It wouldn't hurt to update your profile to include your location. Some of us (cough cough) have extra engines available.

-Tad

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1995 G320
2003 C230 Kompressor Coupe
2005 ML500
2007 ML350

Another oft-forgotten bit of info is this: The vacuum pump empties into the crankcase area. So, if your vacuum pump is working hard, for instance, evacuating the vacuum resevoirs, then it will be pumping air into the engine, increasing the "blow-by" at the filler cap.......

Best time to check blow-by is after running engine at high-way speeds for a good time and then coming to a smooth stop (NO BRAKE PEDAL PUMPING!!) so that the Vacuum pump isn't contributing very much..........

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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

Whoops. I thought I had it in my profile. Tucson AZ is where I live.

Mike

I believe I've washed or carboned up a couple of the rings. It's been sitting for a very long time, and the forward 2 glowplugs haven't worked for years.

Here's the video of my blowby, and I'm trying to resolve it with injectors, timing and glowplugs.

The video is here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEwqpc0GYn4

The story of trying to keep her alive can be found here. http://www.frybrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8729

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1978 Mercedes Benz 300D. Butter color, named "Larry." (Bought out of a barn in Caldwell, ID with a vintage "Larry Craig" sticker on it.) 229,000 miles, dark brown interior, need map pockets!

1995 Suburban diesel, frybrid kit. 20k on veg, runs great.

Future mods, Frybrid WVO.

That's not "major" blowby. It's more than "minor" but nothing to be concerned about. "Major" is when the cap blows completely off the valve cover.

Just drive it and change the oil on a regular basis.........something that has been neglected in its past.

Brian,

Thanks for your contribution, do you think it will decrease with good injectors, assuming they are bad, and glow plugs and a good solid running?

Is it feasible that the rings have "glazed" and good clean fuel, hot temperatures and consistent running will improve it?

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1978 Mercedes Benz 300D. Butter color, named "Larry." (Bought out of a barn in Caldwell, ID with a vintage "Larry Craig" sticker on it.) 229,000 miles, dark brown interior, need map pockets!

1995 Suburban diesel, frybrid kit. 20k on veg, runs great.

Future mods, Frybrid WVO.

I doubt that good injectors will have any effect. Glow plugs will definitely have no effect.

Anything is possible........maybe the rings are coked up..........only time will tell. But, as mentioned, don't worry about it. If it starts well when cold, compression is adequate and the vehicle will perform for you without any further issues.

If I remove the vent hose on the valve cover and hook up a pressure gauge, what kind of psi should I be seeing for a "good" engine with little blowby and one with "lots" of blowby? By "lots" I mean one that would blow the oil cap off.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The pressure would need to be measured in inches of water. I don't have a clue what the difference would be between a "good" and a "bad" engine.

You'd do better to measure volume per unit time rather than pressure.

This weekend, my air filter housing supports broke loose. All the rattling knocked the breather tube loose from the air intake manifold. (It was still attached at the valve cover). I immediately noticed a decrease in power, a loud exhaust type sound, and a HUGE increase in blowby. I fixed the mounts, and reseated the breather tube, and the problems seemed to have gone away. So maybe just check to see that your crankcase ventilation is working properly.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

The loss of the breather tube from the intake manifold cannot affect the power of the engine or the amount of blowby produced by the engine.

My guess is that the excessive noise caused you to believe the power was reduced (because your right foot naturally came off the pedal) and the additional blowby was simply the typical blowby that is now escaping into the atmosphere rather than being ingested into the engine.

Seems like it could increase the apparent blow-by. Exhaust gasses build up under the valve cover that would normally be sucked back in to the engine (due to the negative pressure generated by air flowing throught the intake manifold).

Also I am certain that I had reduced power - lots of hesitation starting from a dead stop, and reduced acceleration near the shift points. I suppose it could have been due to a malfunctioning air intake (due to the breather being loose and possibly the main intake seal in the filter pan being seated wrong with all the vibrations.

Still, your point is a good one - I was somewhat lighter with my foot since it sounded like a cessna about to take off under the hood!

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

You can believe that I'll be checking that breather hose when I get home tonight.

Thanks.

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1978 Mercedes Benz 300D. Butter color, named "Larry." (Bought out of a barn in Caldwell, ID with a vintage "Larry Craig" sticker on it.) 229,000 miles, dark brown interior, need map pockets!

1995 Suburban diesel, frybrid kit. 20k on veg, runs great.

Future mods, Frybrid WVO.

Why would the exhaust gases build up under the valve cover? You have a hose from the valve cover to atmosphere. The gases are pushed out of the engine via pressure in the crankcase. They don't need the slight vacuum level in the intake to generate flow.

Yes. Mine has been vented to the atmosphere for years now without a problem. Look at any pre2007 semi-truck engine and chances are that it's vented straight out as well.