Ok, I definitely am starting to get old..... Today I was going to do an oil change on my old 1983 300D. Simple enough right? Well, first, my old floor jack busted.....it would rise up fine but not lower anymore, so I had to use another jack to jack the car up higher so I could get the first jack out from under the car. Once that snafu was taken care of the rest was routine. After I finished I started the car to check for leaks and immediately noticed the oil pressure gauge stayed at zero. I let it run for another 5 seconds and still no oil pressure so I shut it off. Then I started it again and after 5 more seconds of no oil pressure I shut it off. I frantically started looking for leaks and checking my work to see what I might have messed up. No leaks and all looked fine. I started it again and STILL no oil pressure. Starting to freak out now I went to shut it off and realized why I had no oil pressure.......I was looking at the temperature gauge!! Glancing over at the CORRECT gauge the oil pressure was just fine........like I said, I'm getting old!

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)

I don't jack mine up to change the oil. I've done the thing with looking at the wrong gauge though.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I have done the same thing. Got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach until I realized I was looking at the temp gauge.

Similar scenario. I went from a gas 6.3 to a 300SD. The first time I checked the oil in the diesel and saw it completely black I nearly fainted.

I stopped jacking the car up for this years ago....

Just make sure you grab the BIG drain pan, I once didn't and had the helluvva mess to clean up .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

All,

Just to clarify, I too have changed the oil in the old girl without jacking it up, but this time I wanted to check out a few things under the car (flex discs, center bearing, etc) plus rotate the tires, so........

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 102K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 238K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 211K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 246K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 384K (diesel commuter)

Do yourself a huge favor and pick up an oil extractor. No more getting under the car, no more drain pan mess to clean up. Vac out the old oil then pump it into the jug and return to the auto store without spilling a drop.

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Old Blue - '83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648
Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500
'87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts
'02 E320 4matic wagon

Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD
333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD
The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD
Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 - SOLD
Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI - SOLD

Same thing except saw oil pressure at 3 bar and and thought it was overheating.

Think that is bad, just don`t put in 4 gallons of OIL, thinking they are

one gallon jugs. Did that on my 85 300D, got side tracked listening to
my Wife.



Daughters Husbands Mom was coming down from Portland, Oregon to
see the Monarch Butter Fly`s at a State Park north of Santa Cruz, Ca.


She`s on her way, huh ya ok huh huh, as Iam dumping in the oil.
Off we go heading down the hill, and notice the engine is acting different.
Seemed sluggish not the old oomph she usually has.


Park the car head down the trees and forgot something. Go back to the
car and see oil dripping from the L/F head light area.

It`s an 85 Ca. car with the Air Cleaner behind the Head Light. I removed it
and put in a K&N with aluminum tube. And oil was pouring out of it.


I just knew I blew something in the engine.

After the Butter Flys we go out to eat then baby the car back home.


In the middle of the night I sit straight up in bed and realized what I did.
You dumb you put 4 gallons in.


Drained 1/2 it out and all was well. But using the oil I took out for make up
oil, was kind on unerving pouring black oil back in.



Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works