Will still start though.

Happened last night, and of course I was about 20 miles from the nearest town in the Arizona desert! Had it towed and now don't know what to do. It's still 80 miles from home. My local guy tells me that it sounds like internal engine work which sounds expensive to me.

Anybody got any ideas what the problem might be?

Too bad cause it has NO RUST and the ACC system works! ( was rebuilt by the previous owner.)

Thanks in advance

Bert

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

A better description of the failure scenario would be helpful.

A friend of mine 1985 300SD did the same thing, lost oil then nothing but loud noise. In most cases some of the main bearing spin and metal to metal contact takes place. Yes, pull engine and re-build. I've done that on several engine not 617.

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1984 300D, 1972 LT1 Corvette, 2014 Artic White 3LT/Z51 C7, 2013 650i Convertible BMW, 1994 Kawasaki Vulcan, 1992 Yamaha Seca II and 1996 Dodge Ram 2500.

Can anyone tell me what drives the oil pump? I assume it is mechanical. Was wondering if no oil pressure indicated that the cam was no longer turning or something similar.

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

Yes, more detail needed. Grinding before or after oil pressure loss? How many miles? How much oil left in it? How are the oil cooler hoses? Rent a u-haul car trailer and get it home. Use a winch to pull it on to the trailer.

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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

Gears or a chain drive the oil pump.

__________________
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

On the Turbocharged Engines there is a double Row Chain and Sprockets with a Chain Tensioner. A few people have had issues with the Snap Ring that retains the Tensioner Arm and there is some sort of Hair Pin Spring that tensions the Aarm.

The older 617s have an Oil Pump more Simiilar to a gasser Car Engine and it is drivine by Worm Gears between the Vacuum Pump Drive and the Fuel Injection Pump Drive.

I think some one said they had a Pisiton hit one of the Oil Spray Nozzles and break it off causing a loss of Oil Pressure.

The Pressure Relief Valve and the Spring have been known to cause issues. Sometimes the Cap that holds that stuff in comes loose.

No matter what caused the Oil Pressure loss it could be inspected for Metal fragments in the Oil Pan or Oil.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I will follow this thread, hoping to see pictures of the damage found.


.

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Technical Quality Auditor.
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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
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Here's the additional detail:

Earlier in the day, the belt which turnms the power steering pump let go partially. Steering became hard, and the belt was badly damaged though still turning the pump while driving. I stopped at NAPA and bought a new belt and figured to repair it later. Later in the day, while driving at about 60 MPH, I heard a screeching sound which at first sounded like static on the radio. I turned the radio off and it continued. I then noticed that the oil pressure gauge was showing no pressure ( and yes it has always worked). Engine was still running at this point. I stopped the engine, cut off the damaged power steering belt thanking that it might be causing the sound, restarted the engine and could still hear what sounds like metal on metal somewhere on /from the engine. Also checked the temp gauge and it was normal. I only drove it about 1/2 mile after the sound started. I let it sit for about 15 mins while I made calls for help. Then I started the engine again. It was very hard to catch but it did start, I put it in gear, depressed the accelorater and noticed a loss of power though it did move. I turned it off and waited for the tow truck to come get me. 2 hours later when the towing guy dropped me off, I tried to start it again and the battery was weak and it wouldn't start. Put a jump on it and it turned over but didn't want to start. Finally it did start and I drove it maybe 50 feet to park it. My friend said that when it did start there was a small puff of white smoke from the exhaust.

Can;t tell you much other than this is a really nice W116 1979 300SD with only about 125k undocumented miles on it. Hate to send it to the scraper but thn again I really dont' have the $ to invest in it right now. Just bouhgt a new business and am consumed with it.

If anyone has any ideas or recommendations I'd apprec. the input.

Thanks again


Bert

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

PS belt took out an oil cooler hose. That's my hypothesis. Restarting the engine once you knew it had no oil pressure was not good. The 116SD has a mechanical oil pressure gauge. The odds of a failure in the gauge are low. The odds that the engine actually had no oil pressure very high.

__________________
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

I will place a bet on that horse.

reading on the dipstick showed oil was only down 3/4 quart - within the normal operating range. Besides, if it was a hose, why the metal sound and the loss of power?

__________________

1979 300SD 83k miles Astro Silver Metallic/Black leather #3447
1990 350SDL 202k miles (3L engine from an 87 300D)Black/Grey leather
2006 Pleasure-Way Class B MoHo (Sprinter chassis) 134k miles
2005 E320CDI 270k (car is sooo fast - I can't believe it's a diesel!!!)

If an oil cooler hose fails catastrophically while oil is flowing thru it, it reduces oil pressure to the engine as evidenced by lack of oil pressure on the gauge. The lack of power could be a result of the engine seizing up from lack of oil.

__________________
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

Ive seen two engines with a broken oil pump tensioner spring just waiting to grind through the tensioner. Have you pulled the pan?

__________________
1981 300SD 512k OM603

If the oil cooler hose gave up wouldn't there be tell tale signs, like a lot of oil all around the engine bay and underside?

What a sad story if the sd ends up at the scrapper. Couldn't you just cover the car for a while until you source a good used motor? Even if you decide to sell it after, I imagine you will make out a lot better than scrapping the poor thing.

All the best though and hope it works out!