Hello,
I have an 81 240d. Pretty new to me so I am little scared. I had been reading a couple of threads that said you could tell a little about the engine when you take the oil cap off and look at the amount of smoke coming out.

Well I took mine and I had oil puffing out. Car seems to be peepy and run well. Just hoping that doesnt mean anything bad.

jake

you're supposed to leave the cap in place, just loosen it and see how much it dances around, if it blows off, you have a problem.
open hole over the cam will spray oil...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

John,

Thanks, I started reading other stuff that said I could have a bad engine and got al ittle scared. So you leave the cap on. It danced but didnt come off. then I took it off and caused a mess.

Jake

sounds good to me.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I've certainly taken the oil fill cap completely off before to check for blowby. On a TD I was considering, it was chuffing smoke like an old time locomotive. I haven't noticed much oil coming out when I do it at idle.

__________________
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

Yeah pull it off and not only will splatters come out, but whipped up oil mist will come out.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

On the early diesels the cam gear is right under the cap , thats why oil comes out.

There are vids on youtube & perhaps dieselgiant.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

If you really want to know the condition of your engine in general... you need to do a compression test and a leak down test.....
If it runs peppy just read up on regular maintenance... like adjusting the valves..and changing your oil properly ( research the hole and o rings on the tube inside the oil filter )..and just enjoy your car.... the 'tea kettle test' is not anywhere in the FActory Shop Manual in any form or fashion....

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

X2 leathermang


Jake,

If your car starts easy & runs well with little oil use, just enjoy the drive !!
When people start to tinker for no good reason they risk messing things up in a big way. Nothing you have posted suggests that you have a bad motor. Set the valves & give it an oil change & filter & it will be sweet.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

It seems a lot of these old mercedes diesels get better the more you drive them but i have noticed that fuel quality plays a part too . if the car smokes and everything is adjusted properly, try buying your fuel somewhere else. I once bought a tank full of fuel and within 20kms the vehicle was smoking really heavily . It turned out later,that owner of the gas station had been buying used turpentine and was adding it to the fuel . He was prosecuted for this .