Am I the only one fed up with the 617? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JB3 · #1 03-02-2016, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike-81-240d

Maybe I'm just trying to vent here, but I've about had it with my 617a in my wagon. I used to have great luck with my 300D's both non turbo and turbo. However this 300TD is testing my patience daily. Constant oil leaks, smokes like a maersk alabama when cold starting, eats turbos for breakfast, hiccups at idle, constantly loosens belts, etc.

I want to rip the engine out and throw a OM602 in it's place, the body is in amazing shape for a driver condition wagon and has great local history but this is the worst om61x I've ever owned.

Anyone else fed up with the OM61X engines, or am I a party of one?

-Mike
'81 300TD 4 speed

You are pretty isolated. Its an old motor but gratifyingly indestructible.

Eating turbos is a unique problem.

Reseal the engine, smoke and hiccups probably related, and sounds like you need to look at the tensioners for your Vbelts if they are constantly loosening

leathermang · #2 03-02-2016, 11:16 PM

Turbo's are really simple and most people on here have no problems with them... IF your engine and turbos do not seem to be compatible I would sure look at the oil flow available to the turbo from the engine....

t walgamuth · #3 03-03-2016, 05:56 AM

Smoke on startup also can be from leaky injectors.

The 616 617 motors are as close to bulletproof mechanically as any engine ever made. Once they are gotten right they will run with minimum maintenance for decades.

I love them.

Sounds like yours is knackered, probably due to not being taken care of properly. Maybe its been run on WVO which is particularly destructive, or just run on dirty or low oil.

gatorblue92 · #4 03-03-2016, 06:50 AM

My OM616 is one of the trouble free spots on my 240D.

OM617YOTA · #5 03-03-2016, 10:12 PM

My 617 has caused me more headaches than smiles.

Given the praise received on this board, I have clearly had an exceptional experience, but I very seriously doubt I will ever own another. Could have bought a SBC and rebuilt it three times for the cost and hassle I've had with my 617.

t walgamuth · #6 03-03-2016, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM617YOTA

My 617 has caused me more headaches than smiles.

Given the praise received on this board, I have clearly had an exceptional experience, but I very seriously doubt I will ever own another. Could have bought a SBC and rebuilt it three times for the cost and hassle I've had with my 617.

Sorry to hear that!

JB3 · #7 03-04-2016, 06:46 AM

To me the 61X series engines remain the only ones in my experience that can sit forever in horrid conditions and still fire up with some basic tinkering and elbow grease.

I have had many 61X engines start in fields with a battery, some fresh diesel, and a little tinkering

babymog · #8 03-04-2016, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

To me the 61X series engines remain the only ones in my experience that can sit forever in horrid conditions and still fire up with some basic tinkering and elbow grease.

I have had many 61X engines start in fields with a battery, some fresh diesel, and a little tinkering

This one took a battery, R&R of a seized starter, a little starting fluid on 7y/o fuel and it hadn't been run in 7years, ... didn't even have an oil cap on the cam cover or an engine cover. Isuzu diesel. Diesels are easy as these old beasts are mechanical: suck-squish-squirt-boom-go. Not much changes if it isn't seized and the fuel is reasonably good.

(when I bought R2, and today)

Clemson88 · #9 03-04-2016, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Sorry to hear that!

So there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes?

benzguy300 · #10 03-05-2016, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemson88

So there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes?

Unless you want it for parts

jbach36 · #11 03-12-2016, 11:07 PM

If you're having a lot of problems with it, and you've been doing the repairs yourself, maybe get a mechanic who can find the root causes and knock 'em out once and for all. It's a drag both financially and mentally and with respect to time to have a car that constantly has issues. If you're not a mechanic who can knock out the root of the problems, might be cheaper to spend the money on one, take the car to him, tell him to fix everything that's wrong with it and be done. Then you can drive the car with confidence and enjoy it like you're supposed to. Get your fluids all changed, seals changed where need be, etc.

