Dave, It sounds like your turbocharger may be in need of a rebuild. What you describe is definitely not normal. If consumption is OK with the 15W-50, I'd be tempted to keep using it until the problem gets worse, and then fix it. Or fix it now if you have the time and money. A good, tight OM603 engine should use a quart of oil (or less) in 4-6kmi. I assume you already know about the rod issues in your 3.5L engine, which can eventually lead to ovaled cylinders and - you guessed it - extreme oil consumption (but not through the intake tract!)
:-) Best regards, Dave M. Boise, ID > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 15:32:23 -0400 > From: dave walton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [MBZ] Oil leaking from turbo into intake manifold. > > > I tried M-1 5w-40 truck and SUV oil and found that an excessive amount > was leaking from the turbo into the intake manifold. Something like 2 > quarts in 100 miles. Running the engine with the crossover pipe > removed shows droplets exiting at idle and a fine oil mist exiting the > turbo starting at around 2000 rpm. I drained the system and went back > to M-1 15w-50 and the problem essentially went away as I noticed no > oil consumption in a 300 mile trip this weekend. > I'd love to use the 5W-40 this winter, but the expense of feeding the > leak and the bad karma from pissing off whoever is driving behind me > makes me want to fix the problem. > There is a brass bushing in the turbo (Garrett G3 - I think) on the > compressor side that I suspect could be the culprit, but that's only a > guess on my part. > > And advice appreciated... > > Oh yea, this is on my 94 S350. 182,000. miles. > > -Dave Walton