I picked up an 87 wagon around this time last year, and it had a damaged rear crossmember, leading to being parked in the field for a little while.

Over the last few months I was able to source a new crossmember from dbenz, here on the forum, and patched everything back together.

Today was the first start in a year, and the car is puffing out some consistent white smoke, as well as a clunking lope (lifters?). I figure the motor would appreciate a few cans of diesel purge, and a new set of lifters, but don't want to run the motor too long, as it is showing zero oil pressure.

Is this likely just an electronic issue? Before parking the car last year, I recall it reading consistently 2.5 bar, and around 1.75 at idle.

Link to my original thread, with the damage

After reading around old posts, I figured the 0bar reading is more of an electronic issue.

So I took the risk of running the motor for a bit, on some Diesel Purge, and it sounds much better already. The smoke has died down too, although it sounds like tappets are in my future...


Youtube of car running


The next objective is acquiring the proper lug nuts for these wheels. Can someone steer me in the right direction? My w124 lug nuts on my 8 hole 15in don't seem to work.

I had to change the sensor back when I had one of these…

87 300TD OM603.960 Oil Pressure Sensor Replacement

Be sure to unhook the battery negative, you’re working right over the starter…

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech