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  #46  
Old 06-25-2020, 09:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkey View Post
...Here are the numbers(cold obviously):

#1 = 220psi
#2 = 305psi
#3 = 440psi
#4 = 435psi
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkey View Post
...I checked coolant today... same level, and clear, Zerex amber, no sign of oil in coolant, or coolant in the oil..

there is a chance that you have a blown gasket between 1 and 2

all I can say is this: The proper next step is to do leakdown. That's what the shop manual says to do when you have a compression problem and that's what I would do. It's your engine and it's your car.

And If the leakdown shows piston/ring damage then you will save yourself a lot of time trying to fix a head gasket on a possibly bad engine (Although if that's the case then the bore is usually fine so you could just do an in-frame piston swap without removing the engine) but again if you don't do leakdown and just change the gasket you will not know about it.


Last edited by Usaguy; 06-25-2020 at 10:11 PM.
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  #47  
Old 06-26-2020, 07:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkey View Post

Tomorrow I think I will do a quick oil injection on 1 and 2, and see if that makes a difference.


Comments?
I'm not sure if it's worth the trouble. Also, remember that the piston on a diesel engine has a small depression on top that will hold most of the oil you'll pour into the cylinder. You want the oil to reach the piston rings / cylinder wall.
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  #48  
Old 06-26-2020, 10:06 AM
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Got it!

So I was trying to get a feel for parts costs...

Here is what I have on my list so far:
1/ Head Gasket set ($45)
2/ Head Bolt set($?)
3/ Maybe Lift pump ($137)

Anything else I must do if the head is coming off?
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  #49  
Old 06-26-2020, 11:53 AM
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If you carefully read the manual you will find a spec for head bolt stretch, which can be reused one time.. I did this once because they still had an acceptable amount of stretch remaining. This measurement is however something that you should be confident you can perform accurately. If the cost doesnt bother you, new ones eliminate the need to measure. Overall, a headgasket done at home is a cheap repair.

I always chase the threads in the block with a tap and then vacuum out the holes by using a small tube taped to the vacuum cleaner. You dont want debris to keep the head bolts from seating.

The valve cover gasket is reusable but with your mileage might not be so soft and stretchy anymore.
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  #50  
Old 06-26-2020, 12:23 PM
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Thanks!
I am a pretty competent wrencher(I think)...
Have the tools...

I'm just buried with other projects and the car has been a spare for a couple of years now...
Just trying to decide if I want to spend this time and effort..

I feel a little sad and conflicted...
If anyone wants to take it off my hands, PM me.... Its in OC, CA...
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  #51  
Old 06-26-2020, 12:39 PM
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Just my opinion again. Make certain the injection pump and lift pump are okay before anything else. Or pay primary attention to the obvious issue you see.

There is fuel being blown out visually and probably internally . The head gasket may be bad or not.

To get into that area before determining the other to me is kind of counterproductive. I really can not think of any way that an engine can discharge fuel. Other than a mist out of an open glow plug hole.

Another clue was when you crank there was no fuel coming out the injector lines. So where was the fuel you saw coming from?

I noticed you did mention the lift pumps cost. Has it tested bad already? Testing saves money. As well as locates issues.

I am far from infallible. Yet first things first are more logical. Get the fuel system fixed. Change the oil and see how the engine runs.
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  #52  
Old 06-26-2020, 12:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barry12345 View Post
Just my opinion again. Make certain the injection pump and lift pump are okay before anything else. Or pay primary attention to the obvious issue you see.

There is fuel being blown out visually and probably internally . The head gasket may be bad or not.

To get into that area before determining the other to me is kind of counterproductive. I really can not think of any way that an engine can discharge fuel. Other than a mist out of an open glow plug hole.

Another clue was when you crank there was no fuel coming out the injector lines. So where was the fuel you saw coming from?

I noticed you did mention the lift pumps cost. Has it tested bad already? Testing saves money. As well as locates issues.

