Overfull engine oil: How much damage?
 

I ran across a 300CD, in decent shape. I haven't had a chance to talk to the owner, and it is sitting at a repair shop run by a little mexican, and looks a little like someones beater, so I don't know if the owner knows anything about these cars. It wouldn't start (barely turned over once, my guess is dead battery, its been sitting, one tire is flat). I go to check the oil and it is WAY over full, like 4 or 5 inches over the top notch. I know these engines are awfully durable, do you think I should pass because of this (for all I know this guy has been driving it this way for 10 years)? If I bought it, it would become a parts car, my younger brother's car, or I would work on it for a while get it in good shape and then put it on fleabay. What do you all think?

Answer:
 

Condition unknown!!!

#1. Buy it as a parts car...

#2. Drain the oil down to normal level, smell the excess oil for diesel, the lift pump may be leaking into the crank case...

#3. Attempt to start it...

#4. If it runs OK, you are lucky...

Report results...




Have a great day.

Four or five inches is a lot. At least that's what I told her. But as far as oil goes I doubt that it may have done a lot of damage. That much over the limit might have blown back through the crank case breather into the air inlet but I feel that it would have stalled the engine before it did any real damage.

Be sure that the dipstick reading is correct. I have a lawn mower that after you add oil the dipstick reads high until you have run the motor for a while. Once the motor gets hot the oil drains down from the filler/dipstick tube and only then will you get an acruate reading.

Find the owner and ask him about the oil and how many miles it has. Tell him the oil could mean big problems. Ask him what he wants for it. Remind him that it is basically a parts car and considering the age, condition and the cost of MB spares that it really isn't worth more than x amount to you.