Hi, I have an 84 300D that I was letting a friend borrow it for the last month or so. They parked it in a parking garage in around -6 F temp and it failed to start. It was just now due for an oil change. I looked at the oil dipstick and I ad to wipe the slate clean to get a good reading and stuck it back in. When I pulled it out I got nothing. The dipstick was dry. I decided to pull the plug to see if it was frozen and if nothing would come out. I pulled the plug completely out and only a few drips of sludge came out. Does this mean that there is no oil in it or can the oil freeze? I have it plugged into a block heater now but it is the first time that I have used it. I have read to hear for the hissing sound and I am getting ready to check that. Any ideas on if oil can freeze at these temps will be a big help as I am worried to death that it was out of oil. OK thanks, Alex

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'76 300D Euro Model 4sp Manual 108k
'83 300D 4sp Manual Conversion

Oil won't freeze but if somehow water got into the pan it could freeze. Either way its a good thing it didn' t start because running without oil is the kiss of death in a very very short time for an engine.

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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.

The oil is too thick, you must heat the engine, and change to synthetic 0W40 until ambient temperature remains above 60F = spring/early summer.

Cold weather starting links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/137674-cold-weather-starting-links.html#post1018529


Have a great day

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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

what kind of oil?

diesel rated? weight?

what fuel?

wvo can lead to polymerization.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Is anybody else thinking that, cold or not, summer-weight or not, dino or not, at that temperature the oil should definitely have moved out of the pan (if it was there) when the drain plug was COMPLETELY removed? I can't imagine oil literally not being able to flow without it being colder than that.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

oil can be incredibly viscous at these temps but to the best of my knowledge cannot freeze completely. I would check your oil filter and see what it looks like I''m in the indy area if you need any help. And stay warm!!!!!! My car had problems starting yesterday.... Just to cold.

Sounds like your friend didn't check the oil and simply let her run dry. I wonder what it sounded like before it was shut down.

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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"

Hi, A few followups... I ran the block heater for 3 hours and still got no reading on the dipstick. I was running rotella 15W40. Also to clarify a bit when I pulled the drain plug I did not leave it out for long but I was expecting a gush and only got a few gloops. The Rotella out of the jug was thick. Another strange thing is that I added maybe a quart of oil and still got nothing on the dipstick. Usually when I put ant oil into a car it runs all over the dipstick. I towed it home so today Im goint to try to fill it up and see if the oil passes through the bottom.

I would also like to know if anyone has any thoughts on bustedbenz's question "Is anybody else thinking that, cold or not, summer-weight or not, dino or not, at that temperature the oil should definitely have moved out of the pan (if it was there) when the drain plug was COMPLETELY removed? I can't imagine oil literally not being able to flow without it being colder than that."

OK thanks, Alex

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'76 300D Euro Model 4sp Manual 108k
'83 300D 4sp Manual Conversion

Yikes! Only glops of oil sludge? I assume it cranks over?

5W40 oil rated CH/4 or better for diesels.

I would be hesitant (if not outright unwilling) to lend my car to any friend who cannot be bothered to check the oil now and then! This means to me that this is someone who really doesn't care.

The thickness of the oil would have nothing to do with it not showing up on the dipstick. In cold weather, it will usually take some time for the oil you added to work its way down to the pan, but it will get there. If, after adding a quart, and you are still not getting a reading, it means there is very little oil if any in the pan. Between the results you got when you removed the drain plug, and the fact that nothing is showing up on the dipstick, I would guess that your friend ran the car dry, but that is just a guess. Good luck

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96 E300d

This is just not making much sense to me. If your "friend" ran the engine this dry, seems to me that it would have completely seized or suffered catastrophic failure with at least a quart or two of oil in it. Yet it was driven and parked where it was supposed to be....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

When you get it home, not only
plug it in, but also try to get
a work light under it to heat it up
so oil will flow a little smoother.

Hope that it was just run very low
and not out altogether........

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Hope your car is okay my offer for help still stands. Good Luck!

Interesting video on pour points of oil. I'm sure it's mostly just Mobil propaganda, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtxqf5OFTU

Considering how thin Mobil 1 is at room temperature, it's amazing how much it solidified at -40.

Regardless, I would think you should still see some oil on the dipstick.

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

The block heater will not heat the oil, only the coolant. you will need a pan heater for the oil. I use a magnetic one.

No oil on the stick is not a good sign, I wonder if you friend had it towed into the parking spot?

This a good lesson to not loan out your vehicles, no one will take care of your property like you will. It`s like loaning money, if you can afford to lose it, then loan it.

You say your friend had it for a month I think you said. was the oil at that time where it is suppose to be on the stick? do you have leaks? or is this engine using a lot of oil?

So what is your use to be friend driving now?

best thing is to drain out what ever will come out, replace the filter and dump in some fresh oil and see what happens. see if the oil pressure comes up.

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

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