Is My Engine Toast?
 

After replacing the leaky oil pan on my cheap non-running mechanic's yard 1980 240d, I was all set to fill it with oil and try to turn it over, when 3 quarts into it, more oil leaked out. I found this tiny hole that I had missed. It looks like it's coming from the engine block by the fan. I also found a thin metal scrap in the oil pan about 1"x.5"x.5mm and one about the size of a bb. Does this mean that the engine's dead? Can it be rebuilt with a new block? Or welded? What could cause such a puncture?:confused:

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/phae1017/?action=view&current=DSCF0054.jpg

this is toast

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...rx24/toast.jpg



ooo that doesnt look good.. but... If im correct the upper oil pan is replaceable

I do not know what the debris could be.. got a pic?

metal parts in the pan is never a good thing, a hole is even worse.
pull the pan and see what you find.

That's good to hear that the hole is in the upper oil pan and that it can be replaced. Unfortunately, there may be something else wrong with the engine besides this hole because of these metal shards. Vstech, do you mean removing the upper oil pan? Is this easy?

Here's one of the 2 smaller fragments, the larger one was the same thickness and color, more jagged and folded in on itself.
http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/phae1017/?action=view&current=DSCF0059.jpg

I'm just trying to figure out how in the world a hole was punched right there!
It appears to have come from inside the engine, punching outwards. In any case, it doesn't look good. Possibly the reason the engine isn't running?

Nice Bimmer, BTW ;)

no just remove the lower one.. err... the one that has the drain hole in it...

Anyone have a part number for an upper oil pan? I'll post what I see (if anything) when I remove the lower pan (again).--within the next 2 days. Thx Biopower, I have a costly attraction to neglected cars :) .

Could it be that the timing chain was really stretched and was wearing against the front cover and wore a hole through it?

no, that hole shows something blowing out.. If my eyes are correct.. if something was rubbing it would have like a cat eye shape to it...

it sounds potentially serious.

tom w

I had the exact same thing on the first engine I put in my Rover. (Same 616) Like you, I didn't notice it until it was in the truck and almost ready to run. With nothing to lose I cleaned it up, applied some epoxy it and hit the switch.

That was back in 2000 and the engine stayed in the truck for four years until another problem forced me to change it out. I did change the timing chain after a year or so and I believe the hole came from something getting caught between the chain and upper pan or maybe even stretch in the chain, but the motor ran fine with the chain that was in it and I never had another problem.

I say clean in, seal it up and go for it.

Anyway, I was just digging back and I still have a picture of the repair. Picture was taken on Feb 1st, 2000.

Jim

http://seriestrek.com/images/oilpanhole.JPG

no harm in trying.

tom w

before you decide to just plug the hole and see how it goes, pull the lower pan and look for larger debris. that chunk could be a piece of rod/crank insert. you may have a spun bearing. SOMETHING got wedged against the timing chain, better to find out what before putting the car into service IMHO.

Well you guys were right on the money--it looks like something got caught between the timing chain and the "upper oil pan" right below the timing chain's lower sprocket. There's some metal worn away below the chain in a patch about .75"x.2" on the lip. So most likely a bearing or something was dancing around down there like a penny in a vacuum then got shot through the metal. Just a theory. I might try to plug it and see how it runs. MercedesRover what kind of epoxy did you use?

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t304/phae1017/?action=view&current=DSCF0064.jpg

edit: no other debris found. But it's very likely that there's a spun bearing or annhiliated insert. Would it be a bad idea to try to start it if this was the case, even if it runs for only a short time?

Hmm...I bet something wedging there is what locked up the original 616 in my 240D. I was cranking it with the starter when BAM...it totally locked up. It had plenty of oil and I never could figure it out.