massive oil burning, super smoke screen - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

odie · #1 10-25-2010, 09:46 AM

1987 300TDT, 522,000 miles......

I pulled in for diesel yesterday and noticed quite a bit of oilly smelling white smoke coming out the exhaust while idling at the pump. but the engine was running pretty smooth. I had just driven about 100 miles and didn't notice a thing.

Anyway, filled up and as I left out I had a slight engine "rattle" when first starting and was leaving a smoke screen trail that was worthy of a James Bond movie. I mean it was thick, white smoke. Getting up to speed eventually thinned out the smoke trail, probably from wind....

Low oil level light came on about 2 miles down the road (in the middle of no where so trying to nurse the car home). Filled back up with freash oil and drove off SUPER SMOKING again. Only got a few miles before the oil level light was back on. Added about 2-3 quarts back in and didn't even make a mile before light on again. Each time the car got more sluggish. Top of the engine is fairly "moist" with oil so some leakage topside some how....

I did notice the last time I pulled over and gave up the dipstick was pushed up about 1-2 inches.

Tow truck time....$400 on a Sunday afternoon...it was 100 miles to home.

Engine seems to start and run ok and I don't hear anything like a back rod or such internally....I think...

I have a couple thoughts but would like to hear your opinions, thoughts, guesses, speculations before getting into the nasty business under the hood.

And when I say smoke screen I'm talking Hollywood type "secret agent" level smoke screens.

kerry · #2 10-25-2010, 10:11 AM

The optimistic diagnosis would be a completely failed turbo causing oil to be ingested thru the intake. The pushed up dipstick counts against this since it indicates high crankcase pressures pointing to a holed piston. On the other hand, there has to be a direct line of oil into the combustion chambers to consume this much oil? Failed headgasket?

pimpernell · #3 10-25-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odie

1987 300TDT, 522,000 miles......

I pulled in for diesel yesterday and noticed quite a bit of oilly smelling white smoke coming out the exhaust while idling at the pump. but the engine was running pretty smooth. I had just driven about 100 miles and didn't notice a thing.

Anyway, filled up and as I left out I had a slight engine "rattle" when first starting and was leaving a smoke screen trail that was worthy of a James Bond movie. I mean it was thick, white smoke. Getting up to speed eventually thinned out the smoke trail, probably from wind....

Low oil level light came on about 2 miles down the road (in the middle of no where so trying to nurse the car home). Filled back up with freash oil and drove off SUPER SMOKING again. Only got a few miles before the oil level light was back on. Added about 2-3 quarts back in and didn't even make a mile before light on again. Each time the car got more sluggish. Top of the engine is fairly "moist" with oil so some leakage topside some how....

I did notice the last time I pulled over and gave up the dipstick was pushed up about 1-2 inches.

Tow truck time....$400 on a Sunday afternoon...it was 100 miles to home.

Engine seems to start and run ok and I don't hear anything like a back rod or such internally....I think...

I have a couple thoughts but would like to hear your opinions, thoughts, guesses, speculations before getting into the nasty business under the hood.

And when I say smoke screen I'm talking Hollywood type "secret agent" level smoke screens.

There is the possibility of stuck piston rings, allowing crankcase oil to be pushed past the piston into the combustion chamber. That might account for the dipstick being pushed up by the compression gases being allowed to pass into the crankcase. Good luck!!!

odie · #4 10-25-2010, 11:02 AM

I had just recently replaced the glow plugs...I pulled the crossover pipe and intake to get to the plugs. The plug on the intake manifold the wire broke off and i hadn't fixed the connector yet...from my parts catalog I'm guessing that's some sensor for the turbo system...ooops

the insides of the intake was kinda oily as I recall...actually pretty nasty. I know it's not goona be clean but I think it was kinda wettish looking and not dried and caked on...Is there any kinda PVC or EGR that feeds into the intake side?

I'm gonna pull the crossover pipe and look into the turbo and have a looksy...I think i'll scrub the crossover spotless and put it back on and run it a minute or two and pull it and see how much, if any oil, is blowing thru it....

Brian Carlton · #5 10-25-2010, 11:13 AM

I'm going with the theory of a failed turbo as well.

When the 603 did the same thing, near the end, it also pushed it's dipstick right up and blew oil all over the entire inside of the engine compartment..........covering everything.

I'm not quite sure of the cause, but it's definitely a symptom of a failed turbo which is passing a huge amount of oil to the intake.

One additional way to diagnose is to start the engine and let it idle. If the smoke is minimal at idle but fogs out the neighborhood if you rev the engine, you found your culprit.

