How long will 240D run at zero oil pressure?

Just wondering... Seems the old boat ran aground somewhere, puncturing a small hole in the oil pan. Daughter #3 was probably running errands with the oil guage pegged at 0, because there's a puddle in the driveway, and the pan is EMPTY!! Any guesses how long the 240D can run without damage?

I'll have the pan off soon to repair it. (Any success stories with welding or brazing?) Should I do some rudimentary inspections to determine damage? I'm inclined to just fill it back up and run it, come what may...

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Larry D
'76 240D @120k

My thought is that you should fill it up with oil and see if it runs, and runs the same.

If the pan was bone dry, I think the chances are your engine should be given a moment of silence, and then allowed to rest in peace.

But, you never know, fill it up and see what happens. These engines, with their iron heads, are very tolerant of overheating. But there is NO engine that can run without oil.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I hate to see you messing with the oil pan before seeing if it's worth fixing.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, and let us know the outcome.

I empathize. I try to keep cars under my kids, and it can be a real challenge. There are times when I think they need to see how many miles they can get out of a pair of shoes.

Best of luck,

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Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Larry D,

Fill'er up and see if she keeps kicking.
If the bearings and/or head are shot, there's no sense in looking for a pan.

If the car is okay, you can repair small damage with J.B. Weld easily. No reason to pay for welding when J.B. is $2 a pack.

Good Luck with it,

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

[Ashman]

My Bro had an 85 190e 2.3, and he drove it from Sonoma, Ca to Los Angeles, Ca with no oil in the car, and it was fine. When he got back to LA, I had to put like 6 or 7 quarts of oil in it. The car lasted for a good 3 years longer, until the tranny gave out, but the engine itself was fine.

He even drove it with an almost completely clogged catalytic converter, until that finally gave out and caused to car to go nowhere. replacement of that and the car was fine again, until the tranny went out. but the car still ran fine.

These cars are very solid, and I would say best bet is to fill er up, and see how she runs. If all seems well, patch the hole and see how it does.

I'm sure if there is any damage you'd notice a difference in the way the engine runs right away.

So my guess is that the engines in mercedes can take quite a beating. usually what seems to stop em more often than not from my experience is the tranny/exhaust.

Alon

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'92 300CE
Black on Creme
77k Miles so far

Go To My 300CE Page

[This message has been edited by Ashman (edited 10-11-2000).]

[MikeTangas]

I would have to agree with filling with oil and seeing how it runs. Since daughter #3 made it home, and there was oil under the car, one would have to reckon it still had oil in it until the last drops dripped out after she parked. Once full of oil, you might try pulling injectors and seeing how it turns over by hand before starting.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Thanks, everyone for the advice. The news is... it still seems to run!

Turned 'er over on the starter for just a second to make sure nothing was frozen, dumped in three quarts of oil (drip pan underneath to prevent another "Exxon Valdes" moment), then pre-glowed and let 'er rip. Started, pressure came up, and it ran just like before! (Although the power steering pump sounds suspicious, probably due to factors other than the Valdes incident.)

Now that the roadway's dry and I can read the telltale tracks, it appears it was driven just once on a short errand after pan met pavement. Abundance of oil under the last parking spot says there could have been oil remaining right up until it was parked. (Whew!) Too bad about that four quarts of oil spread on the environment between here and the store...

Much as I'd like to read my testimony on the back of the J-B Weld package (thanks, WmHarlow), I think this is a pull-and-replace job. The normal rounded edge of the pan is creased, sharp edges apparent from partial tear-throughs, and some of the drain plug is involved. Looking at it, I can have that baby off of there in 15 minutes, and parts are less than $30.

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Larry D
'76 240D @120k

Larry D,

If the damage is only to the lower pan, it only costs $25 and another 12 for the gasket, and can be replaced in fifteen minutes plus the normal oil change time and expense.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, 533K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

At 18 years of age, as a present we give a classic 60s Benz to our dougther. We got it on Miami. Pay the beautifull cream two door convertible machine to the previous owner and went with her to pick it up. After few minutes she was to fallow me home. I drove ahead of her and can see the smiles, very happy in my rear view mirror. After few minutes between traffic and distractions I lost her. I arrive home and there was the telephone ringing, got inside pick the phone and there she was, saying, dad the car smokes and run very bad you have to come here. To make the story short, I dont know what was rong with this thing, but it toke me some time after asking few questions to her, that she told the she did stop for gas and did use diesel on the engine. I almost drop dead right there. She believe at that time that is cars where made just like the VWs,If come from Germany it have to be cheap in gas and super reliable. My dad has one and now I own one. That was her two plus two result then. Hope it may help you to turn few degrees and think that when you mercedes walks out of the driveway, be with the authorize person who know are to take care of them. M/B are made to be very carefull about them and obviously dougthers could be precious but some times...
I guess you now by now what to do in the future. If you can do it or find the way how to run the engine with out oil, you are going to be a very very rich individual.