Look what came out of my oil pan today - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chris W. · #1 08-30-2009, 08:06 PM

10 balls from the bearing on the 289,000 mile vacuum pump which ate itself and the timing device, about 6000 miles ago. I think that other shrapnel from this event is what is causing my developing engine knock, unfortunately.

I have changed the oil 3 times since I replaced the old pump, but last time I put a magnet on the drain plug, and this is what I fished out, the balls from the bearing on the old pump.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, the balls are just slightly bigger than conventional BB's from a BB gun.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 294,569 miles as of today

Diesel911 · #2 08-30-2009, 08:19 PM

Is there a waranty on the Pump?

Oracle12345 · #3 08-30-2009, 08:58 PM

Ether it is poorly manufactured or you screwed up somewhere or didnt diagnosis the problem causing vacuum pump to be trashed so quickly

Chris W. · #4 08-30-2009, 08:58 PM

No warranty after 289,000 miles! Sorry if I created the wrong impression, the original vac pump failed catastrophically, which I replaced 6000 miles ago. The new vac pump is fine.

Just wish my engine was :-(. But I have nothing to lose by driving it until something big fails, at this point.

I'll edit my original post to make it clearer.

Rgds,
Chris W.

jt20 · #5 08-30-2009, 08:59 PM

any legitimate replacement pump would have sealed bearings, right?

isn't the OP suggesting that this matter is from the previous VP failure?

babymog · #6 08-30-2009, 11:03 PM

I doubt that the bearings would be able to make it through the pickup strainer, nor any other large pieces. Anything that made it through the (oil) pickup strainer would either damage the pump (low oil pressure), or make it through to the filter where it would be stopped and cause no engine damage.

Am I missing something in the flow of the 60x oil system? Feel free to correct me if I am.

jt20 · #7 08-30-2009, 11:05 PM

assuming the filtration system is working as designed, I would certainly agree.

JimmyL · #8 08-30-2009, 11:06 PM

So do our OM606 vacuum pumps hand grenade like the OM603 pumps??

I was hoping they had been updated by then.....

Jeremy5848 · #9 08-30-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

So do our OM606 vacuum pumps hand grenade like the OM603 pumps??

I was hoping they had been updated by then.....

A great question and one that I had always assumed was "no." Then again, I don't know when Mercedes changed the vacuum pumps to the sealed bearing. Maybe the early 606 engines got the old-style pumps but if so, when was the change date? Let's please answer this before my 262000 mile 606 explodes!

Jeremy

compress ignite · #10 08-31-2009, 12:04 AM

Got the upgraded: 1.Timing Cover 2. Timing device for the Vane type Pump
AND 3.the Vane Type Vacuum Pump.
WHICH is not subject to the Piston type Pump failures!

Dave/gsxr might know the production start date.

Jeremy5848 · #11 08-31-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

Got the upgraded: 1.Timing Cover 2. Timing device for the Vane type Pump
AND 3.the Vane Type Vacuum Pump.
WHICH is not subject to the Piston type Pump failures!

Dave/gsxr might know the production start date.

My '96 E300D (W210, OM606) has a mfg date of 10/95. Its vacuum pump (no indication in the complete set of service records of it ever being replaced) carries an MB logo, the Pierburg name, and the part number 000 230 31 68. I'm not positive about the last two digits as I was reading by flashlight and mirror. Haven't had time yet to check EPC.

=============================================

Edit: Checked EPC. Looks like my pump is 000 230 31 65, used in engines up to 007105 (my engine is 002491). It resembles the replacement pump in my '87 300D Turbo (W124, OM603), i.e., the later kind with the 4 screws on the cover and the sealed bearing inside.

As of engine #007106, Mercedes changed to part number 000 230 36 65. That may be the vane-type pump you mention.

Jeremy

pawoSD · #12 08-31-2009, 01:06 AM

Mark down another reason to stay with a good o'l 617.....

Jeremy5848 · #13 08-31-2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Mark down another reason to stay with a good o'l 617.....

However the 617 uses the same piston-type vacuum pump that is (according to Compress) "subject to failure."

pawoSD · #14 08-31-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

However the 617 uses the same piston-type vacuum pump that is (according to Compress) "subject to failure."

How many have actually had a 617 pump fail though? In all my time on the forum I think I can only recall like one incident of it, and it was on a 350k+ engine....

sixto · #15 08-31-2009, 02:07 AM

Chris W., IIRC there are 12 bb's in the old style pump bearing

I've seen a 603 oil pump pickup screen with a tear where it sucked something through. Engine died of oil starvation to the #3 crank journal when the pump seized. Engine had a catastrophic pump failure earlier in life.

There's a date code stamped in the vacuum pump case. At least MB label pumps. gsxr has a picture of 95 and 99 vintage pumps but I can't tell from the pictures if the 95 is a new design. I have a new design pump of 97 vintage.

I replaced a 617 at 130K miles. Situation was such that I didn't have time to rebuild the pump. The thing to note about 61x pumps is the drive mechanism isn't known to fail so pump failure doesn't take the engine with it.

Sixto
87 300D