I am far from infallible. Yet first things first are more logical. Get the fuel system fixed. Change the oil and see how the engine runs.
From reading and thinking about this, I wholeheartedly agree. Yes you may have a head gasket issue, but the overarching problem seems to be the fuel in the oil, as well as fuel where it shouldn't be (outside of the fuel system).
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  #53  
Old 06-26-2020, 02:58 PM
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Wholeheartedly agree with both of you.

Maybe the fuel was ejected out of the fuel return line from #1 injector to the front fuel filter assembly. I had disconnected it and it was pointing down between intake runner #1 & #2 about where the fuel splash was.
I will get my GF to crank it over and watch myself probably tomorrow so I have more info...
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  #54  
Old 07-07-2020, 08:19 PM
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Any news on this?
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  #55  
Old 07-16-2020, 05:00 PM
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Apologies.
Been lots going on and this was put on the backburner...

Today, I took a deeper look, and here is what went down...
No further leakage I could see of note under the engine(Drip tray with kitty litter deployed).
Lifted the hood into the vertical position to be able to see better...
Planned to do the leakdown test, but was interested to see where that fuel was coming from I spotted last time first...

Got my GF out and into the drivers seat to crank the motor so I could observe any leaks... I stood over the engine bay, told her to go, and heard the key on buzzer.... but nothing happened...
Told her to crank it... she said she was....
I went to the drivers window, reached in to tried myself... seems she is not used to the old mechanical system and was not turning the key hard enough to engage the starter(she has a ML320 Bluetec, and it needs a delicate touch!).
I did, and was greeted by what I can best describe as "An eruption" of fluid ejected from the injector holes, spattering me, the car, and a 5' radius!

Quickly stopped cranking!

I was puzzled... looked in the engine bay and observed "smoke" swirling in/coming from #1 injector hole.. which, is the only one easily visible FYI.

I rejigged all my ziplocks and grabbed a roll of paper shop towels, covered the injector holes and got her to crank again....

Another load of black/dark fluid ejected from mulitple injector holes, staining the paper!



Had a moment of confusion, and then an idea hit me...
Pulled the dipstick...
There it was... the Oil level in the pan is now 2x or maybe 3x what it was when I checked it last...

So, lets recap...
3 weeks ago, after the initial engine episode, the engine oil level was up, maybe 2" or 3" above the normal level....
Now, after sitting untouched for 3 weeks plus, the dipstick is reading 8-9" above normal level.
I would guess the engine block is filled with fluid to AT LEAST to the height of the skirts of the pistons on the downstroke, probably more....

I pulled the coolant tank cap.
The level is normal... has not changed from last check.

So, here is my opinion...
The lift pump failed internally, allowing or assisting Diesel fuel to drain into the IP body, and then down into the crank case...
This best explained the smoke and mild runaway condition as the oil level rose, the crank whipped the diluted engine oil into vapor, and fed it into the intake via the breather.

In the last few weeks, the failed lift pump, has dumped fuel directly from the fuel tank(higher that the LP on the 190), into the crank case, filling it up.

I didnt remember how much fuel was in the tank, but I think it was 1/2 to 2/3 of a tank.
Now its now reading less than 1/4....
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  #56  
Old 07-16-2020, 06:56 PM
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Thats what I was thinking on post 15.
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  #57  
Old 07-16-2020, 07:33 PM
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So then, what's your next planned step ? .
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  #58  
Old 07-17-2020, 05:28 PM
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I think I'm gonna let her go.
Its a surplus car, that I don't use much and she has served me well.
Dont feel like I have the time or energy to fix it.

Getting quotes from the local Junkyards as I write this.
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  #59  
Old 07-17-2020, 08:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkey View Post
I think I'm gonna let her go.
Its a surplus car, that I don't use much and she has served me well.
Dont feel like I have the time or energy to fix it.

Getting quotes from the local Junkyards as I write this.
Where are you located? Maybe a member nearby might want it, and give you more than a wrecking yard.
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  #60  
Old 07-17-2020, 11:29 PM
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Orange County, CA.
I posted that I was thinking about letting it go before, and had a PM from a member, which I responded to, but never heard back.
Anyone who is serious, can pm me.

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