Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Hi Kaleb, On my 1975 W115 300D, there is a small (black stiff plastic, maybe 1/4 diameter) line running from the rear side of the vacuum pump to the side of the Injection Pump, attached with banjo bolts at either end. It is about a foot long. Now that I think about it, I am not sure of its intended function (vacuum line? oil lubrication line?)... but what I DO know, after 35 years, is that there is a river of oil running through it, apparently. :) I have no automatic vacuum shut-off as anyone at the ChowdahQ can vouch for I open the hood and manually shut it down. Perhaps there is a connection here. :) Tom SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D and all those BMWs Message: 3 Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:20:24 -0500 From: Kaleb C. Striplin ka...@striplin.net To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Message-ID: sig.18827b654f.4c9ab968.4030...@striplin.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed what line from the IP to the vacuum pump? I am not familiar with such a line. On 9/22/2010 6:56 PM, toms cat1 wrote: Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!! :) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor. Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Got a part # for those little copper washers? Might be something I should change on my 76 300D before I experience that too. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of toms cat1 Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 5:57 PM To: mercedes diesel Subject: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!!:) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor.Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes. In the meantime, I re-annealed the old washers, thinking I would reuse them if worse came to worst. I went to pick up the new washers yesterday. . there was a screwup somehow. Carriage House ordered the wrong ones, but, they found the RIGHT ones in stock on the shelf. (That was Grant, btw,... I believe Dwight knows him also.) So I finally got the chance to install them after work today and PERFECT! Problem solved. Took it out for test run.No leak. Hooray! So, after all that, blowing out 6 quarts in 120 miles, a harrowing, nerve-wracking drive worrying about blowing the engine and making it home.. the problem is fixed for a total cost of: $3.39. That is NOT a misprint God, I love that car! :) How can I possibly think about getting rid
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Is it maybe lubrication to the pump? I seem to recall that the 240 engine has a means of adding oil to the injection pump but the 300 engine does not. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of toms cat1 Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 6:39 AM To: mercedes diesel Subject: Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Hi Kaleb, On my 1975 W115 300D, there is a small (black stiff plastic, maybe 1/4 diameter) line running from the rear side of the vacuum pump to the side of the Injection Pump, attached with banjo bolts at either end. It is about a foot long. Now that I think about it, I am not sure of its intended function (vacuum line? oil lubrication line?)... but what I DO know, after 35 years, is that there is a river of oil running through it, apparently. :) I have no automatic vacuum shut-off as anyone at the ChowdahQ can vouch for I open the hood and manually shut it down. Perhaps there is a connection here. :) Tom SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D and all those BMWs ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Stories like this always remind us of our own experiences. Many years ago, I had a similar issue with an old Ford. We had gone to a town 50 miles away to see a movie. When we were almost there, the oil light came on in the dash. A quick check showed little or no oil on the dipstick. We managed to get to a service station and buy some more oil. I could see that there was oil sprayed about under the hood but it was dark and difficult to see from where it was coming. We elected to buy several quarts of oil and make a run for home again. We skipped the movie and went. I watched the dash and every time the oil light started to flicker, I pulled over and added some more oil. We got home without running out and did not hurt the engine as I drove ti another year or more before we sold it. The culprit was a cracked oil pressure sender unit so not an expensive fix but it sure made a mess. Randy ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Hi Tom, Glad to hear your return trip went okay, think of the life you've added to the underside of your car, it won't rust with all that oil on it... So does this mean your car will get some quality time? Does the 300D use the same vacuum shut off as a later 240D? In which case I'd volunteer a used one. ;) -Curt Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:56:36 -0400 From: toms cat1 tomsc...@hotmail.com To: mercedes diesel mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Message-ID: bay151-w5255fabe8045808e28195e8d...@phx.gbl Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! *snip* Also, btw, contrary to the rumor that is circulating around, I did NOT stage this oil leak to clinch the Jalopy Award at the ChowdahQ, - although it didn't hurt. :) It was just a happy coincidence, I swear. :) Tom Schuch SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D and all those BMWs ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Yea, but it's called opening the red cap on the IP that says OEL -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of R A Bennell Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:29 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Is it maybe lubrication to the pump? I seem to recall that the 240 engine has a means of adding oil to the injection pump but the 300 engine does not. