'87 300D (603) Dipstick Tube Removal

[SW]

Does anybody know how to remove the dipstick tube on the 603 engine? I got the bracket that bolts to the head off but I can't see where the bottom end of the tube is attached. Any help would be appreciated. h

I have a spare 603 front cover with dipstick tube that I checked. The tube extends through the cover about eight inches, to terminate in the oilpan. It looks like a press fit of about one inch where it pierces the cover. No idea about how to remove it.

[SW]

Thanks for the reply Mike. I tried pulling it but no luck.

[md21722]

I think you just have to pull it out. No doubt its not easy. What's the reason for removal?

[SW]

I want to re-route the CCV gasses into a catch tank with a breather and then route the oil into the dipstick tube. I wanted to pull the dipstick out so that I can "T" into it and and let the oil drain back to the pan rather than the air intake.

This thread is getting interesting. SW, have you considered teeing into the turbo oil return line? My intake manifold is also coated internally with oil but I suspect it is from the turbocharger lubrication because I see no blowby evident from the oil filler hole with the engine running hot. Would like to know the definative test that would isolate the source of oil in the intake.

[gsxr]

Oil in the intake is normal. There was even a Mercedes service bulletin about that. It's a combination of some oil coming past the turbo seals, and also the crankcase ventilation. The valve cover on the OM60x has a spring-loaded baffle inside that shuts off venting until pressure reaches a certain level, so you won't necessarily get any blowby from the breather hole - pop the oil fill cap if you want to see what blowby is like (but that's messy). You'll always have some oil in the intake tract though, it doesn't hurt anything - just kill the EGR so the oil doesn't mix with soot and form that layer of sludge!

[SW]

Thanks all for the replies. I thought of T-ing into the turbo drain tube as well as the reserve sump but I chose the dipstick tube since it’s easily accessible. I don’t mind oil in my intake manifold at all. However, I don’t like oil pooling inside the intake tube between the air filter and the turbo inlet. I periodically have to clean the tube since oil will pool inside the tube and eventually seep out.

I think for now I’ll run the CCV line from the valve cover to the catch can and leave the drain valve on the can closed. I can then drain the oil into a shot glass and pour it back into the engine. This way I can monitor how much oil is displaced by the CCV system. I’ll post an update once I’ve got everything set up. I'm still in the process of finding a suitable catch can. Thanks again for the replies.

[md21722]

Neither of the '87 300DT engines I've had in service pooled enough oil for it to leak out. There was always some in the flexible hose/turbo inlet. i wonder if your engine has a lot of blowby?