buy a good used 3 liter and have an Indy put it in. should be half of what a new engine is. Unless the car is exceptional there is no way its worth it. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

A used 3.0L is a definite option to consider, a decent one should cost $2k-$3k. The drawbacks are less torque, probably comes with the "bad" head, and lower resale value. If you could get one with a good head and don't care about resale, this would save a few thousand dollars. (A future head replacement will be $2-$4k, which could offset any savings... d'oh.)

Blow head gasket at the front of #1 cylinder WILL BEND THAT ROD from sucking oil in from the chain case and pressure passage! Eventually it will get so much oil in there it will hydrolock. Instant bent rod.

Low compression on #1 with oil consumption and "puffing" blowby, I'd pull the head and check #1 piston height and gasket -- if the piston is all the way up, the rod is OK, and the gasket (or head) just needs to be replaced. New head is solid up there with single hole instead of a slot.

Oil consumption on this engine should be negligable -- my 603 (87 300D) uses less than a quart between 6000 mile oil changes. Look for a leaking oil filler cap gasket!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

All of you are very helpful. Thank you. I am really going to have to think this through. The car is in great shape, it would be an easier decision it other things were causing problems. Except for new tires 1.5 years ago, I have just kept good fuel in her and the oil/filter and air filter changed. No repair expenses over my 2.5 year, 43,000 mile romance. She still starts right up and runs well, although in last two week the "chang-chang" sound seems louder.
Also there are no oil leaks. Since I noticed the oil consumption last summer I bet I have been under the car every other weekend looking for leaks. Would a bad head gasket start to weep oil to the outside of the engine?
JT

A bad head gasket *can* leak oil externally but it doesn't always. The blowout into the timing chain cavity is not uncommon, but is often accompanied by massive smoke while driving and poor power. The equally pooc compression on all cylinders leads me to believe either the test was done cold (shame on the techs), or you've got a bunch of ovaled cylinder walls and a short block that's toast. A good 603 uses very little oil, mine is also about 6000 miles per quart. I wish I could say that your problem was a bad head gasket but I very seriously doubt it...

Can you replace it with one of equal quality for the same or lower cost? If not, IMHO, put the right engine into it and drive it for ten or more years.

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N. Hodges
1994 S350
1987 300 SDL (for sale)