Hey all, I could use a little insight. I think my wife's 300D may be history. Two weeks ago I topped off the oil and other fluids for her before leavinfg for Elk camp. The oil was about 1 1/2 qts low, but she had been driving it quite a bit so I wasn't too worried. Well, she drove it about 500 ish miles during the next week. Last Monday she was driving and the car started making a "clicking noise" (her description) and struggling up the hill. She pulled off the highway and into a parking lot, where the engine died. She said that it would crank, but not turn over. I got back from hunting and checked the vehicle on Wednesday. It was about 4 qts low on oil . I topped it off and got it to start, it ran rougher than usual for a couple of minutes, then made a metallic clanking noise and shut off. My wife said that she did not notice unusual smoking (neither did her boss, who drove behind her several times during the week) and she checking where she had been parking and did not see any oil. I looked the car over and I did not see any evidence of anything more than the usual small drips. She also said that the oil pressure was fine until she was pulling off the freeway, then it started to drop. She also said that it did not overheat at all. Sorry for the long post, but I have two questions. How could it have gone through that much oil in that short a period without being noticeable, and do you think the engine is completely shot or is it repairable? This is a cheap daily driver and I don't want to put too much into repairs. thanks for any help.

By your description it sounds like it threw a rod. On both of my turbos I lose oil from the breather hose on top. Like a quart every 3 weeks, but it marks its territory everywhere I go.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Sounds ominous. Metallic clanking noises are not part of the typical Diesel symphony you get hooked on when you drive these machines.

Does it still turn over with the starter? I get the same peculiar notation from my wife. Cranking and turning over are the same thing to me, while my wife has the impression turning over means it is starting or has started or something meaning the starter motor function was ok, and the next step happened or didn't.

If you threw a rod the engine is likely toast. Not a common event in these cars as far as I know. I would start looking for a replacement engine if the rest of the car is mechanically and cosmetically in good shape. A fresher engine can be found at a variety of rebuilding and refurbishing places, and we recently saw a very nice 240D engine, still in the factory crating go for relative peanuts on EBay. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

My engine survived an oil loss through a bad oil cooler hose last winter. I drove 1/4 mile before I noticed the oil pressure loss. When I refilled it and temporarily patched the hose, it nearly killed the battery getting it started again. I'm sure it's due to the drying of the oil rings around the pistons, and the resulting compression loss. I didn't get any of the noises you are reporting though. My engine still starts and runs as smooth as it ever has, hopefully I didn't limit it's life too much.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

Slow down guys....

Metallic noise and loss of oil can also be a failed vacuum pump or drive messing with the timing chain. That is the easiest and cheapest thing to start looking at first, if that looks ok, drop the front lower oil pan and look in the bottom of the engine with a flashlight, if it tossed a rod youll see it, and if it ran dry enough on oil to hurt anything, you'll smell it (burnt oil has a very noticeable odor).

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Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

If it tosses a rod it usually will come out the side of the block with pretty catastrophic results, dumping all the oil on the ground in few seconds.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

if in fact the engine was running with little or no oil pressure, you could have wiped out the rod or main bearings. This would usually cause a knocking sound when the engine is running. Another possibility could be the pistons themselves. Without proper oil pressure, they can score easily, which in turn can cause a piston slap noise. I wish you luck with your problem, but if either of these conditions exist, there is no easy or cheap fix.....Good luck

Even 4 quarts low it still had another 3 in there for lubrication. Try turning the engine over by hand (using crank). If there is no noticeable hangup or clacking try cracking all the fuel lines and using the starter to turn it over. Then I would do as mustang man suggested.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

81 is a non-turbo with the early vacuum pump, right?? If so, a failed vacuum diaphragm could be causing oil to be sucked into the air filter. It would account for the oil loss and if the vacuum pump has other problems, it could account for the metallic sound. If it is the early pump, it has a plastic line going from the pump to the top of the oil filter. Check for evidence of oil inside. One forum member couldn't see evidence of oil when his failed but once he started the engine, he could see oil being pushed thru the hose.
I don't see any evidence that the engine lost oil pressure. There were 3 quarts in there and dropping oil pressure is normal as the car comes to idle.
Have you tried to start the engine again to locate the metallic sound?

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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

When I checked it and found the oil to be low, I added the 4 qts and was able to start it. It ran a bit rougher than usual, but it ran nonetheless for a couple of minutes. Then there was the metallic sound for a couple of seconds and it shut down. Definately did not throw a rod, at least not through the side of the block. I am going to work on it this weekend. I will check the timing chain and vacuum pump as well as the bottom end and valve train. I will report back what I find. I sure hope it isn't shot, I bought this thing as a cheap commuter for my wife, but I have become quite fond of it. Even if the engine is toast, I may just tuck it under a tarp for awhile until I can put a new engine in it.....