|
|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Catastrophic oil loss, engine won't fire. Soliciting opinions.
I have a bad feeling I already know what it means, but I'm soliciting opinions from the peanut gallery.
The car: 1984 euro 300TD turbo, 183,000 miles. Ran like a champ (until last Friday evening) with great power and pick up. Blew a little oil smoke on startup, but consumed/leaked less than a half quart per 3000 miles. No serious blow by. I've had it for about a year and a half and 10,000 miles. It has always had a stumble on cold startup, even during warm ambient temps. The conditions: Heading out after work on Friday evening for a weekend trip to visit some friends. I commute 75 miles per day in the car and I had had it up in the air the night before to rotate the tires and make sure everything looked good (it did). About 5 minutes before "the end" a car in front of me kicked up a piece of truck tire radial and I had no choice but to straddle it and listen to it bounce off the undercarriage. Shortly thereafter, I was cruising at ~ 70 mph and felt a sudden power loss (like when you lift off the accelerator), I hit the accelerator and could feel that the engine was getting more fuel but was still decelerating. A look in the rear view revealed lots of black smoke just before the car died, the engine cut out at ~ 60 miles per hour. I got over and coasted to a stop on the shoulder. When I got out the car was covered in oil (oil change about 2 weeks earlier), and its obvious that it had come from the oil cooler (or the lower hose near the cooler). I watched the coolant temp sensor as I sat on the side of the road cursing and while it got hotter than normal, it never got above 110 C. The engine would turn atfer it died, but only slowly (over heated and siezed?). Now it will turn over at normal speed, and cough a little, but not fire or run. The hypotheses: (1) The oil cooler/hose was pierced by the road flotsam I ran over and I drove it out of oil and toasted the engine. (2) Something blew internally causing a loss of power and subsequent blockage in the oil passages resulting in the oil cooler to blow out. Proposed Diagnostics: Compression test. I have a diesel compression tester, but could use some advice on a proper test. Thoughts, suggestions? Last edited by Douglas.Sherida; 06-16-2008 at 10:37 PM. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
It sounds like you are on the right track, I would do the compression test to verify. BTW, if you have comprehensive insurance you may be able to make a claim for damage caused by hitting debris in the road.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Take a compression test and report back. This needs to be done first.
__________________
Save and enlarge for explanation of financial crisis! http://www.mobile-phone-solutions.com Advice on cell phone signal antennas and amplifiers. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Question, what was the level of oil at the dip stick? At any case, yes you will need to do a compression check. That is too bad.
__________________
1983 123.133 California - GreaseCar Veg System |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I will be draining the pan tomorrow though to see how much is left. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Regardless, have you been able to isolate the cause of the Oil Hemmorage?
__________________
91 350SD 14 F150 Eco 19 Fusion Hybrid 11 GT500 Last edited by redassag00; 06-16-2008 at 11:58 PM. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Yes. Remember the Euro W123 300TD turbodiesels? A member here had one.
I thought you knew better!
__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later! -German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
__________________
91 350SD 14 F150 Eco 19 Fusion Hybrid 11 GT500 |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
It must have lost all its oil pressure. If it was actualy losing power thats pretty bad, most likely the engine is toast.
__________________
1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Take off the small oil pan and see if there are bearing/metal fragments in the pan. And you might be able to see some of the cylinder walls on number 1 or 2 cylinders.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Crank may be toast, cylinder walls may be scored.. may the german mercedes gods have mercy upon your beloved car.
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself. George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..) 1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won. pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
My sympathies. The fact that the engine slowed down seems to follow a pattern of reports on here where the engines ended up being toast.
This is another reason why Barry's low oil pressure audio alarm would be so useful and why the debate about bypassing oil coolers is not so readily resolved on the side of their unqualified goodness. I second the suggestion to see if your comprehensive insurance will cover it.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 Last edited by kerry; 06-17-2008 at 10:55 AM. |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Sorry to hear that Douglas, I hope everything works out OK.
Quote:
__________________
Chad 2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE 1998 Acura 3.0 CL OBK#44 "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) SOLD 1985 300TD - Red Dragon 1986 300SDL - Coda 1991 - 300TE 1995 - E320 1985 300CD - Gladys |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
There most certainly were. I'm a member here and I have (had) one.
And who carries comprehensive insurance on a 25 yr old car worth less than $2000.00 anyway? |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
Did the engine still have oil pressure after the impact??? To seize like that so quickly you would need to lose essentially all oil pressure.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
Bookmarks |
|
|