Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-22-2011, 01:16 AM
gastropodus's Avatar
Mercedes Benz apprentice
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 434
Best way to clean up engine after an oil leak?

Hi,

Well, I had a small oil leak at the oil cooler on my 240D after the rebuild, and of course I was so excited to get it running that I ran it a couple of times to work and back (enough to get through the initial break-in oil period). Had to keep adding additional break-in oil, which was leaking out and coating much of the engine (blown by the fan).

So, anyway, now I have a slightly oily but not yet too dirty OM616 engine. I'm about to mount a replacement oil cooler on the engine bay to deal with the leak, but I want to get the engine clean again, as befits its status as "like new." What's the best way to get the engine clean and dry so that dirt doesn't stick to it?

- wipe all surfaces with red shop rags over and over until dry?
- spray solvent (what type?) on engine, wipe with rags?
- spray engine cleaner on engine, let soak, rinse with water?
- take to car wash?
- all of the above?
- ?????

Thanks for your advice.

Kurt

__________________
- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-22-2011, 01:21 AM
Stretch's Avatar
...like a shield of steel
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Netherlands
Posts: 14,461
Hey Kurt the most expensive way is to use brake cleaner. It works really well and keeps the dirt contained in as small an area that you can spray it on. I think it is great stuff - but - it costs a lot of money. As I live in a damp area I don't like solutions where I need to rinse with water. There's enough of that rust helping stuff about here already.
__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-22-2011, 01:23 AM
JimmyL's Avatar
Rogue T Intolerant!!!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Sunnyvale, Texas (DFW)
Posts: 9,675
Tyler has had quite a lot of experience in this area.......
__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

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
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-22-2011, 02:24 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Out in the Boonies of Hot, Dry, Dusty, Windy Nevada
Posts: 9,652
Kurt, just go to the car wash with a pocket full of quarters.

I use the steam cleaner where I use to work on the engine and under the car,fender, wheels. then I use the air hose to blow off the exess water, (if the tank has air) I go in on weedends. or use paper towels etc... to dry off the excess water. then drive the car and the heat does the rest.

I run the front end up on ramps first. do the under side, then back off the ramps, wash the top side of the engine, and under the hood. (don`t have a hood pad at present).

Really not going to hurt anything.

Charlie
__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-22-2011, 09:00 AM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
I suppose it all depends on your definition of "best" and your definition of "clean"
I would think soaking the motor and all hoses with engine cleaner, going to town with brushes and rags, then rinsing off with warm water would be best, and then coating all rubber and plastic lines with aerospace 303.
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-22-2011, 09:31 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
Car Wash. I do it every few months.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-22-2011, 10:33 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: central Texas
Posts: 17,281
Since I have stuff like tractors I can not take to a car wash....and would not wash an engine with high pressure if it had any kind of computer exposed ( some have them in the inside )...
AND since I want to be cheap and safe ( not use gasoline or brake cleaner )....
I get a gallon can of Gunk Concentrate...
and mix that with Kerosene ( as per the Gunk instructions ) ..... four gallons of Kero to that one of Gunk Concentrate.... this is cheap... works great.... very low in flammability .... spray on , leave as long as possible.. overnight, whatever.... then spray off just with water hose with thumb over end...
If not clean enough.. let dry, repeat....
There are cars which already have electrical connector issues.. like FORD for instance... and steam or high pressure putting stuff up into those types of place to corrode is something I try to avoid...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-22-2011, 12:28 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 420


and it smells good. Do not use high pressure water. Water and wires do not mix well.
__________________
1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-22-2011, 12:43 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
I've been washing my cars for 35 years at car washes with the high pressure hoses. The only problems I have ever encountered was water in the distributor in a gasoline engine. Wiped it out and was good to go.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-22-2011, 12:44 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
Doesn't Simple Green at full concentration pit aluminum?

Sixto
87 300D
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-22-2011, 02:11 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: West of Ft. Worth. TX
Posts: 4,186
Yes, Simple Green does pit aluminum. I wouldn't want to use it unless dealing with a small area that can be rapidly rinsed after application.

The best, and least expensive, cleaner I've dealt with is Kerosene on initial application then Gunk or some other degreaser to remove the film.
__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-22-2011, 02:32 PM
Renntag's Avatar
User Especial
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kona, Hi
Posts: 1,396
Wow, some crazy suggestions there.

So how about this: remove the motor and run it through an engine washing machine.



Ok my 2 cents:

Either just use a steam cleaner (high pressure HOT water).
or use a bio degrable degreaser and a pressure washer. (Preferably at the car wash as they often times are required to have a grease trap, thus not allowing petrol waste into the water table.).

Lastly, use a biogradable degreaser and your garden hose with an attachment that will create a small high(er) pressure stream.

Just be mindful of the areas that can be effected by water. ie: water can get in. (oil fill cap for one).

It's good to have a clean engine bay.


Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
I've been washing my cars for 35 years at car washes with the high pressure hoses.
same here, only not nearly 35 years.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
The only problems I have ever encountered was water in the distributor in a gasoline engine. Wiped it out and was good to go.
From my back woods off roading days, we'd apply silicone to the base of the distributor cap when installing a new one. No more water issues.
__________________
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-22-2011, 02:37 PM
piccolovic's Avatar
OLD LADY
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: FL
Posts: 779
Cleaning

I would use a heavy solution of Dawn Concentrate (Original Blue) and water. Use the brushes . . . if really grimy and built up with dirt mixed in, might take several applications, but Dawn will break down any and all grease/oil. If you can't get access for the brushes, then I would use Gunk or Engine Degreaser, let sit a bit and then rinse off with the hose. Do not forget and leave on as it will eat rubber!!!! Sometimes, it takes several applications if the oil has had a chance to bake on.

I have also gone to the car wash with a pocket full of quarters, and two cans of engine cleaner . . .opened the hood, sprayed the crap outta everything then put in the quarters to rinse the car. Some car washes have an "Engine Compartment Option", which gives a high dose of soap . . ..

Guess what you wind up doing is up to you, and based on what you can afford and what's available.
__________________
1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-22-2011, 04:25 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: central Texas
Posts: 17,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
I've been washing my cars for 35 years at car washes with the high pressure hoses. The only problems I have ever encountered was water in the distributor in a gasoline engine. Wiped it out and was good to go.
While the length of time seems impressive your sample size and skewed vehicle type included in your observation pales in contrast to the factory shop manual warnings , specialized fittings and recall notices available for the cars for which I am personally aware of this being problematic.
So your post makes you APPEAR to be argumentative simpleton.. but I am sure there is some other explanation.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-22-2011, 05:12 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
Not sure how my vehicle types are skewed but I am definitely an argumentative simpleton. Please post any FSM warnings found in the 240d manuals.

__________________
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
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page