I took off the EGR on my project 1990 300d 2.5 turbo to inspect. When removed I found oil in the tube coming off the exhaust manifold full up to the valve. I hooked a vacuum hand pump to it and it doesn't hold vacuum...so I figure it hasn't been working in a long time.
Could this mean a blown turbo oil seal?
Or head gasket?
It doesn't seem like there is lots of oil in the exhaust, and it doesn't smoke too much when its running. Just a bit when it is cold.
And I guess it must be plugged at the bottom...or else it would just drain off into the exhaust.

How does it run? If it runs alright I would not worry about it.

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Jim

It does run ok, though I have some other issues to sort out. I think it must be oil from the turbo making its way into the intake and then running down into the EGR valve and then filling the tube. I think someone must have blocked off the tube at the bottom.