so after pulling the engine apart and getting to the thrown rod in my 85 300sd, I examined the rod, and the stud that is set into the rod and threaded for the nut seems to be gone. the rod's pretty mangled, but I can see all the way thru the hole where it ought to be.

having never dealt with a thrown rod before, how common is something like that and what could cause it?

as i understand, throwing rods is caused usually by lack of oil, or a severely worn bearing. PO said it made no odd noises till a loud BANG and the resulting oil slick on the freeway.
pics of the holes in the engine at my gallery spot, will post pics of the rod. haven't pulled the pan yet. girlfriend is going to do that.

karl

That's the usual suspects. Add to it abuse, as in overreving and poor maintenance. But low oil level is the most often blamed.
Now that you have it apart, notice how strong the general makeup is of the lower end. This is one of the strongest built engines seen in street cars, ever. No reason one should blow, except for the above.

Over the past few years I have bought several 240Ds with holes in the side of the block or with knocking, all a result of running out of oil. Like Old Deis says, really strong engines but they can be destroyed by not keeping oil or water in them

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Hey am I the only one who is jealous?

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

i think one cause is water in the intake. if the intake accidentally sucked a large amount of water, example, drivin on a high flooded road, will cause bent or thrown rod.

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'85 300D Turbo - CA Version

that would cause bent rod, but imho not "thrown" rod.

and loose bearings wouldnt be as easy to detect by ear in a diesel. there pretty noisy when running correctly.

did you hole the block? if not count your self lucky.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Had this happen in a 1986 190D2.5 (602.911) a few years ago. Never did learn what caused it. Only 160K miles, always syn. oil, MB coolant. It neatly punched out the MB star cast into the side of the block trying to hide its manufacture as "they don't do that". Still would like to know if a head gasket went south or another part of the injection chamber broke off. Had holes in the cylinder, beat up top of the piston, 2 holes punched out of the block (#4 and 5 locations), plus connecting rods that I didn't know could bend like that. Valves are fine, so were the injectors. It could have injested something, but who knows. So far, have put 100K on a junkyard engine we installed with no known history. Would install another if needed.

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

how about the glows? i lost the tip on a 6.2 gimmy and bent a rod in my sub. once.

did you run thru standing water? prob not or you would have said so.

very very strange.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Why have you not married this lady?

from the guts seen from below thru the hole in the block (made bigger with a sawzall in order to get the busted rod out) I believe you that the bottom end of the engine is damn near indestructable. shame it had to go this way, the top of the engine looked really nice (no oil drool out the breather tube or cap, and NOOO oil in the air cleaner.

I was wondering about the possibility of the rear bearing being starved of oil by the aftermarket oil cooler and suspect (read: 1/4" pipe nipples and hose clamps) connections. (for pics search for my thread: aftermarket oil cooler)

finally have gotten the new(ish, 270K) engine in. doesn't want to start. it's been sitting for a couple of years

charging battery, will try again tonite.

karl

PS: she hasn't asked me.