Trish,
When bad things happen, people can panic or jump to conclusions. It sounds like something has happened with your car, but you need to step back and contemplate the possibilities.
First, you have to remember what you have - a diesel, with an overhead cam engine. The overhead cam is driven by a chain. The valves don't have lifters associated with them.
This is partially good for you, because taking the valve cover off is a normal task associated with adjusting the valves (every 15,000 miles, and when you first take possession). With the valve cover off, you get to look at the complete cam shaft, the top of the drive chain (front end of the cam) and all the valves and springs and rockers, etc.
Next, think about that dieselness of the engine. No spark ignition system to worry about, so all the electrical complication comes down to one simple question - are the glow plugs heating the prechambers before you start? If not, that's a problem to be addressed, separately from any banging noises.
The engine itself only needs THREE things to run: 1) Fuel, properly delivered; 2) Air, sufficiently delivered; 3) Clear exhaust to vent the combusted gases. Before you start digging into the engine, you must establish that each of these three is taken care of.
1) Is it possible that the injector pump broke? That could make some unpleasant noises. Or that some other mechanism is causing a failure of fuel delivery to the cylinders?
2) Did something get into the air intake and crap up air flow to the engine, starving it so that it can keep running? Since your's is a non-turbo, this is easier to scope out.
3) Has anything clogged up your exhaust line? When you get it running, even briefly, is it putting out exhaust?
Stay with the exhaust for a minute. If it is firing, is the exhaust smoke brown/black (unburned fuel) or blue white (burning oil) or steam white (water)? If it isn't blue/white, then the engine may still be OK.
Don't tear the engine down, or rip it out, or anything else until you've figured out what's happening. You tell us that it cranks and will run for a little while. What noises is it making during that process? What smoke or other things are coming out, and where are they coming out from?
Remember why you got this - these engines are tough buggers. YES it was wrong to let it get low on oil. But if there was sufficient oil to run the oil pressure guage, and it wasn't puffing out oil smoke, it may be that the low oil only has you confused and is not really related to your problem. (You wouldn't be the first person to have been confused about a problem - don't ask me how I know that.)
Step back, take a few breaths, and then start to diagnose it the way you would a problem with any other machine or with a sick animal. Check each system / organ and make notes of the symptoms. ONLY AFTER that will you be ready and able to start diagnosing the problem.
Tom
In a message dated 10/12/2011 5:23:46 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, purrfectharmonyfarm@wifi45.com writes:
I'm very particular about checking fluids, usually.
Sat night on my way to work I heard a weird sound & hoped it was someone else on the freeway. It was a loud banging type of noise. The sound went away, I forgot all about it.
Last night again on my way to work, I heard the sound, thought uh oh, that sounds like lifters from low oil. Forgot all about it by the time I got off work.
Today on my way to an interview I again heard "the" sound, this time I mentally kicked myself for not checking the fluids & pulled over immediately.
Yes I know you shouldn't check the oil when the car is hot, you get a false reading.
Well, there wasn't a drop of oil showing on the dipstick! I had some in the trunk, I put that in, cancelled my interview, and went to Auto Zone. Bought more oil, put some in, FINALLY got a reading on the dipstick.
I limped towards home not able to go faster than about 25mph. The car died at an intersection 6 miles from home. I got it started again, limped on down the road till it finally stopped about 1/4 mile from home. It would turn over, but not start.
Sounds like a combination of no gas, which I have 1/2 a tank, and like it's going to explode and shoot bolts and other engine shrapnel everywhere. I know that's vague. One of the guys that stopped to help and towed me home, claims to be a diesel mechanic. He said it seems like it has to do with the cam, but without tearing the engine apart it's impossible to tell.
I used my cell phone video to try to record. I put it under files, it says Video002, Trish's '81 300D.
Neither Kevin nor I know anything about diesels. What are my options? Pull the engine and put in a new one? I know a mechanic, he says it's free for them to tell me what's wrong, but they don't get involved in rebuilds, they'll be happy to pull this engine and drop in another one...for $$$$$$
I did call the kid I bought the car from. He swears there was no problem. He said they had the oil changed because the car had been sitting. It was done at Lube Express. I don't know if they didn't put the drain plug in right or maybe the filter wasn't installed properly. But if it's not due for an oil change until 12/15, I sure shouldn't be out of oil now! He told me how the money I paid him burned a hole in his pocket so he bought a truck and has had to dump tons of money into...so I wonder if that's not instant Karma? Did he know something about my car??? I did ask if his diesel mechanic dad would be willing to come see if he can tell me what's wrong. I told him I'm not after him, the car was purchased "as is".
boo hoo hoo. I'm very bummed and trapped at home ten miles outside of town!
Trish