I'm surprised by how many people don't do the little things like changing fluids. Rear axle fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid (I use Prestone Stop Leak, just suck out all your old fluid and put that in), washer wiper rubber seal will eventually dry rot and leak (it's like a $3 seal), change your fuses from those old pitted aluminum ones to the new copper ones to clear up any electrical problems. The rubber seals and hoses are the biggest thing to me. I've had some leak and or weep over the years. Rubber fuel hoses, etc. These are cheap things to fix and easy DIY projects. I saw one guy's engine on his 1984 300d and I was appalled. It was a mess! Fuel and oil all over it. I asked him...if your car had a problem, how would you be able to see it??? Clean your engine!! It costs $4 to get Engine Brite. If I have a leak, I can spot it EARLY before it becomes a big problem. I'd rather replace a 50 cent O-ring than have a bigger problem later!

If you don't want to spend the money on a mechanic, maybe find an EXPERIENCED mobile mechanic. I've saved a lot of money with mine. Though he's a general mechanic who works on different types of cars, he can figure out a lot of things on mine and is usually successful on fixing things. When he doesn't know, he tells me.

Good luck.

Mölyapina · #12 03-12-2016, 11:18 PM

I think some of the complaints in this thread need to be viewed in the context that the newest OM617 is now 31 years old... way beyond any typical design life for any passenger-car engine.

sloride · #13 07-11-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mölyapina

I think some of the complaints in this thread need to be viewed in the context that the newest OM617 is now 31 years old... way beyond any typical design life for any passenger-car engine.

What shape will the majority of Eco-Boost engines in use today be in, in 2047?

barry12345 · #14 07-11-2016, 12:06 PM

These cars are not for everyone. For example if an individual told me he had to use only paid for service. I might discourage them from the acquisition.

How we deal with problems of all sorts is partially by mental attitude. Also if a car is needed in everyday constant service. The prime car perhaps should not be really old if not in prime mechanical condition.

As for your belt problem. Inspect and eliminate any rust in your pulleys. V belts were replaced with serpentine because of the need for adjustment. It is automatic with serpentine.

At the same time a vee belt system well maintained gives decent intervals between the need for attention. I have had them eat belts and require far too many adjustments when the pulleys are not really good.

mike-81-240d · #15 03-03-2016, 07:34 AM

A little backstory on the car.

It's a 1981 with approx 250k miles, maybe less. I had to swap to a mechanical speedohead from the original electronic speedometer when I did the transmission swap. The car hasn't ever been ran on veg. I'm the third owner, the second owner was meticulous to the point of a full fuel log in the door pocket with odometer read out and mpg at each fillup.

I've owned the car over 3 years and 50k miles, and I've done valve adjustments, engine mounts, engine shocks, oem valve cover gasket, egr delete exhaust manifold, grezzar monark 265 injectors, new injector hardlines, constant fuel filters, alda delete, manifold gaskets, adjusted the rack damper, etc. I've tried to do everything right on this car, and I use all OE and lemforeder parts.

The whole turbo situation is a interesting one to say the least. My original Garrett ground it's compressor wheel clean off (I chalk that up to my dad leaving a nut in the intake). I then replaced that with a used K26 off of eBay, the k26 lasted for about a year before it started smoking then came audible noise. So with the k26 in the dumpster I put out a mayday call to everyone local to me for a stock turbo, as I was trying to make a car rally event that I've been attending for 6 years. User justpassinthru told me over the phone that he had a stock Garrett he'd sell me, he came over but it turned out he forget he in fact had a holset hx30w that he bought off of winmutt. In a bit of a pickle I said I'd take it (regret). The holset was a smelly leaky mess, even with a fresh chra. I just put a factory low mileage Garrett on with my egr less manifold, and it is so nice to have a stock turbo again.

The trans swap has been smooth sailing for over a year now, I had a issue with two clutch slaves dying prematurely, but I finally wised up and ordered a OE slave cylinder. The trans swap is buttery smooth to drive. The only corner I cut on that was not hooking up the reverse lights, but I'm running euro 3 piece bumpers so I don't even have reverse lights.

I'm going to replace all of the rubber fuel line in a bid to cure the hiccuping, but if that doesn't solve it I'll start looking around for a used injection pump. The car was never ran on wvo, but it was ran on pump bio.

I'm also contemplating doing a mild refresh of the engine. Probably re-ring it, valve stem seals, valve job, head remachine, timing chain, tensioners. My dad is currently putting his om616 back together after all of the above due to a vacuum pump failure. So he already has the vital tools like for the head bolts.

-Mike