Is it really ruined? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

David Dodge · #1 02-09-2004, 05:24 PM

My 82 300 D turbo has bit the bullet!

It was starting just fine, running like always did. The oil pressure was good and the same as always, had plenty of oil in it, everything was normal. Except I drove it one icey morning about 140 miles and shut it off, and then would not start again.

I did changed fuel filters and still nothing. I then had no choice but to trailer it back home and had a mechanic just try to get it started for me, cause I couldn't imagine anything serious being wrong with it.

He says all cylinders were only holding 60 pounds. Not just one as you might expect if a set of rings went bad.....
All of them!

He checked the timing chain and said everything was ok. He's now telling me I need a rebuild. My question is. What else could cause the low pressure in all clyinders. A head gasket I suppose, but is there anything else that could cause this disaster? It's a nice car, I hate to junk it.

Thanks for any advice that may keep me in a Mercedes.

Tymbrymi · #2 02-09-2004, 05:29 PM

David,

When was the last time you adjusted the valves? If they valves are out of adjustment it can throw off a compression test. Dunno if it can throw it off that much though!

John
'79 300SD

notlostmaybe · #3 02-09-2004, 05:58 PM

is the engine turning over? is it turning over fast?
do you have fuel? have you pumped the finger pump
by the ip? cracked a pipe to an injector to see if
fuel comes out when it is turned over? checked the fuse
to the glow plug relay on the driverside fender? how
cold is it outside?
if it ran well before, you still have oil and had oil pressure,
there were no terrible noises, then you engine is probably
fine. find another mechanic.

don

whunter · #4 02-09-2004, 06:51 PM

Hello David Dodge
I find myself in violent agreement with notlostmaybe.
Find another mechanic.

Quote:

Originally posted by notlostmaybe
is the engine turning over? is it turning over fast?
do you have fuel? have you pumped the finger pump
by the ip? cracked a pipe to an injector to see if
fuel comes out when it is turned over? checked the fuse
to the glow plug relay on the driverside fender? how
cold is it outside?
if it ran well before, you still have oil and had oil pressure,
there were no terrible noises, then your engine is probably
fine. find another mechanic.

don

Wasuchi · #5 02-09-2004, 06:52 PM

Make sure it's turning over fast like notlostmaybe said. My guess would be a bad starter or fuel problem of some sort since it was running good and now won't start. I seriously doubt all your compression #'s could be that bad.

JHZR2 · #6 02-09-2004, 07:23 PM

Unless you clogged the oil screen in the last 2 minutes the car was on and severely wore engine parts, compression dropping to 60 pounds would have been noticed for weeks, months and years before. If somehow all your valves screwed up, maybe they are causing the loss of compression?
Seems to me that the mechanic doesnt know how to test the compression.

Maybe the glow plugs arent glowing at all, causing no burn in the cylinders, etc. Or, if the starter isnt spinning correectly, well I dont think it could even turn the engine all the way to obtain the 21:1 compression that these engines run.

Let us know what happens.

JMH

kerry · #7 02-09-2004, 07:44 PM

I'm thinking something like a sheared pin holding the sprocket to the cam or similar problem. I doubt the engine is finished.

#8 02-09-2004, 07:52 PM

The only thing that could exlain the low compression, provided it turns out to be really low as you have been told, is that something catastrophic occured in the last mile of the trip that day. What comes to mind would be something like the drive chain for the oil pump breaking. That would leave the cylinder walls dry enough to wreck the rings. Only takes a few moments to do the damages youare seeing now.
Never seen that happen. Have been told it does happen though.

RockinWagin · #9 02-09-2004, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Old Deis
The only thing that could exlain the low compression, provided it turns out to be really low as you have been told, is that something catastrophic occured in the last mile of the trip that day. What comes to mind would be something like the drive chain for the oil pump breaking. That would leave the cylinder walls dry enough to wreck the rings. Only takes a few moments to do the damages youare seeing now.
Never seen that happen. Have been told it does happen though.

