Average oil consumption ??
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1991 W201 190E 2.6, 1991 W124 300E 2.5 TD
Average oil consumption ??
Hi there.
I am purchasing a 1991 W201 190E 2.6 in the coming days. Vehicle has just shy of 199,000 miles. Drove it yesterday and for its age and mileage it appears to be very solid. No major rust. Owner states that it uses oil mainly to leaks. I plan to do oil analysis after I bring it home. Question…what is the average oil consumption to those that know for this old timer Mercedes?
I am purchasing a 1991 W201 190E 2.6 in the coming days. Vehicle has just shy of 199,000 miles. Drove it yesterday and for its age and mileage it appears to be very solid. No major rust. Owner states that it uses oil mainly to leaks. I plan to do oil analysis after I bring it home. Question…what is the average oil consumption to those that know for this old timer Mercedes?
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1991 190E 2.3
Ideally, you shouldn't be using more than a quart between oil changes. If the car is using more than that then there could be some additional issues. I would suggest purchasing some engine dye from your local parts store, running that in the engine in order to identify where the oil leaks are and how serious they might be. I would also suggest that you check the head gasket and see if there's any documentation that it's been replaced. The M103 engine that's in the 2.6 is notorious for blown head gaskets. I would also advise you to make sure that the car has been properly maintained on a regular basis as a car with lots of deferred maintenance might be best to walk away from. You might also want to consider having a pre-purchase inspection done by an MB expert to be sure that the car doesn't have any serious major issues that could cost big money to correct.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2021
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1991 W201 190E 2.6, 1991 W124 300E 2.5 TD
Thanks for your input. For what I am paying for the 190E it is worth having to deal with oil consumption issue that former owner reported. He swears it is not the head gasket. Will investigate further…And I’ll do my own work if needed. Again…Thanks!
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1991 190E 2.3
Glad to help you out. I own a 2.3. FYI, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz. I would urge you to investigate carefully before you purchase as you could be walking into quite a money pit. Previous owner not fixing the oil leak would be red flag for me.
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Not sure if you ended up purchasing this car but it is quite common to have oil burning for a 200K mile engine IF it was used regularly as a daily driver for short distances.
Even if it was maintained like my car. What wears a properly maintained engine is cold starts. I am burning about 1 quart/500 miles at 200Kmiles. I am the original owner and know the history.
My car has been started cold 40K times, used <5miles per trip for 30 years. Same mileage that was driven 20 miles per trip will last a lot longer. Probably over 300K miles.
BTW I have already had the head re-done, guides, valve seals etc. I am convinced it is the piston oil rings (worn). Will need a engine overhaul at some point. Currently just add oil once a month.
No compression issues whatsoever.
In your case if the engine never had the valve guides done, that will improve matters by a factor of two.
Even if it was maintained like my car. What wears a properly maintained engine is cold starts. I am burning about 1 quart/500 miles at 200Kmiles. I am the original owner and know the history.
My car has been started cold 40K times, used <5miles per trip for 30 years. Same mileage that was driven 20 miles per trip will last a lot longer. Probably over 300K miles.
BTW I have already had the head re-done, guides, valve seals etc. I am convinced it is the piston oil rings (worn). Will need a engine overhaul at some point. Currently just add oil once a month.
No compression issues whatsoever.
In your case if the engine never had the valve guides done, that will improve matters by a factor of two.
Last edited by dolucasi; Aug 20, 2021 at 01:06 AM. Reason: typo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,002
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1991 190E 2.3
Not sure if you ended up purchasing this car but it is quite common to have oil burning for a 200K mile engine IF it was used regularly as a daily driver for short distances.
Even if it was maintained like my car. What wears a properly maintained engine is cold starts. I am burning about 1 quart/500 miles at 200Kmiles. I am the original owner and know the history.
My car has been started cold 40K times, used <5miles per trip for 30 years. Same mileage that was driven 20 miles per trip will last a lot longer. Probably over 300K miles.
BTW I have already had the head re-done, guides, valve seals etc. I am convinced it is the piston oil rings (worn). Will need a engine overhaul at some point. Currently just add oil once a month.
No compression issues whatsoever.
In your case if the engine never had the valve guides done, that will improve matters by a factor of two.
Even if it was maintained like my car. What wears a properly maintained engine is cold starts. I am burning about 1 quart/500 miles at 200Kmiles. I am the original owner and know the history.
