Ok here's the deal I have a 83' 300D turbo diesel with a rather strange and undiagnosable oil leek that has been quit a nucence for a month or so. It seems to be leaking from the bottom of the instrument cluster. When I noticed the first little black drop I imedeitley removed the drivers side under paneling and only discovered a bigger mess of saturated padding surrounding the cluster directly below the Oil pressure gauge. My first thought was the retaining nut was loose (wrong). still leaking, I inspected the hose, no sign of cracks or wear. The oil seems to maby leaking out inside the cluster, when taken on longer trips I can see the oil leaking into the clear section below the gauges were all the light are located were it collects and leeks out as well. Considering non of the lights have been shorted out, My guess is that is is all inside the cluster (but why?) The oil pressure drops to 0 or alittle above when car idol's and returns to 3 when the accelerator is pressed If any person has had, herd or even seen this problem your comments will be greatly appreciated.

Bad oil pressure guage. Replace it.

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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

You can buy an entire instrument cluster off eBay, use the oil pressure third, replace any burned out bulbs, rheostat, and have spare items left over.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

There is another thread somewhere in the archives, about black liquid dripping from the dash. Try a search, and see if you can find it. There were all kinds of theories.

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1987 Mercedes 300D ~200K (Greasecar & Biodiesel)
1993 Ford F-250 7.3 IDI diesel 165K (Biodiesel)
1996 Thomas/International Bus with DT466 engine

My oil pressure gauge was bad before I bought the car, what a mess . I bought a whole cluster on Ebay for 49$. replacement was easy. The clean up took forever. My carpets were soaked with oil. Castrol Super Clean was the only product that got the oil out.

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'83 240D 264k on 100% biodiesel/ 31mpg
83 300D 217K the $800 gem
'82 300D 267K the new WVO project car finished and driving for free
International tractor B275 on B100
Ford 555 backhoe on B100
Sargent 25 ton Rough Terrain crane on B50

The easiest solution is to find a replacement oil/temp/fuel gauge that doesn't leak. Look for a used one from a 83-85 W123 240D or 300D. The 82 and earlier gauges have a chrome dot that will not match your other gauges.

10 years ago when we bought the 85, I had the leaky oil problem. mess
behind the dash, oil dripping on my shoes. took it to the MB shop, guy
said it was the oil gauge. ok, fix it. $344.00 for the gauge, plus labor .
that won`t happen again.

likes the others said, try E-bay, or wonder through your local picky pull.
be nice if we could switch over the the 126 electric gauge.
I think pp the price for instrument panel is $30.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works