What about the blowby?

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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 did this test today and found the motor would run about 10 seconds with the hose capped.

Any other measurements out there to compare to?

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MJMoon
'83 300SD 460,000 miles (+ 3 years w/odo not working)

Cap the valve cover breather hose while the engine is running. If the motor builds enough pressure to stop running in under 5 seconds, the theory is that the valve guides and/or rings are worn past their useful life.

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MJMoon
'83 300SD 460,000 miles (+ 3 years w/odo not working)

good point. In my excitment of finding the loud noise, I forgot all about the blow-by. I will do this test real quick and post the results.

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Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

You know there's some danger of blowing out seals with that test. It's also somewhat unreliable because the quality of the test depends on having solid deals throughout the crankcase.

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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

Diesel2theMoon, I did the test as per your instruction. I capped the breather hole on the valve cover and started counting. It took about 25 seconds for the engine to die. When I let my thumb off the hole a HECK of a whole lot of pressure was released.

So how does that score? Please tell me what this means please?

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Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

Either you don't have a lot of blowby or you have a leaky seal.

__________________
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

Hopfully I'm all good then... I did not realize that the blow-by test could possibly damage a seal but, already done. It feels good to know it's in normal range though. I have driven this car for a little over three years now and I have never had any trouble from the engine. It's always been so rock solid. The car itself however is falling apart around the engine

I'll be installing a new brake booster next. Mine is slowly dying. I now feel that it is a safty hazard and must be replaced right away.

Front suspension will be my next big project. I will be replacing the steering gear box(already purchesed $325) as well as a number of bushings I'm sure. Then get it aligned.

After that it should be mostly cosmetics.

Thanks everyone for your insite and help!

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Cousin Dave
83' 300SD 250k+ and going strong!

Take the best that exists, make it better!
If it doesn't exist, create it!
Accept nothing nearly right or good enough!

I thought that was why you unscrewed the oil fill cap and looked at its dancing for an indication, as that prevents the dangerous pressure build-up.
-nB

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'83 300D Turbo
Current: ???K mi - 19.2mpg -> 17.4mpg -> 22.9mpg ---> ODO Died
bought at: 233.8K mi - 10MPG For $1.00
3.5 cylinders work: 320 320 100 340 280
Got insurance? FarmersReallySucks.Com

..........you'll be there with your thumb on the hose for three days waiting for it to shut down........

No, I mean that was the point. The pressure buildup causes both the shutdown and the damage. By doing the "tea kettle" method using the oil fill cap, there is no damage to the engine (no shutdown either), but you still get a feel for the ammount of blow-by based on how much the fill cap dances.
-nB

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'83 300D Turbo
Current: ???K mi - 19.2mpg -> 17.4mpg -> 22.9mpg ---> ODO Died
bought at: 233.8K mi - 10MPG For $1.00
3.5 cylinders work: 320 320 100 340 280
Got insurance? FarmersReallySucks.Com

The cars can idle for 3 days?

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Yes, I agree.

Checking blowby using the oil fill cap is preferable to plugging the crankcase and timing how long it takes to build enough pressure to shut the engine down. The latter procedure proves nothing and has a certain element of risk.

........of course.........provided one of your girlfriends goes for fuel periodically........

What makes you think the brake booster needs to be replaced? I bought a front end rebuild kit that has everything for $300 or so with shipping.

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1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
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