[ssinharoy]

I have a conundrum and was wondering if anyone here would be able to help.

I was driving my '82 240D on a road trip (about 500 miles in) when the oil gauge started fluctuating a lot. A couple minutes later, the engine started making a quiet tapping sound and felt like it was losing power. Within a minute, the engine completely shut down and I pulled off to the side of the highway. I popped the hood to a strong burning smell and a small amount of white smoke. My first thought was to check the oil, and the dipstick was completely dry. I had to get the car towed to the nearest town.

The really strange thing is that I changed the oil right before the trip, and I know it was completely full before I left. I know the car doesn't burn oil because there's minimal smoke that comes out of the exhaust. Normally the car does need about a quart of oil every 500 miles or so, but I never thought it would run completely dry!

The next day, I filled the engine back up with oil and it started right back up, although it does have a rougher idle and the burning smell is still there in the engine bay. I haven't put any miles on it since then but I know that the oil is still there, so there are no major leaks.

As far as I can tell, the car isn't burning or leaking oil, but somehow went through all of its oil within 500 miles. How did that happen? And do yall think the engine can be saved, or will I need to swap it out?? I appreciate the help!

 

[ssinharoy]

Here she is on the day of the incident, when everything was running smoothly...

 

[Earl.Allen]

Have you carefully inspected the engine compartment for signs of a leak? Checked the oil drain plug?

Once, about 15 years ago, I changed the oil in a 240D and when I started it up, there was a small oil leak from a displaced filter cover o-ring. The oil just happened to be hitting the fire-wall and running straight down.

As far as whether the engine will survive, in my opinion you should start looking for another engine. You might be able to run it on short trips until one of the the main or con-rod bearings seizes.

 

[LostInTime]

Since you said you "just changed the oil", I would guess something happened in the oil change process that created a leak. I would start by looking for evidence of an oil leak on the oil filter housing. One possible mistake is that the oil filter housings top gasket was removed and not replaced, or a second gasket was placed on top of the first. Either mistake could produce a robust leak.

I suspect your engine is toast.

 

[luisg92]

Testimonials like this have ruined my ownership experience. Don't get me wrong, I think is good idea to share this kind of problems so others can do something to avoid them, but there is not a single time that I don’t get mortified about the possibility of losing the engine oil when driving my W123.

Unfortunately, your engine must have suffered some kind of damage. Before getting another engine, remove the valve cover and see if there is scoring in the camshaft. Also, remove the oil pan and see if there are metal shavings in the bottom. If that is case, you can start looking for another OM616.

 

[cooljjay]

What type of oil did you use in the change?

I switched my dodge to synthetic and on the first long drive it burnt threw most of it...

A quart every 500 miles is a lot....My 78 would go threw a gallon every two weeks, on long trips I had to check the oil at every fill up because it was usually not even registering on the dipstick....

 

[rawbeginner]

An O-ring that isn't fitted properly into the filter housing can certainly cause a serious leak. Good luck!

 

[swampmonkey]

ive lost pressure 3 times, and it started seizing completely one of those times.
the om616 i have seems to be indestructible.

it might very well live a long time.
(last time now ive driven it 30000km without an oilchange since it started seizing.)

 

[ssinharoy]

Since you said you "just changed the oil", I would guess something happened in the oil change process that created a leak. I would start by looking for evidence of an oil leak on the oil filter housing. One possible mistake is that the oil filter housings top gasket was removed and not replaced, or a second gasket was placed on top of the first. Either mistake could produce a robust leak.

I suspect your engine is toast.

Thanks for the tips. That is exactly what happened. I changed the oil and completely forgot to replace the filter o-ring. I'll be taking it to a mechanic tomorrow to see how bad the engine is damaged. I really hope swampmonkey is right, and that the om616 is as indestructible as people say!

 

[plinker17722]

What type of oil did you used in the engine oil change ? Hope you have a good engine after this ,,and hope your very lucky . At the best i would have the sump off and check main bearings . But an oil drain will tell you the condition of the engine if its free of shards of metal .After you put it back, and before refill it up of oil ,,get your car engine a magnetic sump plug.