I have a question about my 1979 240D, original OM616 engine. The valve cover has a hose that goes from the top of the valve cover directly into the intake manifold, right under the air cleaner. I think that a decent amount of oil is going through this hose and is being burned in the engine. When I look into the manifold I can see standing oil down in it. I took the air cleaner off and there is oil buildup all around the top of the manifold. The engine has pretty good blowby, but not enough to blow the oil cap off if it is unscrewed. It smokes a little when it is cold, kind of a grey smoke. Doesn't really smell like oil as much as just strong diesel scent. Still, I burn a quart every 400 miles or so, and I wonder how much is just going into the intake.

Anyway, can I get an oil seperator for this car? Was/is one stock on this engine? If anyone else has had a similar situation I would love to hear about it. It would be nice to not drink so much oil too, if this is really where it is going. Thanks for your advice.

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

You may be losing a lot of oil through the valve stem seals.

On my 1974 240D I am losing about a quart every 100 miles which is unacceptable. I drive 40 miles a day and that's way too much. I used a ebay oil separator with 1/2 inch nozzles attached to the catch can which routes the CCV line to the can and then back out to the intake manifold which aspirates the oil back into the cylinders. It separates a fair amount of oil but I can't tell how much since the dang catch can isn't sealed properly and it's a greasy mess.

The post 1979 cars have a cyclonic oil separator which has an air in and air out with a drain at the base. Your car doesn't have the proper manifold and mounting to allow for the return oil line to the oil pan. You can rig up a catch tank and periodically empty it.

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

With my '79 240D I've very loosely packed a little stainless steel wool inside the gallery in the valve cover before the breather pipe opening. That's wide mesh stainless steel wool, same as you find in oil bath air filters. It collects some of the oil from vapor and then flows it back to the valve train. At about 190k miles oil consumption is at/less than 1 qt. @ 1,000 miles or 1 qt = 2 tanks of fuel for mine. I keep a gallon oil container under the hood and it usually lasts 2-3 months, never filling beyond the median point between the marks on the stick.

Upgrade to include an oil separator requires you drill the sump to accomodate the downspout tube. Then where are you going to mount the OS? Probly you will need the entire package including manifold from later model parts car.

BTW, your '79 manifolds are highly desirable and worth money to somebody who wants to bypass the EGR of later models.

Doesn't that steel wool have a chance of falling down into the valve cover?
I may just get a seperator and fill a jug up. Would it be *really* stupid to dump this back into the engine?

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

The gallery reaches the length of the valve cover. This is 1/8" wide mesh steel wool, it doesnt fall apart. The jug deal might not be a bad idea. But after your valve seals go, then guides and valve seats soon follow.

DiametricalBenz, I think you're crazy not to jump on fixing those seals. If it's not too late for the guides, can be done without pulling the cyl head. 115 body style 240D engines are becoming scarce. And fixing those seals can easily add another 100k miles of life to the engine. Hell an easy valve job including seats, guides, seals also timing chain would probly add another 200k.