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  #1  
Old 12-08-2006, 04:37 AM
Geeeeenious
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Oil consumption question

I've only had my car a week and it has already used a quart of oil. Is this normal?

I checked the level right before my last fill-up and it was down a quart, so I topped it off. Yesterday I thought I'd check it again and it was down a quart again. I haven't even gone through a tank of fuel yet (since getting the car home). I'll look for leaks later today, but I have not noticed any puddles or other tell-tale signs that there is a problem.

Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

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1981 MB 240D - 280K miles (My Iraqi LAPC )



My stable also includes:
2003 Honda Odyssey - Wife's van
1976 IH Scout 2 - SUV recovery vehicle
1967 Dodge W200 - The big block hauler (440/4sp.)
1966 Dodge D100 - The Redneck Racecar (440/727)
1925 Dodge Roadster - My electric car canidate

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  #2  
Old 12-08-2006, 04:40 AM
ForcedInduction
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Does it smoke?
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  #3  
Old 12-08-2006, 10:22 AM
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Sounds like your using way too much oil. Make sure you're consistant with when you're checking it though (either 15 min. after you shut it off after reaching operating temp. or before you start it in the morning) I check mine cold but I think the preferred method is warm. I forget, but mine burns about 1 qt. per 1000 miles or so, maybe not quite that good. Or you could just drive the Scout. Scout's are cool.
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  #4  
Old 12-08-2006, 11:06 AM
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I had a 77 240D that I had to add oil to regularly. It could burn a quart in 100 miles on the interstate, but did much better around town. It had a good amount of blowby which was not visible, forcing oil out of the valve cover breather into the intake manifold. No visible smoke out the tail pipe. Remove your air filter & look into the intake & see if there are any traces of oil being forced into the int manifold. You can start it up with the air filter off & see if any oil is being expelled from the breather hose.
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  #5  
Old 12-08-2006, 11:48 AM
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Probably the first question I would have to ask ...... what kind and weight of oil are you using?

Make sure that you are using oil that is diesel rated (C-rating) and unless you are in very cold temps, about a 10-40wt or 15-40wt.

Also, many folks here have mentioned that they have less usage at about 1/2 quart low, rather than topped off. Diesels can run on their own oil so be sure and never overfill.
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  #6  
Old 12-08-2006, 11:59 AM
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I don't add oil until the level is at the LOWER mark after setting over night or at least a few hours. Try keeping the oil level NOT OVER the mid way point between the marks.
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  #7  
Old 12-08-2006, 12:05 PM
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I am not sure your model is old enough. On some there is a vent tube from the vacuum pump to the intake area. If the vacuum diaphram is leaking oil it goes into the intake. I think yours is too new though but have a look just in case someone dropped an earlier engine in. I would think your air filter might be oil saturated as well have a look. Locate in the archives the oil filler cap test to see how your engine is doing. Another indicator I like is to remove the tube from the breather end that goes to the valve pan gasket. Put your finger over the hole and time in seconds how long till the engine quits. If you do the above things and post the results there might be some positive indications one way or the other. Does car start pretty easily cold?
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  #8  
Old 12-08-2006, 11:39 PM
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Ok; here's the answers to the questions so far:

1.) Doens't noticably smoke. I usually drive to and from work in the dark, so it's hard to tell. But there are no oil droplets on the rear of the car at least.

2.) Both times I checked the oil it was on level ground after sitting for several hours. I think that is the preferred method. That way all the oil is in the pan for measuring. But hot checking (like when fueling up) is ok, you just have to allow for the oil that's still up in the motor.

3.) The oil is what came in it. I need to change it though. If the window sticker is true it's over by a couple thousand. On the trip home I hot checked it while fueling up along the way. It was barely reading on the stick, so I got a cheapo 10w-40 and tossed that in. (What they wanted for Delo or Rotella at that truck stop was like armed robbery! Fergit that 'der ideer,.. and a 10-4 good buddy )

Anyway, last night I stopped at an auto parts place and got some Rotella, and topped it off. It barely read on the dipstick again when I looked before I left work.

4.) I peeked at the air filter, and though not new, it isn't oily in there at all. Might be a bit dust clogged, so I'll change it asap. But I will try looking for the hose you speak of Barry.

5.) Starts right up when cold, even without being plugged in. Doesn't seem to somke or shake fillings loose early on either. After about 30 seconds, it seems to smooth out and it's ready. Though I let it sit and run a couple of minutes before I take off.

She might only need an oil and filter change.
__________________
1981 MB 240D - 280K miles (My Iraqi LAPC )



My stable also includes:
2003 Honda Odyssey - Wife's van
1976 IH Scout 2 - SUV recovery vehicle
1967 Dodge W200 - The big block hauler (440/4sp.)
1966 Dodge D100 - The Redneck Racecar (440/727)
1925 Dodge Roadster - My electric car canidate

True health starts here
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  #9  
Old 12-09-2006, 09:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wyle E. Coyote View Post
Ok; here's the answers to the questions so far:
3.) The oil is what came in it. I need to change it though. If the window sticker is true it's over by a couple thousand. On the trip home I hot checked it while fueling up along the way. It was barely reading on the stick, so I got a cheapo 10w-40 and tossed that in. (What they wanted for Delo or Rotella at that truck stop was like armed robbery! Fergit that 'der ideer,.. and a 10-4 good buddy )

Anyway, last night I stopped at an auto parts place and got some Rotella, and topped it off. It barely read on the dipstick again when I looked before I left work.
I have an '82 240D that I just bought. The mileage is unknown and the car has a ton of blowby. I recently lent the car to my parents when they came to visit and they drove it about 2,000 miles. On one of the trips, my dad noticed it was low on oil so he added a quart of Penzoil 20W-50. Just a few hundred miles of driving later, it was a quart low again. I added some Rotella and it seemed to do just fine.

