The verdict is still out, but good thing or not we have just purchased another 'fixer upper'! Seems just yesterday my husband was lamenting, "When are we going to get a real car and stop doing car repairs?" I guess the successes with Belinda were a confidence builder, because now he's a keener again. And, best of all, HE picked this one out (I haven't even seen it yet) so I don't have to feel guilty for the time he spents doing repairs. :p

This was the ad:
"79 MERCEDES BENZ 300D, nds wrk, gd for pts, runs,
insured, new Michelin tires, metering, new master cyl,
injectors & glow plugs $500 obo. West Vancouver "

I guess he put in about $3000 worth of work in to it a couple of years ago, but recently it started to burn some oil (about a litre per fill up), and the power assist is gone on the brakes (probably vacuum related since the door locks don't work either). He did not want to put any more money in to repairs, and he didn't really need the car any more as his daughter left him hers when she moved to England. The car was originally from California, and he brought it up about 11yrs ago.

Despite the oil consumption, she doesn't seem to smoke too excessively (less than Belinda, apparently). No obvious oil bath/ leak, but the oil is going somewhere. There is about 220,000 miles on the car, though the odometer stopped at 185k. She has some rust, but nothing really bad. All in all, it seemed too good to pass up for $450C (about $300US?). The tires are probably worth that. Esp when she comes with three Mercedes 123 repair manuals!! She gets about 28mpg, which is about twice as good as Mary (the 280). If the repairs aren't too expensive, this should be pretty cheap transportation!

It might be interesting getting her home, considering the brakes and the fact that West Vancouver hangs off a cliff, but supposedly they DO work. Eventually.:p

Stay tuned for further questions! Any thoughts on the oil consumption?

Any ideas for names? She's silver with blue interior, if that helps.

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Natalie

You made it WAY too easy. The power assist being gone on the brakes tells it all. The diaphragn on the vacuum pump is bad and you are sucking oil directly into the intake manifold via the hole in the diagphragm. A simple fix--rebuild the pump. Brake problem and oil consumption fixed in no time for less than $100. Good thing the owner didn't know about this board!

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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

So where does it go after that? Does it just blow out the other side?

I think the plan will be to scalp the vacuum pump off the parts car. It is currently being gutted anyway. We need the parking spot!!:p

Here's a pic, btw, in case it helps with naming. Apparently the paint on the hood doesn't look nearly as bad in person as it does in the pic. Maybe it can just be polished up?

Natalie

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Natalie

Sylvia, maybe?

The oil goes into the combustion chamber where it is burned.

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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

More specifically, the oil is going out the vent line (large white hard plastic tube) that goes from the vac pump to the intake manifold.

This vintage diesel still has the diaphram type pump, I think (not for sure). The piston type pump doesn't blow oil anywhere near as bad.

What happens is that the pump (a rubber diaphram with check valves) gets a small hole in the diaphram. The vacuum produced by the pump sucks oil ouf of the chain case (along with air) and it ends up in the vent line to the intake. Vent line will be black with oil.

Needless to say, the only place the oil is going in the intake is down the cylinders.

At least you know it has nice, clean oil if you are putting in a fresh quart every tank!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Okay, thanks guys. Sorry for asking stupid questions, but it just seemed if it was going through that much oil and burning it, it should be billowing smoke, but it's not.

Yes, nice fresh oil. That's the bright side.

Sylvia... yes, that has potential.

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Natalie

By the time a diesel blows blue smoke, its burning LOTS of oil -- on the order of 4-6 qts per tank. I use that much in the 220D, and it only smokes at idle (need to get the diaphram installed in the vac pump....)

A litre in 400 miles you won't see at all, unless it's a turbo and the turbo seals are leaking. In that case, the oil isn't being burned in the engine, but in the exhaust pipe.

Rabbit and Volvo diesels don't have that nice open chain case to drain the oil back to the crankcase, and if the little oil drains in the head clog up, the valve cover can fill with oil. Eventually someone will floor the pedal (to pass someone or something) and the oil gets sucked down the intake. Off it goes, completely out of control, smoking to beat the band! This happened to a friend of mine, scared the pants off him!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hello Natalie:

On naming the car - imho the siver benz is deffinitely a "Sylvia".

On checked paint - you can easily have the car partially painted covering all top surfaces including hood, roof and trunk lid by skirting the lower sections from window tops, trunk and hood seams down. Silver paint is easy to match and blends in well. If you've got sunroof, make sure they mask the weatherstripping so it doesnt get painted shut.

On "glutton for punishment" - these are fantastic cars for the DIY hobbyist who quickly learns more than most pro mechanics, doing better job too with meticulous maintenance and repair.... not to mention satisfaction of owning and repairing one's own vehicle - priceless.

To make space you can bone 'the beater' and pack Belinda to the rafters with spare parts including engine and transmission..... otherwise if you need more driveway - toss the toyota or whatever it is you've got in background of the picture and keep the beater for parts to the rest.

Multiple MB family cars are not uncommon - but its rare that MB owners are happy to drive anything else.

We can't do that. That's the previous owners driveway. :p

Two votes for Sylvia...

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Natalie

Six votes for ' Sasquatch'.

Kitty.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Which five forum members are you proxy voting for? :p :p Sasquatch sounds too hairy (though one trip with the dogs and it might fit). Maybe if it was shortened to Sassy....

RLeo, I bow to your vast experience with naming cars, so Kitty will get serious consideration too. Miss Kitty sounds kind of cute... maybe get a Festus and a Matt to go with...:p

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Natalie

Dear Natalie,
Upon viewing this thread,I have come to the conclusion that you and your husband are a good match.
Next, it appears that y'all have found another bargain.........good luck .
Concerning names.........I do VERY MUCH LIKE Sasquatch.........remember that your husband found this one, and Sasquatch does have a somewhat manly (or is it MONSTROUS) sound to it...
However, the shortened Sassy seems to scream for my personal vote.............Combine Miss Kitty with Sassy and get MISS SASSY>..........that works for me!!!!
Then again, Festus is also a keeper.
See ya, and keep those diesels humming .

Spo out.

Festus ? TOO close to Fester..... and talk about hairy and unkempt.....
CHESTER was the first and original sidekick for Matt Dillon...