replacement of the head gasket is going to benefit this engine significantly independently of any other engine work that will be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

........replacement of the #1 piston.........the one with the holes in it..........might provide a tad more benefit...........

JB Weld, baby!

BenzDiesel · #20 03-30-2006, 09:08 PM

my computer, and seeing the tip of a prechamber stuck in the head of piston #1 tells me that something OUT OF THE ORDINARY happened to that engine. It is a miracle that that engine didn't lock up after slinging the rods out through the side of the block and on through to the ouside of the fender wall. The issue that caused that catastrophe must be solved first before the engine is put back together or the same thing will happen again. Permanent stop leak stuff will cause something like that to happen when the glow plugs ignite the stuff inside of the piston chamber. Running excesive gasoline or kerosene or paint thinner in the fuel will cause something like to happen too, "in theory", in my opinion. There was AN EXTRA MAJOR EXPLOSION inside of that motor that caused that piston to deform like that and it had nothing to do with Mercedes or it's engineers or a simple head gasket leak, in my opinion. But if I had to bet on a guess, I would bet that the injection pump timing was way off. However, on the prechamber tip on the piston head issue, I'm confused because it looks like all of the prechamber tips are still on the cylinder head in the pictures, unless I missed something.

BenzDiesel

DslBnz · #21 03-30-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenzDiesel

my computer, and seeing the tip of a prechamber stuck in the head of piston #1 tells me that something OUT OF THE ORDINARY happened to that engine. It is a miracle that that engine didn't lock up after slinging the rods out through the side of the block and on through to the ouside of the fender wall. The issue that caused that catastrophe must be solved first before the engine is put back together or the same thing will happen again. Permanent stop leak stuff will cause something like that to happen when the glow plugs ignite the stuff inside of the piston chamber. Running excesive gasoline or kerosene or paint thinner in the fuel will cause something like to happen too, "in theory", in my opinion. There was AN EXTRA MAJOR EXPLOSION inside of that motor that caused that piston to deform like that and it had nothing to do with Mercedes or it's engineers or a simple head gasket leak, in my opinion. But if I had to bet on a guess, I would bet that the injection pump timing was way off. However, on the prechamber tip on the piston head issue, I'm confused because it looks like all of the prechamber tips are still on the cylinder head in the pictures, unless I missed something.

BenzDiesel

That's interesting. However:

This was a gradual declination of engine health. It did not one day explode, and become nearly undriveable. It has been running slightly abnormal like this for 10's of thousands of miles.

I first documented my concerns in August of 2003 on this very site. Just months after joining.

ched454 · #22 03-30-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

That's usually the common opinion. But I ask, how many of us actually own one of these 350's with the stronger engine? How many of us have 204K miles on the block?

Mine was the one with stronger pistons and rods. It happens to the best of them.

Keep a 3.0 liter indeed.

a 350 that required a head gasket replacement at 204K with valve seals and guides. Everything else looked very good at the time and I view it as expected maintenance. I don't know if I have the stronger engine but it runs like new with good power and about 32+mpg highway. I commute about 500 miles per week.

DslBnz · #23 03-30-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ched454

a 350 that required a head gasket replacement at 204K with valve seals and guides. Everything else looked very good at the time and I view it as expected maintenance. I don't know if I have the stronger engine but it runs like new with good power and about 32+mpg highway. I commute about 500 miles per week.

Exactly 204K, eh? So long as it doesn't burn a drop of oil in at least 3K miles on dino, its OK. Less than that, I'd be suspect of anything.

Mine retires at 204K miles, and yours lives on. Enjoy it while it lasts. And it may or may not serve you well to 500K. But have a spare, just in case.

DslBnz · #24 03-30-2006, 11:19 PM

I'm still watching another 350SDL. The black one my father is driving.

It has been starting rougher and harder lately, and starting to nail.
Its also been developing a little more blowby.

Well, he's got an engine for that too.

HA HA HA I'm going insane!!!

The plague of the Mercedes 350 diesel

oldsouth · #25 03-30-2006, 11:28 PM

I have a '95 S350 with 308,000 miles. Original engine. Had head reworked at around 250,000 miles because of water leak on back passenger corner. At that time cylinders and pistons looked good. Egr disabled since 150,000 miles. Currently uses about a quart every 1500 miles. Still pulls up to a top end of about 118 mph. Fingers crossed. When it blows, I plan to put a rebuilt engine from Noels in it. About $6500.

ched454 · #26 03-30-2006, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

Exactly 204K, eh? So long as it doesn't burn a drop of oil in at least 3K miles on dino, its OK. Less than that, I'd be suspect of anything.

Mine retires at 204K miles, and yours lives on. Enjoy it while it lasts. And it may or may not serve you well to 500K. But have a spare, just in case.

with the oil consumption. I have rolled about 13K since the repair and use about 1/2 quart between changes. It gets changed about every six weeks. I'll be happy to get to the next mileage badge at 500km... its a roll of the dice, as we all know.

BenzDiesel · #27 03-31-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsouth

I have a '95 S350 with 308,000 miles. Original engine. Had head reworked at around 250,000 miles because of water leak on back passenger corner. At that time cylinders and pistons looked good. Egr disabled since 150,000 miles. Currently uses about a quart every 1500 miles. Still pulls up to a top end of about 118 mph. Fingers crossed. When it blows, I plan to put a rebuilt engine from Noels in it. About $6500.

But at about 105 mph that 350 still be handling smoothly and has a very safe feel to it, unlike some of my other cars in the past, when I got to 70 mph, my blood pressure would rise because of the uncomfortable vibes I would be feeling. Also, if stopped by a trooper at 118 mph, I'd be concerned that some kind of FELONY LAW was in effect and I would be found guilty and have to do a little time in addition to paying the fine and losing the privilege to ever buy another driver's license, ever.

BenzDiesel

BenzDiesel · #28 03-31-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

That's interesting. However:

This was a gradual declination of engine health. It did not one day explode, and become nearly undriveable. It has been running slightly abnormal like this for 10's of thousands of miles.

I first documented my concerns in August of 2003 on this very site. Just months after joining.

The explosion apparently occurred before you got the car, but since it was a Mercedes, the car just kept on going until the piston finally cracked. But nevertheless, at one point, a big bang was heard by somebody while driving that car. Also, any owner who has a good running 350 is not hardly going to get rid of the car and if one of these owners does, then the car would be in "excellent" condition because the owner just got rid of the car because he has to do something with all of that money and it had nothing to do with the car, except that a newer edition was on the market, I believe. I know for almost certainty that "nobody" currently driving an OM617 powered engine would trade the car, if they had the opportunity to know what it feels like when the car is running good.

BenzDiesel

Hatterasguy · #29 03-31-2006, 06:22 PM

I'd have the injector that went to that cylinder with the hole in the piston checked. Check for pop pressure.

I don't see how a bending rod would put a hole in the top of a piston.

I'd replace all 6 pre chambers, and have all the injectors tested.

BenzDiesel · #30 03-31-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I don't see how a bending rod would put a hole in the top of a piston.

That is what I was thinking and is why I think it had something to do with the fuel system or the fuel itself. Another thought: I'd bet that something like that could happen if there was a leaking injector, but more probable if the car was driven for an extended period, while the #1 injector pump seal was leaking, which in effect allowed excessive amounts of fuel to enter the combustion chamber.

BenzDiesel