The only explanation I can come up with is if you put a thinner non-diesel rated oil in the engine, it will burn it up almost instantly. Make sure you have nothing but that in the car before you start drawing conclusions about your oil consumption.

Good luck,

Scott
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1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
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  #10  
Old 12-09-2006, 10:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott98 View Post
I have an '82 240D that I just bought. The mileage is unknown and the car has a ton of blowby...
How would I determine this? I would assume that it would involve removing the injectors and doing a traditional style compression test.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott98 View Post
The only explanation I can come up with is if you put a thinner non-diesel rated oil in the engine, it will burn it up almost instantly. Make sure you have nothing but that in the car before you start drawing conclusions about your oil consumption.

Good luck,

Scott
I'll watch the oil consumption this week after adding the Rotella. I read through the owner's manual on the car about oil and at that time I concluded that it didn't have to be specifically for diesels, so I got the cheapo 10w-40. But I plan on running only Delo or Rotella,... especially after hearing this.

Thanks Scott!

Jeff
__________________
1981 MB 240D - 280K miles (My Iraqi LAPC )



My stable also includes:
2003 Honda Odyssey - Wife's van
1976 IH Scout 2 - SUV recovery vehicle
1967 Dodge W200 - The big block hauler (440/4sp.)
1966 Dodge D100 - The Redneck Racecar (440/727)
1925 Dodge Roadster - My electric car canidate

True health starts here
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  #11  
Old 12-09-2006, 11:10 AM
AHH,What's up Doc????
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,212
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wyle E. Coyote View Post
I've only had my car a week and it has already used a quart of oil. Is this normal?

I checked the level right before my last fill-up and it was down a quart, so I topped it off. Yesterday I thought I'd check it again and it was down a quart again. I haven't even gone through a tank of fuel yet (since getting the car home). I'll look for leaks later today, but I have not noticed any puddles or other tell-tale signs that there is a problem.

Your help is greatly appreciated, thanks.
You don't say what kind of miles are on the car and I guess there is nothing on the ground from leaks? First, make sure you are using a really good quality "C" rated diesel engine oil! "S" ratings are for gas engines and even though you may pour an "S" rated oil in during emergencies, it's not at all good to use for any extended period of time! It is to thin and will burn up faster than a tourist here in Phoenix in August!!!! I also pour in some Bardahl No Smoke because it makes a really good upper cylinder lubricant! I use Valvoline diesel blue and Lucas oil extender or Bardahl and don't really consume much oil. I've got 121,000 on my E240D and 143,000 on my E300D!
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  #12  
Old 12-09-2006, 11:15 AM
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Modern 10w40, by virtue of an equivalent mil-spec, basically meets the requirements for diesel rated oil of 20+ years ago, so, it's not really poison to an old MB. It's just that modern 15w40 is so vastly superior compared to what was available back then that there is no reason to use the 10w40, especially considering the small price difference.
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  #13  
Old 12-09-2006, 11:17 AM
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[QUOTE=How would I determine this? I would assume that it would involve removing the injectors and doing a traditional style compression test. [/QUOTE]

Take off the oil cap on your valve cover while the engine is running and see how much smoke comes out. A car with no blowby will have no smoke. A car with a little blowby will have a little smoke. Mine acts like there's a five alarm fire! You can also just rest the oil cap on the valve cover, the less it dances, the less blowby you have. Don't get too worked up about it though. These cars can still run well even if you have a fair amount of blowby.

Quote:
Originally Posted by I'll watch the oil consumption this week after adding the Rotella. I read through the owner's manual on the car about oil and at that time I concluded that it didn't have to be [I
specifically[/I] for diesels, so I got the cheapo 10w-40. But I plan on running only Delo or Rotella,... especially after hearing this.
Keep us posted on what happens. I've only recently refilled mine and it's still too early for me to tell if that is what the problem was but that's what its looking like.

Scott
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1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)
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  #14  
Old 12-28-2006, 10:38 PM
Geeeeenious
 
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Post OK, time for an update!

I committed myself to updating everyone when I had a change, so here it is:

I've put several hundred miles on the car (75% highway at reasonable speeds) since I last wrote here, and still have yet to change the oil. Maaaaaaaaaybe this weekend. I know, ten lashes with a wet noodle. Anyway, The oil consumption is at what I would consider a more normal level. I've probably ran 3 tanks of fuel through it and it finally used a quart when I checked it tonight.

Then I decided to do Scott's blow-by test. The engine was not yet up to temperature (it ran for 3-4 mins before I did this), but upon removing the oil fill cap I got only some air pressure. I was actually kinda surprised how much air pressure there was, but no smoke. Soooo,... does that mean that I don't have blow-by (because of the lack of oil smoke), or have I been awake too long again?

Thanks to everyone in advance.
__________________
1981 MB 240D - 280K miles (My Iraqi LAPC )



My stable also includes:
2003 Honda Odyssey - Wife's van
1976 IH Scout 2 - SUV recovery vehicle
1967 Dodge W200 - The big block hauler (440/4sp.)
1966 Dodge D100 - The Redneck Racecar (440/727)
1925 Dodge Roadster - My electric car canidate

True health starts here
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  #15  
Old 12-28-2006, 11:03 PM
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3 tanks of fuel per quart sounds perfectly normal to me. And what does the oil pressure guage say at hot idle? Blowby is nearly impossible to measure accurately. The oil cap test is about as accurate as kicking the tires to test air pressure. Dancing oil caps also 'diagnose' condition of the engine mounts. And the amont of 'smoke' indicates outside air temperature in Wintertime as well.

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