Sub-par Quality Oil Filters
 

Sorry no pics, but I'll do the best I can to describe. Just got into a running but unknown condition '84 OM601 that was leaking oil like a stuck pig from #1 cyl exhaust side head gasket and smoking like a steam locomotive. Compression was at 400psi for all four cylinders so it seemed like a good project. The fuel tank smelled like linseed oil. Popped the injectors - all four were Bosch remans but appeared to be balanced. Removed the valve cover, TC sprocket, and camshaft. Camshaft bearing oil orifices at #4 & #5 cylinders were clogged with what at first appeared to be phenolic from the head gasket. Camshaft was scored accordingly.

Pulled the head - head gasket was compromised around #1 cylinder - the source of the oil leak. Drained oil and opened up the oil filter canister - AHA! - the clogs were not head gasket material! Filter cartridge was disintegrated in bypass area. Apparently the PO had not changed the oil in so long the cheapo Fram filter medium had started to break away into the oil gallery. This was the material clogging the oil ports at the camshaft bearings. Just looking at the oil at the bottom of the canister revealed tiny bits of metal that was picked up by a magnet. :confused:

At this point I am mulling the idea of jacking up the engine to inspect #1 rod bearing. I fear that it may not look good.

Any tips on flushing the filter material out of the oil circuit without completely destroying the engine?

How could it disintegrate in the bypass section? It is encased in metal with small holes. Are you talking about the lower (paper/full flow) section?

My good buddy Sas has been nice enough to help rebuild this clackety old 190d.

We were talking about this and I got the terms muddled up. Sorry Geoff.

He meant the full-flow section. It crumbles in your hand and has 1/8 of the entire section blown out.... gone - missing , aka: not there

now we have to pull the engine... just a friendly reminder.

OK - I stand corrected - full flow - but yes, completely blown out to God knows where in the engine.

Yikes, I've never had that happen to my filters, and I've been running turkish frams in several engines for years....

Any idea how long that filter was in there?

No idea. Pretty sad really. Nice little engine w/good compression. Gonna give it a go nonetheless...

Well...
 

Metallic fragments in the semi-destroyed OF are most likely your Camshaft
OR
Lower End Bearing Materiel ,as you already suspect.

You're gonna have to clean out all the Oil Passages,Head and Block
(The Block passages easiest is to knock out the passage securing Balls.)
[You may elect to thread and tap the passage ends(AND close off with threaded caps) rather than re-use the Balls]

LINK to "someone's" pictogram descriptions of ball procedure:
http://www.ps2cho.net/downloads/MB%20CD/W124/w124CD1/Program/Engine/602_603/01-130.pdf

The question of "Polishing" the Cam I can't answer.

if the Rings,Lands and Crosshatching survived y'all may be into a reasonable
rebuild.

Remote OF Location
 

Drawbacks:
More Oil Lines to rupture and/or leak.

Positives:
'Can use a "Spin on" filter with 21 Century Filter Media
(AKA "Fleece",[Champion Labs])

Practically Zero chance of engine ingesting renegade filter medium.

I've been tempted in the past...

'Have to "sleep on it", this winter.

Are you sure that it was a Fram filter? The Fram filters that I have on the shelf have a perforated cover over the pleated element.

^^ most of it has already flaked off

It does not say Fram anywhere.... only made in India

that is so wrong... I've seen STP made in India also.

Seems that the only good Fram filters for the diesels are the Turkish made ones. I'd never buy it if it said made in India. Pretty soon I may change to USA made Baldwin filters anyways.....but so far I've been able to keep up a good supply of the Frams from Pep Boys.....

The 2 Filters for 617 Engines that were made in India that I have seen were Purolator (Pepboys) and STP (Autozone). The Purolator had the made in India ink stapmed on the Full Flow perforated Paper and the STP had it ink stamped on the metal on the bottom of the Filter.

I've seen those....they are of horrid quality. Pretty much the only decent "store brand" one I have seen is the NAPA GOLD filter....it is very much like a Baldwin, with a pleated paper upper section as well as the full flow section. I have one in my 617 right now....costs nearly as much as a dealer filter though....in bulk the Baldwin's are only about $12.50 each.

Why not use the Mahle filters like MB recommends?