I have the outside cleaned up pretty well but with all the wire brushing and such I fear I may have contaminated the oil passages. What liquid is suitable for cleaning the insides without messing anything up too badly?

617.xx engine.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Mounted on the engine or on the bench?

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

Kerosene or diesel fuel

Brake cleaner

AKA "Don't put anything in there you don't want in your oil."

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

It's on the bench right now.

__________________
84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Carb or brake clean on the bench. Then blown dry

Then you can use almost anything... diesel, kerosine, paint thinner, carb cleaner, brake cleaner, gasoline (very carefully), naphtha, alcohol, acetone

When I drilled out my oil cooler for AN fittings, I rinsed it with diesel, flushed it with carb cleaner and blew it with air.

__________________
Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

I have air, carb cleaner and diesel. Thank you, sir.

I think the fear of having this off and knowing that a 1.5mm grain of grit can destroy this engine has me a little gun shy/brain dead.

I stuffed a couple of the passages in the block with rags but didn't stuff one of the passages to the bearings. The entire gasket came off in one piece and I was gentle with the scraper so as not to gouge the mating surface but there was a reside of what was used to hold the old gasket in place.

The scraping was light with a very sharp 1.5" putty knife then a light sanding with oil soaked 320 grit paper. After the cleaning I used a small shop vac to extract anything inside the hole but I'm in fear grit went into that passage.

__________________
84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

If it's fully disassembled, you can clean it safely and without hazardous waste using hot water and diswashing liquid. Blow off the parts and let them sit for a while to allow excess water to evaporate.

Beware the plastic thermostat is brittle, so be VEWRY VEWRY CAREFUL...

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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!

Thanks, I've been careful but I suspect it's still in one piece because I'm lucky.

I have it clean enough, it doesn't shine or glow but it won't get my hands greasy anymore and I can see the bolt holes now.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

Just about center of the photo there's a bit if gasket which is in the middle of the large opening in the filter housing.

Is this a problem and shall I 'adjust,' the gasket a bit? Can I get away with using a little something to stick the gasket to the housing while I line up bolt holes?

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

I'd strongly recommend you ditch that gasket and get a genuine MB gasket.

Notice the difference:



The MB one is way thicker and has a "waffle" surface to really seal.

This is literally the only thing I've ever bought at the local stealership, but it's worth it! ....you won't be sorry

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

NLA, I tried.

__________________
84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic