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  #1  
Old 10-19-2008, 01:27 PM
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Question 1981 240d oil consumption

Hello everyone, i am new to this website and i am looking into purchasing a mercedes diesel 123 body. I have found one a 1981 for about 1300 with 200k on it and the guy said the trans shifts perfect but it sips about one quart of oil per 3 thousand miles. Any suggestions. I am also looking at a 1983 with 135k miles with new breaks pads and rotors, new water pump new alternator trans fluid new tires the radiator was reserviced. He wants 4100 for that one. Are there things i should be looking for anything in particular i would greatly appreciate any help that i can get. If the valve cover has some kind of oil stains on it is that bad??

Thank you everyone for you help

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  #2  
Old 10-19-2008, 01:35 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Best advice is to get an inspection by a person with mercedes diesel experience. No way for us to advise based on the very skeletal information you have provided.

They are wonderful high quality well designed cars though, I have owned about a dozen 240ds. One of my all time favorite cars.
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  #3  
Old 10-19-2008, 05:08 PM
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If the owner is truthful 3000 miles per quart is pretty low oil consumption compared to many. Make sure the 240d can meet your need for speed if you are considering it before actually purchasing. The 300d is faster by quite a margin. The 240d is just a little quicker with a manual transmission.
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  #4  
Old 10-19-2008, 05:10 PM
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1 quart per every 3k is barely within the spec for a rebuild, anything more than that and your looking at a rebuild.
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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.
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  #5  
Old 10-19-2008, 05:38 PM
Waitn For The Bus All Day
 
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My 240 has used a quart of oil every 3k miles for the last 100k miles. I wouldn't let that stop me from buying it.

Sounds to me like $4100 is a bit overpriced but hard to make a judgement call without seeing it.

123 series cars are great autos.
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Old 10-19-2008, 06:17 PM
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could just be leaking oil and not burning it
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  #7  
Old 10-21-2008, 12:09 AM
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thank you for the advice guys, the w123 body is my favorite car of all time and im only 22 and i would not trade it for the world.
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  #8  
Old 10-21-2008, 12:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cervan View Post
1 quart per every 3k is barely within the spec for a rebuild, anything more than that and your looking at a rebuild.
It's been a while since I read the numbers but I recollect that's well within the normal range.
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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
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  #9  
Old 10-21-2008, 06:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cervan View Post
1 quart per every 3k is barely within the spec for a rebuild, anything more than that and your looking at a rebuild.
This is absolutely untrue. These cars, when new, had what the factory called an allowable rate of oil consumption which was MUCH higher than a quart every 3K miles. IIRC it was about a quart every 1K-1.5K miles. I'm not saying I would be happy with a brand new car which consumed a quart every 1.5K miles but that was how M-B themselves judged if there was a problem or not.

You don't even know if the car is burning it or leaking it so to say its rate of consumption leads you to conclude a rebuild is coming is irrationale. A small leak can lead to that kind of consumption. Frankly, a 25 year old car which only uses a quart every 3K miles is fine...nothing to worry about.

My 240D sucks oil at 15X the rate of this one and still runs fine (yes, a quart every 200 miles!). Yesterday it was 28 degrees out and it started on the first turn of the key...no rebuild necessary. I just drive it and top it off at every fill up.
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  #10  
Old 10-21-2008, 08:49 AM
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After an oil change to amsoil 15-40 HD synth [the PO used any old oil for the first 195k miles!].I did a check and the 82 is getting about 1200 miles per quart
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  #11  
Old 10-21-2008, 09:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diesel123 View Post
................... but it sips about one quart of oil per 3 thousand miles.
I would be happy if my 2 240's burned oil at a rate double that! If you keep it checked then it really isn't bad at all. I have to add a bit of oil about every other tank of fuel or so, but then again I'm fairly obsessive about the oil being at an exact spot on the stick....

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Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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