I'm not sure about your baby, but it doesn't sound good about your engine.

Yeah if the starter won't turn it thats probably a bad sign. Wouldn't call that an assumption.;)

at best, you free the pistons and your head is warped or cracked (over heating)

at worst, you get it free and have a bad knock and need a new engine.


If it isnt your DD (hopefully not) you will have a fun project.

While im saddened by this, i also think it might be a fun project:D


Yea, i'm lame pshhhh whatev

I would try what was suggested about pouring a little tranny fluid into the cylinders and see if you cant break it loose. However, I can't lie here and say everything will be alright because the symptoms you describe are not good.:eek: You could save you block since rings usually take up most of the damage, but your going to have to inspect it carefully after taking it apart if you still have problems. If you seized the engine it for sure that your crank and rods are shot.:(

This thread makes me feel so fortunate I caught it when the same thing happened to me. I watch the oil pressure like a hawk now. Oil cooler hoses seem to be a common failure point among 617s as they age.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/216914-horrible-day-texas-road-trip-breakdown.html

Well they should be changed as they get old, I know they are a PITA. But if they fail your engine is shot. Their is no excuse to be running one of these around on 25 year old lines.

Aren't there one or two stories floating around about 616 and 617 engines surviving horrors like this?

Obviously if there's melted parts inside, it'll be an expensive or prohibitively pointless repair. But... if it did un-seize after it cooled... isn't there still a chance?

Someone mentioned something about newer braided stainless steel lines as replacements, but neve mentioned where to get those. Any ideas?

Yes, not a great one, but a chance! Bearings expand as they heat up and without oil, they take most of the damage.

The only ones I heard surviving were 616's. I have a 617.952 that's in boxes now that didn't survive. The bottom end surfers most of the damage. The top end OTH looked fine.

I replaced my lines shortly after getting my car just because I was so paranoid. We're replacing them on the '83SD within a couple months....also out of paranoia.

The top end of the engine probably survives because the bottom end dies so quickly....plus it has residual oil on it even if the flow stops for a few moments.

I had oil cooler lines made for my F100-617 swap at my local hydraulic shop. I plan to have a pair made for my 82 300SD soon, will post the parts list and cost when I do.
Jeff

Bottom line, car is a parts car now. Sorry to say.

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Well....I got home from work and found her safely towed home with puddles of oil underneath. I looked at her for awhile and couldn't find any leaks. Went back in the house to find a flashlight...still no leaks...hmmm. I decided to check the dipstick for any chance there was still even a drop of oil left in her.

Woopsi............the dipstick was not down all the way. I've checked the oil about a hundred times...but I must have been careless and pushed it down a little sideways without looking a couple of days ago. As you all know the dipstick bottoms out if push it in sideways on the white part...about an inch from the actual seal. I considered the possibility of the engine pressure just pushing it out or something, but it seems to much of a coincidence that I just checked the oil two days ago. I am also somewhat surprised that ALL my oil could shoot out of my dipstick. I needed to add around 6 quarts. Does this mean I had a lot of blowby? The car only has 150,000 on it.

Sooo....I tried turning the engine by hand by the power steering pump. The belt is tight enough, but it still just slipped. I then tried starting the engine. It turned, but really slow, then I heard a screeching type metal rubbing sound. So I stopped all that and pulled the glow plugs. Still wouldn't start by hand. But this time it appeared to turn pretty fast (with a lot of diesel flying out of the glow plug holes. So I poured some ATF into it and let it sit.

Don't know if I'll get back at it till after the weekend. For those who missed it. It is (or was) a 82 300cd with 150,000 miles.

I sounds like something failed and caused a lot of crankcase pressure. I may be wrong, but I also can't see the engine spewing all the oil out the dipstick under normal circumstances. I think the crankcase should be under a slight vacuum. So I vote that you had a head gasket or some other failure that would allow enough crankcase pressure to blow out your dipstick (along with the oil).