Can't see that happening. If you lost oil pressure like that, the bottom end (rod bearings) would go first and you would hear knocking from there long, long before the rings would fry from lack of oil. Get a second opinion.

adamb · #10 02-09-2004, 08:20 PM

Maybe some kind of contamination has clogged the air filter or obstructed the intake. I would possibly try to take the intake pipe off that goes to the turbo and spray some wd-40 in and then try to crank it after I checked the oil for any metal.
Good luck,
Adam

David Dodge · #11 02-09-2004, 10:59 PM

Thanks for all of the great help. I have some hope that I might be able to save the car.

Here are the answers to the most of the questions you guys have asked me.

1. I haven't had the valves adjusted for well over a year.

2. The engine is turning over just like normal. Not slow!

3. I pumped fuel into the fuel filters when I changed the filters as required.

4. I haven't checked the fuse to the glow plug relay yet. I am away from the car till the weekend and will check that the first thing.

5. I haven't cracked a pipe to an injector to see if fuel comes out when turning over the engine. Will do that this weekend.

6. I know the glow plugs weren't working up to par, so I have been keeping the block heater plugged in most of the time.

7. When I changed the fuel filters I noticed a different look to the fuel than I have never seen before....It was a blueish/green look. I just filled up the morning of the last trip. Thought if might be an additive for winter mix, or possibly that fungus stuff I hear about that grows in the tank. Does it have a color like that?

A very sincere thank you to all the help I've received so far.

The Warden · #12 02-10-2004, 12:28 AM

How cold did it get? Could the fuel have gelled?

Just a thought...good luck!

whunter · #13 02-10-2004, 09:01 AM

Hello David Dodge
I would try the simple things first like:
Look at the see through fuel filter, by the injection pump, is it clear or black?
If the filter is black, you have algae/fungus contamination.
Remove the fuel tank cap, blow through the fuel feed line from filter to tank, WARNING, not more than 5psi, just enough to blow some of the algae/fungus stuff off of fuel tank screen/strainer.
Treat the fuel tank for algae/fungus stuff and keep several fuel filters in the car.
If the filter is clear and clean, look at other possible issues.

1. I haven't had the valves adjusted for well over a year.
Answer: adjust valves.

2. The engine is turning over just like normal. Not slow!
Answer: good.

3. I pumped fuel into the fuel filters when I changed the filters as required.
Answer: good.

4. I haven't checked the fuse to the glow plug relay yet. I am away from the car till the weekend and will check that the first thing.
Answer: get back to us on this one.

5. I haven't cracked a pipe to an injector to see if fuel comes out when turning over the engine. Will do that this weekend.
Answer: get back to us on this one.

6. I know the glow plugs weren't working up to par, so I have been keeping the block heater plugged in most of the time.
Answer: replace the glow plugs.

7. When I changed the fuel filters I noticed a different look to the fuel than I have ever seen before....It was a bluish/green look. I just filled up the morning of the last trip. Thought if might be an additive for winter mix, or possibly that fungus stuff I hear about that grows in the tank. Does it have a color like that?
Answer: sounds like possible algae/fungus, get back to us on this one.

David Dodge · #14 02-10-2004, 09:40 AM

It was in the teens the last day it ran, but had warmed up to mid 30's the next couple of days I tried to get it started.
When I changed the fuel filters, they didn't look dark or dirty.

I have been putting a starting additive in my fuel, but didn't have time to that morning because my wife had an accident and I needed to get there as soon as possible. It was a bad drive, snow and ice all the way.

kerry · #15 02-10-2004, 09:42 AM

With the extra bit of information you added "I know the glow plugs weren't working right so I've been keeping it plugged in" raises a red flag in my mind. If it wasn't starting without being plugged in, it seems possible to me that you have had low compression for a while. What makes you think the need to keep it plugged in was caused by bad glow plugs as opposed to low compression?