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of toms cat1 Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 6:39 AM To: mercedes diesel Subject: Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Hi Kaleb, On my 1975 W115 300D, there is a small (black stiff plastic, maybe 1/4 diameter) line running from the rear side of the vacuum pump to the side of the Injection Pump, attached with banjo bolts at either end. It is about a foot long. Now that I think about it, I am not sure of its intended function (vacuum line? oil lubrication line?)... but what I DO know, after 35 years, is that there is a river of oil running through it, apparently. :) I have no automatic vacuum shut-off as anyone at the ChowdahQ can vouch for I open the hood and manually shut it down. Perhaps there is a connection here. :) Tom SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D and all those BMWs ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
That is the oil feed line for the injection pump. The earlier cars had a separate oil supply in the pump, later cars have an oil feed internal to the housing through the mounting flange. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
rear side of the vacuum pump, you mean its attached to the block? If so, that would be the oil supply line. The 617's all had engine oil fed oil supply. The 615 and 616 in the 115 (240D) you had to fill the oil in the IP from the plug in the top On 9/23/2010 7:38 AM, toms cat1 wrote: Hi Kaleb, On my 1975 W115 300D, there is a small (black stiff plastic, maybe 1/4 diameter) line running from the rear side of the vacuum pump to the side of the Injection Pump, attached with banjo bolts at either end. It is about a foot long. Now that I think about it, I am not sure of its intended function (vacuum line? oil lubrication line?)... but what I DO know, after 35 years, is that there is a river of oil running through it, apparently. :) I have no automatic vacuum shut-off as anyone at the ChowdahQ can vouch for I open the hood and manually shut it down. Perhaps there is a connection here. :) Tom SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D and all those BMWs Message: 3 Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:20:24 -0500 From: Kaleb C. Striplinka...@striplin.net To: Mercedes Discussion Listmercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ Message-ID:sig.18827b654f.4c9ab968.4030...@striplin.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed what line from the IP to the vacuum pump? I am not familiar with such a line. On 9/22/2010 6:56 PM, toms cat1 wrote: Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!! :) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor. Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
No, it drains back through the front, into the chain case. Later engines have the oil supply through the front flange, too, so there is no extra little line. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!!:) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor.Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes. In the meantime, I re-annealed the old washers, thinking I would reuse them if worse came to worst. I went to pick up the new washers yesterday. . there was a screwup somehow. Carriage House ordered the wrong ones, but, they found the RIGHT ones in stock on the shelf. (That was Grant, btw,... I believe Dwight knows him also.) So I finally got the chance to install them after work today and PERFECT! Problem solved. Took it out for test run.No leak. Hooray! So, after all that, blowing out 6 quarts in 120 miles, a harrowing, nerve-wracking drive worrying about blowing the engine and making it home.. the problem is fixed for a total cost of: $3.39. That is NOT a misprint God, I love that car! :) How can I possibly think about getting rid of it, after a performance like that! It really doesn't want to die! I am reminded of the famous quote from Genl. George Patton, upon hearing the response of the Commander of the 101st Airborne, trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, to the German demand for surrender: Nuts he reportedly said. Patton said, A man that eloquent
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Thanks Tom, I enjoyed that. The ending was great, the hero won. Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!!:) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor.Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes. In the meantime, I re-annealed the old washers, thinking I would reuse them if worse came to worst. I went to pick up the new washers yesterday. . there was a screwup somehow. Carriage House ordered the wrong ones, but, they found the RIGHT ones in stock on the shelf. (That was Grant, btw,... I believe Dwight knows him also.) So I finally got the chance to install them after work today and PERFECT! Problem solved. Took it out for test run.No leak. Hooray! So, after all that, blowing out 6 quarts in 120 miles, a harrowing, nerve-wracking drive worrying about blowing the engine and making it home.. the problem is fixed for a total cost of: $3.39. That is NOT a misprint God, I love that car! :) How can I possibly think about getting rid of it, after a performance like that! It really doesn't want to die! I am reminded of the famous quote from Genl. George Patton, upon hearing the response of the Commander of the 101st Airborne, trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, to the German demand for surrender:
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
