W221 320 diesel change oil problem

[alex_78]

hi
my car is ok for now with only minor issues but my friend bought cheap 320 diesel 2006 with 180k miles (who knows is genuine mileage or not)

he drove it for a while and decide to make service

so he bought oil, filter, air filter etc and we try to do that today

car was warm about 80 degrees after removing drain plug from sump it was only about 1 litre oil go out...

oil filter was dirty with sludge, same oil dipstick, oil cap the same...

looks like oil wasn't change for long time...

im just wondering what is best way to sort it out:

- i can borrow oil extractor pump and try suck it out via dipstick hole but not sure it will work

-buy one of this engine flush fluid (add to oil and run engine for 15 min then flush) and try it however im not sure with this age and milage of the car after flush can be some leaks from old seals etc...

is anyone have any suggestion what is best to do to make it work?

to me looks like it must be blocked somewhere, it should be 9 litres not only 1...

car drives nicely, no warning lights, no weird noises, coolant is clean, no smoke, sounds like my 350 so i think is still oil circulation but can't be drained normal way...

thanks for your time and looking for suggestions...

 

[pgh13]

Is there any oil showing on the dipstick now? Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you sure it was the sump drain you removed?

 

[om613]

Sounds like the oil might be 'part polymerised', from using a veg oil blend as fuel...

 

[alex_78]

Is there any oil showing on the dipstick now? Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you sure it was the sump drain you removed?

it is showing oil on dipstick but again is a bit thick like sludge...
yes im positive i open drain plug - done same in mine 350
to me it looks like maybe oil can't go down to sump and stay in block or something?
i seen old oil but this one is like sludge thick etc propably previous owner don't change it for a long time...
weird thing is car sounds and drives normal no warning light etc so it must be oil in it also no visibile leaks etc
coolant ok
no smoke
just weird one to me

 

[alex_78]

Sounds like the oil might be 'part polymerised', from using a veg oil blend as fuel...

not sure what previous owner use as fuel as i said this car my friend bought not to long ago...

 

[LostKiwi]

You could possibly put 2 litres of diesel in the top and see how much comes out the bottom. The diesel will act as a degreaser thinning any oil present but not to the point of stripping lubrication away. A suction pump won't work if it's that sludged up.

 

[om613]

Does it smell like veg oil? If so, it'll get thicker, turn into a rubbery goo, then a rod will let go..

Either way, you've got to try flushing the stuff out asap.

 

[umblecumbuz]

One thorough way, if all that is in the sump is sludge, is to remove the sump and clean it out.
It might be possible to flush the engine, but if it was mine, I would first assess the extent of the problem by sump removal.

 

[mioba]

As far as I recall the W221 did not have a dipstick.
1 litre out of a car that ca 8 litres would ring serous alarm bells.
whats the condition of the oil in the oil filter housing. This will tell you if you drained the correct sump.
What message do you get id check oil level on the dash.
I am not convinced you did.
You mention car was cheap. maybe this is why.
I would ask the seller!
Keep us posted.

 

[umblecumbuz]

If removing the sump is a step too far right now, just unscrew the oil filter and examine it.
That's always a good barometer of your oil condition.

 

[V6Matty]

OP has already said the oil filter was like sludge as well as the dipstick and oil filler cap, sounds to me like it’s never been changed and has started to emulsify.

 

[alex_78]

OP has already said the oil filter was like sludge as well as the dipstick and oil filler cap, sounds to me like it’s never been changed and has started to emulsify.

thats correct i just need to drain it and propably best option will be add one of the engine flush fluids and see if that make it work...

 

[alex_78]

tha

You could possibly put 2 litres of diesel in the top and see how much comes out the bottom. The diesel will act as a degreaser thinning any oil present but not to the point of stripping lubrication away. A suction pump won't work if it's that sludged up.

thanks maybe will try that before "engine flush" fluid i will be back to see him monday so we will see is that do the trick

 

[alex_78]

Does it smell like veg oil? If so, it'll get thicker, turn into a rubbery goo, then a rod will let go..

Either way, you've got to try flushing the stuff out asap.

to be honest smells normal and sounds normal and yes i try flush it asap

 

[alex_78]

As far as I recall the W221 did not have a dipstick.
1 litre out of a car that ca 8 litres would ring serous alarm bells.
whats the condition of the oil in the oil filter housing. This will tell you if you drained the correct sump.
What message do you get id check oil level on the dash.
I am not convinced you did.
You mention car was cheap. maybe this is why.
I would ask the seller!
Keep us posted.

i thinks is more oil in it coz car drives ok sounds ok no warning light etc if it will be dry it will be stalled already my friend make in it about 1000 miles...
like i mentioned before it was sludge oil in oil filter, on dipstick, oil filler cap so oil looks really old
i don't see option to check oil level on dash either on his 320 or my 350 both diesels...

for me it looks like must be block somewhere on the way between block and sump coz logically oil is in engine car run ok no pressure warning light etc but oil don't go to sump
im positive i try drain in right sump om642 is fairly normal engine...

 

[alexanderfoti]

i thinks is more oil in it coz car drives ok sounds ok no warning light etc if it will be dry it will be stalled already my friend make in it about 1000 miles...
like i mentioned before it was sludge oil in oil filter, on dipstick, oil filler cap so oil looks really old
i don't see option to check oil level on dash either on his 320 or my 350 both diesels...

for me it looks like must be block somewhere on the way between block and sump coz logically oil is in engine car run ok no pressure warning light etc but oil don't go to sump
im positive i try drain in right sump om642 is fairly normal engine...

The car has no oil pressure sensor, so it could very well have no oil pressure.

I would flush it with an engine flush potentially fill it with ATF as well and ttry and get as much out as possible, then change the oil a few times.

Hopefully it was cheap!

 

[Wighty]

The car has no oil pressure sensor, so it could very well have no oil pressure.

I would flush it with an engine flush potentially fill it with ATF as well and ttry and get as much out as possible, then change the oil a few times.

Hopefully it was cheap!

What's the thought behind the ATF Alex ?

 

[matthew k]

What's the thought behind the ATF Alex ?

To flush the engine I presume. TBH that's a fragile engine to begin with IMO, I wouldn't pump too much money into it. Best thing is to remove the sump and see what's going on, give it a good clean, plut in some fresh oil, run it for 100 miles or so then change again. Actually, might be wrong, but that sump might be a ball ache to remove.

 

[pgh13]

Could you stick a long thin screwdriver (or some such, like a wire coat hanger) in the drain hole to try to assess what is still in there? Maybe if you je, je jiggle it you could break up any super thick stuff and persuade some more to come out?

 

[joderest]

never came across this issue before. If it was four wheel drive i would say the diff was drained !!!!
I wonder if someone has filled it with something like an ep90 grade to cover something up.
I would think any oil, once hot, should drain to some extent.
I cannot think of anything that would make a normal oil like sludge, i await the outcome.