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Old 08-04-2016, 10:51 PM
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Stretch Stretch is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Netherlands
Posts: 14,461
Quote:
Originally Posted by monky View Post
Yes I realize it's geared to be able to haul 4.6 tonnes, mine will never reach that weight though. So 3700 rpm is no problem for this engine? I swear it sounds like it's going to explode any second, and I have the engine cover insulated pretty well. I only give him Mobil Delvac MX oil and the temperature gauge is always at about 85C, but there's no oil cooler in it.

I also have another question which is how much an engine's load will affect its longetivity? It's obviously much higher in the vans, and I see that the new generation Sprinter with the small OM646 engine doesn't last very long. Usually needs a new engine from 200- to 250000 km, while the Sprinter 318 with the bigger OM642 V6 engine is much more durable. I drive one myself which has done 607000 km, and is using almost no oil at all! I even drive this thing hard, overloaded by a ton almost every day!
Some engines are better than others. The bigger 5 cylinder OM617 is known by some as the million mile engine. In some ways this is a load of crap - in others not so. The OM61X engines are good engines but they suffer badly when not serviced properly - the OM616 essentially has the same technology as the OM617...

...if your OM616 has been looked after properly - compared with a modern engine it has seriously short engine oil change intervals - then it will be capable of high speed revving and will last "a long time".

If, however, you are driving something and you think it is going to explode then it seems to me to be a good idea to check the condition of your engine to make sure it isn't going to explode!

On the non turbo OM61X engines there are the following noise making problems:

1) Vacuum pump (if fitted) - these can fall apart and shed parts into the timing chain and the rest of the engine

2) Oil pump drive - vertical and horizontal connection between pump and timing chain

3) Timing chain itself - check oil pressurised tensioner plus condition of cogs and chain

4) Injectors - worn injectors make noise / help to make noise as well as smoke!

5) Poor fuel delivery timing and valve timing


Compared with modern engines the OM61X is a crude sounding tractor engine - but it is pretty strong and has earned the reputation of being a "good one".

The problem with the vans is that access to the engine isn't so good so maintenance often gets missed.
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

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