Good story, happy ending! I bought my first 1976 300D after the PO toasted the engine after one of the oil cooler line burst on the highway, and they didn't notice that they had no oil pressure. Good thing you keep your eyes sweeping the panel - pilot? On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 6:56 PM, toms cat1 tomsc...@hotmail.com wrote: Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!!:) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor.Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes. In the meantime, I re-annealed the old washers, thinking I would reuse them if worse came to worst. I went to pick up the new washers yesterday. . there was a screwup somehow. Carriage House ordered the wrong ones, but, they found the RIGHT ones in stock on the shelf. (That was Grant, btw,... I believe Dwight knows him also.) So I finally got the chance to install them after work today and PERFECT! Problem solved. Took it out for test run.No leak. Hooray! So, after all that, blowing out 6 quarts in 120 miles, a harrowing, nerve-wracking drive worrying about blowing the engine and making it home.. the problem is fixed for a total cost of: $3.39. That is NOT a misprint God, I love that car! :) How can I possibly think about getting rid of it, after a performance
Re: [MBZ] Oil Geyser discovered enroute to ChowdahQ
what line from the IP to the vacuum pump? I am not familiar with such a line. On 9/22/2010 6:56 PM, toms cat1 wrote: Hi, ChowdahQ attendees may recall that my arrival at the picnic was delayed until close to 1pm because I 'sprung an oil leak' enroute. Driving along in the 1975 W115 300D at about 65 mph on Interstate 95, I happened to glance at my oil pressure gauge (which I frequently do, of course) to see it down to between 15 and 30, (YIKES!) where it is normally pegged at 45 while at speed. Lordy. My first thought was of poor Angie Raymond when she lost the oil cooler line and toasted the engine. Not a happy thought especially since I was 50 miles from home, and still about 10-15 miles from ChowdahQ! Since the needle was steady at about 25 or so, I decided to make a run for it. I looked for the next exit (about 3 miles) and then found a gas station. Looking underneath only confirmed my fears there appeared to be a steady drip with engine off, and a steady STREAM with the engine running. Day um. It appeared to originate somewhere near the front driver's side of the engine, (oil filter assembly, dipstick, who knows) but I couldn't see the source. I doubted that it could be the oil filter, since I knew that hadn't been touched since BEFORE the PREVIOUS ChowdahQ!! :) I threw in 3 quarts from my trunk, bought another qt from the station ($4.99!!) and got directions to the nearest auto store which turned out to be Advance Auto Parts about 5 miles away. I left a little puddle for them at the gas station, and another at Advance. I bought two gallons of oil, and headed out via backroads for ChowdahQ. It was now ChowdahQ or Bust! :) I figured that since I used about 3 qts in 50 miles, I could make it to the picnic, and with two gallons in reserve, I could make it home again. No problem. :) So I arrived at ChowdahQ, had a grand time with all the guys and gals, and then headed out about 3:30pm for home where I had company arriving at 5pm and I was scheduled to do the cooking/ grilling. I envisioned myself arriving home, making a grand entrance aboard an AAA flatbed to a house full of hungry guests!!:) Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam ahead! So I took mostly back roads thru Rhode Island--- a very pretty drive, btw, although I can't say I was in the frame of mind to fully appreciate it at that point, with one eye on the oil pressure gauge the entire time! I also did about 35-40 miles on I-95. I actually arrived home at 4:50pm without stopping and without incident, before any guests arrived, making sure to park the Mercedes where it wouldn't do any damage to my freshly coated new driveway. and quite non-chalantly got right down to the business of preparing dinner. No sweat. I didn't even want to look at the oil dipstick. Damn that is a great car. Well, I didn't get a chance to even look at it for a week. (I have other cars.) I finally got it up in the air a bit, no leak unless it is running. OK, it's a pressure thing. Started it up, and sure enough, a gusher pouring onto the floor. Good Grief, Charley Brown! :) Tracking the leak to its source was no easy task, since I had to get under it and look up into a a steady stream of oil on my face/glasses etc. ... and down to the ground came a-bubbling crude,... oil that is, ...Texas Tea! :) I finally found the problem: a line running from the injection pump to the vacuum pump with a banjo bolt and copper sealing washers. It appears that the copper washer(s) was blown at the vacuum pump end, and oil was just pouring out. I shut it down and tried torqueing it a bit more no dice. That actually made it a little worse. I then tried to locate the washers at several local auto shops/ Autozone/hardware stores. Naturally, no one had anything that small... these are tiny, btw. So I ordered them from the local dealer, Carriage House Mercedes. In the meantime, I re-annealed the old washers, thinking I would reuse them if worse came to worst. I went to pick up the new washers yesterday. . there was a screwup somehow. Carriage House ordered the wrong ones, but, they found the RIGHT ones in stock on the shelf. (That was Grant, btw,... I believe Dwight knows him also.) So I finally got the chance to install them after work today and PERFECT! Problem solved. Took it out for test run.No leak. Hooray! So, after all that, blowing out 6 quarts in 120 miles, a harrowing, nerve-wracking drive worrying about blowing the engine and making it home.. the problem is fixed for a total cost of: $3.39. That is NOT a misprint God, I love that car! :) How can I possibly think about getting rid of it, after a performance like that! It really doesn't want to die! I am reminded of the famous quote from Genl. George Patton, upon hearing the response of the Commander of the 101st Airborne, trapped in Bastogne during the Battle of the
