Hello All!

This summer, I replaced the vacuum pump on my 1987 300d as a preventative measure. More accurately, my mechanic replaced it because I thought it would no big deal since he was replacing the front crank seal and the vacuum pump was right there (not so, apparently, cost me $250 ).

Anyways, when I went to pick the car up (and after the $250 sticker shock) I asked him if he removed the Injection Pump Timing Basket, as the gasket that came with the Vacuum Pump was the dam gasket. He said 'No", but everything should be fine and the cam disk was fine and not damaged.

Needless to say,the vacuum pump began to leak and I took the car back under warranty. I picked the car up and he had taken out the Injection Pump Timing Basket and, again, said the cam disk was fine and I should have no more oil leaks with the basket removed.

Fast forward on month...the Vacuum Pump is again leaking. I suspected that, since the gasket was metal, that the mechanic simply reused the gasket when I took the car in for warranty,and that the gasket was damaged as a result of being used with the Injection Pump Timing Basket. Is this a correct assumption?

Again, I take the car back, as it should be covered under warranty. I get a call back saying that the oil leak is not coming from the gasket, but that the diaphragm on the vacuum pump is bad...Mind you the mechanic did not take the vacuum pump off, but merely inspected it while the car was raised. The mechanic said that diaphragm leaks on these cars are common, and that it is common for new vacuum pumps to leak at the diaphragm and that I shouldn't worry about it...needless to say I am skeptical.

Tonight I reached my hand under the vacuum pump to feel where most of the oil was coming from...there was very little on the vacuum pump where the cover meets the body of the pump, but there was a ton of oil where the pump meets the engine.

Did my mechanic lie to me? Did he just to want to deal with it again and guessed that I wouldn't know better? What should be my next steps? I was thinking of ordering another gasket and doing the work myself...is it really common for new vacuum pumps to leak from the diaphragm with only about 100 miles on it?

frustrated is a nice way to explain how i feel...any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

It depends on what brand pump you got.

Pierburg... no. China? Maybe.

Since you know it's leaking at the motor. .. I recommend pulling it.

It's not terribly difficult. Do yourself a favor. .. change the belt tensioner while you're in there...

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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 did not think that the 1987 300d had a Vacuum Pump that has a Diaphragm. If it does can someone verify that.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Yes, Pierburg! I learned to buy quality parts! Thanks for the advice about the belt tensioner!

@Diesel911...interesting...

No diaphragm if its a Pierburg.

When he put the dam gasket in with the basket in place, he would have had to trim the gasket around the basket mounting bolts, otherwise the pump would never mount flush. If he did that correctly, there would have been no problem. I won't hazard a guess as to what he actually did, but if you install a conventional gasket, everything should be fine. It's easy enough to do yourself, and then you will know exactly what's going on.