Here's my fun with the 603:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=138131&highlight=oil

odie · #6 10-25-2010, 12:04 PM

Idle the smoke is pretty bad...but would be tolerable to get me home....kinda like when it's really cold out kinda smoke.

as soon as I rev and try to drive off....SUPER SMOKE...smoke like not even the Blue Angels can make.

Brian Carlton · #7 10-25-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odie

Idle the smoke is pretty bad...but would be tolerable to get me home....kinda like when it's really cold out kinda smoke.

as soon as I rev and try to drive off....SUPER SMOKE...smoke like not even the Blue Angels can make.

Yep..........the SDL was similar. It's the turbo. Try to move the impeller wheel around with your hand..........see if its got severe radial play and/or won't turn.

odie · #8 06-20-2011, 06:55 PM

well...part two....

after ignoring the car for a few months I got back to it...I pulled the glow plugs to do a compression check....the crossover tube had a little oil in it, but not a lot like i expected...

the glow plugs are all maybe 2 months old...#1 had a broken tip and covered with oil. all the rest are clean. when I turned the motor over to start my compression checks the front/#1 glow plug hole started spraying oil everywhere.....after numerous times spinning the motor over the amount of oil puking outta the #1 GP hole never let up...

needless to say the problem is inside #1 cylinder...whatever that problem is....

I never checked the turbo but I really doubt the turbo was the source of the oil leak...otherwise there would be oil in all the cylinders and the oil spraying would stop after a few revolutions purged the oil out since the crossover tube and intake were removed thus preventing the turbo feeding more oil into the cylinders.

anyway...I guess it's time to let her go...I don't have the time to mess with a head change at a minimum and engine swap worst case.

any interest in an 87 wagon that needs a head/engine swap? It's real clean inside and out. I guess I'll be listing it on the classifieds section soon.

Diesel911 · #9 06-20-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odie

1987 300TDT, 522,000 miles......

I pulled in for diesel yesterday and noticed quite a bit of oilly smelling white smoke coming out the exhaust while idling at the pump. but the engine was running pretty smooth. I had just driven about 100 miles and didn't notice a thing.

Anyway, filled up and as I left out I had a slight engine "rattle" when first starting and was leaving a smoke screen trail that was worthy of a James Bond movie. I mean it was thick, white smoke. Getting up to speed eventually thinned out the smoke trail, probably from wind....

Low oil level light came on about 2 miles down the road (in the middle of no where so trying to nurse the car home). Filled back up with freash oil and drove off SUPER SMOKING again. Only got a few miles before the oil level light was back on. Added about 2-3 quarts back in and didn't even make a mile before light on again. Each time the car got more sluggish. Top of the engine is fairly "moist" with oil so some leakage topside some how....

I did notice the last time I pulled over and gave up the dipstick was pushed up about 1-2 inches.

Tow truck time....$400 on a Sunday afternoon...it was 100 miles to home.

Engine seems to start and run ok and I don't hear anything like a back rod or such internally....I think...

I have a couple thoughts but would like to hear your opinions, thoughts, guesses, speculations before getting into the nasty business under the hood.

And when I say smoke screen I'm talking Hollywood type "secret agent" level smoke screens.

Old Cars beg for you to be a member of one of the Auto Clubs that has free towing for the Members.
Now, Insurance companies are also getting into the act with road side services.

Diesel911 · #10 06-20-2011, 09:15 PM

I go with the bad Turbo or Head Gasket.

Clealy the Engine would not run well with a hole in the Piston.

Also the Turbo is something that you Can more easily check.

odie · #11 06-20-2011, 09:30 PM

well with oil coming out of only one cylinder I kinda think the turbo is not the culprit

layback40 · #12 06-20-2011, 09:55 PM

Isnt there an oil way up to the head near #1 ? Sounds like a head gasket to me. If it is, its an easy fix.

Aquaticedge · #13 06-20-2011, 09:55 PM

I would still check your pistons. I have a 95 Ambulance with a cummins engine, There's holes in a couple pistons and the engine ran fine. Blew oil everywhere. only way to know is to yank the head. I'm laying odds either a head gasket or piston issue.

odie · #14 06-20-2011, 09:58 PM

this is her....i know I could yank the head or whatever...I just don't have the time or work space since I got too many other projects too...and If I did it would likely still be a hole in the piston or cracked head...meaning I still have to find a replacement head/engine...

I really am wanting to pass her on to someone who has the time and such to find a good used engine for her...she really is too nice to send to the junkyard...

even if I fixed her I still have way too many cars...

layback40 · #15 06-20-2011, 10:16 PM

Nice looking wagon !!!
Some one is going to get a bargain I think!!
Good Luck !!!!