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Thanks!
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1983 123.133 California - GreaseCar Veg System |
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WOW, just wow....
My 83' 300SD has only one of two belts for the alternator-coolant section, and it recently threw it off. It's still there, just hanging around. I've been driving the car very carefully lately until I could replace the belts. I had no idea how stupid this was!
The frustrating thing is, as soon as I noticed that the car was beginning to get hot while driving (100 C), I called my MB dealership and asked them what the highest temp I could drive at safely, and told him my engine was running at 100 C. He said normal op temp for these engines is 90C and due to the immense Texas heat, 100C might be possible, but alright to drive at. He said if it starts to go above 100C then I should be concerned. Well I've been concerned. I've driven it approx. 30 or so miles with it regularly at 100C and towards the end of my drive to and from work it might hit 110C for 3-5 minutes until I pull into the driveway. I'm replacing the belts today, however, I'm fearful now that I may have damaged the engine. What's you guys' assessment. Is it a pretty good chance I've screwed this engine by tooling around at a regular 100C with peaks at 110C? |
#33
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Edit: you should remember that the guage is based off of where the coolant temp sensor is located, so without circulation the coolant could have gotten even higher without it showing on the gauge.
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TC Current stable: - 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL - 2007 Saturn sky redline - 2004 Explorer...under surgery. Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth Last edited by tbomachines; 06-17-2009 at 01:37 PM. |
#34
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These engines are robust so it's likely you are ok, but you shouldn't drive a car without a functioning water pump unless it's air cooled.
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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 |
#35
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OM618, IMO you may have damaged the engine. Every time it is heated beyond it's design point, and especially without circulation to eliminate hot spots and localized boiling, you run the risk of overstressing the metal and the gasketed joint. These engines have some margin for abuse, and I believe you have used up much of that margin. Incipient cracking may have already begun. Fortunately you have an iron head that has much higher fatigue strength than aluminum (and a lower coefficient of thermal expansion). If you had an aluminum head, I think you'd already know the answer because the car would be in the shop getting a new head gasket at minimum and probably a new head. I think you should be extremely conscientious about maintaining normal cooling temperatures from now on, and perhaps the engine will be OK. Wintertime will be an additional stressor, although you live in a mild climate. Good luck!
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1987 W201 190D |
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Well, not 30 mi. daily. In fact, I went over my driving and calculated it out to be about 18 miles daily for the last three days. So, possibly up to 60 mi total since the alt-coolant belt fell off. It's hit 120C once, and I then pulled over for a couple of hours and let it cool. I think it had hit 120C because most of the water had boiled off. I've kept the water full since that first day and it hasn't gone above 110 since then. It's hit 110 maybe thee times, for about 3-5 minutes each time until I pulled into my driveway. Like I said, I still have one of the V-belts hanging there. I unfortunately can't get it back on because I don't have a wrench to fit up to the upper bolt on the alternator to loosen it up and get the belt around it. I'm waiting on a friend to bring me his wrench set, since I'm too afraid to take the car anywhere to buy wrenches. What will be the first symptoms of a ruined engine from this situation? |
#37
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The first symptoms would be head gasket symptoms. After the belts are on and the cooling system is properly filled and bled, the things to watch for would be coolant loss with no apparent leaks, overpressurization of the cooling system, whitish "smoke" from the exhaust, possibly harder starting and poor idle, water in the oil (milky appearance on dipstick and inside filler cap), oil in the water, continuing overheating with no apparent cause... Stuff like that.
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1987 W201 190D |
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RRGrassi 70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car 13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete. 91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K 90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K |
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