Just replaced my oil pump on 350SD with 240,000 miles. The bolts and washers that hold the oil baffle in place had all come loose and were sloshing around in the oil pan. One of the bolts made it into the oil pump and blew out a quarter sized hole in the housing (see photo). When I reassembled everything and fired her up, the oil pressure was fine but I have a knocking coming from the oil pan. Can the oil baffle be installed incorrectly that would allow a connecting rod to come in contact with the baffle?

Attached Thumbnails

 

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/265948-oil-pressure-gone-zero.html

I had the same thing happen. Post #22 of that thread might interest you.

There are thick washers that are spacers between the main bearing caps and the windage tray. If you do not have those spacers in place, then the tray can be hit.

__________________
Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

GregMN,

Thanks for the feedback. That certainly sounds plausible. MB recommends a new part number for the "oil suction basket". I wonder if they had this happen a lot and made a change?
In epc, there's no mention of the washers to go between the "basket" when mounting (see picture). There do seem to be spacers built in. Did you add washers?
I'm going on my third round of removing the oil pan while on my back in the garage so I want to get it right this time.
Thanks for your help!

Attached Files

Oil Baffle Parts Picture.pdf (100.9 KB, 99 views)

In my mind the "oil suction basket" is the screen on the oil pump pick-up and has nothing to do with your noise.

The windage tray runs the length of the crank and attaches to the main bearing caps with a spacer between the tray and each the bearing cap.
If you installed the spacers between the bolt head and the windage tray, that is wrong.

__________________
Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

GregMN,
Yeah, I think I've got my terms a bit confused. epc calls it a oil baffle. What's got me bit confused is epc doesn't show any spacers in between the tray and the bearing caps. Did you just use normal washers or thick washers? It doesn't seem like lowering the tray by 1.5mm would cause any issues but do you think that's going to give the connecting rods enough clearance?

Thanks to GregMN for his spot on advice for solving the connecting rod hitting the oil baffle in my 350SD.
I put 1.5 mm washers between the baffle and the bearing caps and no more noise. I used blue Loctite and hopefully the bolts stay put this time.
Next oil change I'm going to remove the oil pan again and check to make sure the all of the bolts that hold the baffle in place are still snug. Seems odd that these bolts seem to work loose.
Thanks again GregMN: You solved a very unique problem for me.

Good post and i an glad you have sorted it out now.