My car has been started cold 40K times, used <5miles per trip for 30 years. Same mileage that was driven 20 miles per trip will last a lot longer. Probably over 300K miles.
BTW I have already had the head re-done, guides, valve seals etc. I am convinced it is the piston oil rings (worn). Will need a engine overhaul at some point. Currently just add oil once a month.
No compression issues whatsoever.
In your case if the engine never had the valve guides done, that will improve matters by a factor of two.
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,377
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Hey, good to meet you here again 190Efan. My engine has almost zero blow-by. I measured crankcase pressure and intake pressure simultaneously to get to the the bottom of the oil burning.
Also, there is no oil making its way into the intake thru the breather hose. Super clean there too.
So it is not the compression rings.
After this and the compression and leak-down tests I have conducted, and also the observation of the condition of the cylinders during the head job when it was removed (with all the honing marks still in tact) my conclusion is that either the oil rings are worn or stuck letting oil into the cylinders. Oil burning is rather even in all cylinders, meaning the spark plugs get fouled evenly on all 6.
BTW, I have flushed the engine twice to see if I can release the oil rings, and unfortunately, the oil burning went from 1000mi/qrt down to 500mi/qrt. So all the build-up in the piston rings/cylinders must have been helping with the oil burning. Wish I had not done the flushes.
I will only know for sure once the engine is opened up. Currently the engine (and garage) is occupied with my son's Miata Engine rebuild. So we wait....
- Cheers!
Also, there is no oil making its way into the intake thru the breather hose. Super clean there too.
So it is not the compression rings.
After this and the compression and leak-down tests I have conducted, and also the observation of the condition of the cylinders during the head job when it was removed (with all the honing marks still in tact) my conclusion is that either the oil rings are worn or stuck letting oil into the cylinders. Oil burning is rather even in all cylinders, meaning the spark plugs get fouled evenly on all 6.
BTW, I have flushed the engine twice to see if I can release the oil rings, and unfortunately, the oil burning went from 1000mi/qrt down to 500mi/qrt. So all the build-up in the piston rings/cylinders must have been helping with the oil burning. Wish I had not done the flushes.
I will only know for sure once the engine is opened up. Currently the engine (and garage) is occupied with my son's Miata Engine rebuild. So we wait....
- Cheers!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2020
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1991 190E 2.3
Hey, good to meet you here again 190Efan. My engine has almost zero blow-by. I measured crankcase pressure and intake pressure simultaneously to get to the the bottom of the oil burning.
Also, there is no oil making its way into the intake thru the breather hose. Super clean there too.
So it is not the compression rings.
After this and the compression and leak-down tests I have conducted, and also the observation of the condition of the cylinders during the head job when it was removed (with all the honing marks still in tact) my conclusion is that either the oil rings are worn or stuck letting oil into the cylinders. Oil burning is rather even in all cylinders, meaning the spark plugs get fouled evenly on all 6.
BTW, I have flushed the engine twice to see if I can release the oil rings, and unfortunately, the oil burning went from 1000mi/qrt down to 500mi/qrt. So all the build-up in the piston rings/cylinders must have been helping with the oil burning. Wish I had not done the flushes.
I will only know for sure once the engine is opened up. Currently the engine (and garage) is occupied with my son's Miata Engine rebuild. So we wait....
- Cheers!
Also, there is no oil making its way into the intake thru the breather hose. Super clean there too.
So it is not the compression rings.
After this and the compression and leak-down tests I have conducted, and also the observation of the condition of the cylinders during the head job when it was removed (with all the honing marks still in tact) my conclusion is that either the oil rings are worn or stuck letting oil into the cylinders. Oil burning is rather even in all cylinders, meaning the spark plugs get fouled evenly on all 6.
BTW, I have flushed the engine twice to see if I can release the oil rings, and unfortunately, the oil burning went from 1000mi/qrt down to 500mi/qrt. So all the build-up in the piston rings/cylinders must have been helping with the oil burning. Wish I had not done the flushes.
I will only know for sure once the engine is opened up. Currently the engine (and garage) is occupied with my son's Miata Engine rebuild. So we wait....
- Cheers!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,377
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
Nice to see you here Nate! Yes I am puzzled too since I also have my head re-built. I know my #5 cylinder is a little worse than others.
And the engine flush made it worse by a factor of two.
I will only know when I pull the engine some day. Till then we just add a quart every other fill up....
Have any idea how many highway miles on your car?
And the engine flush made it worse by a factor of two.
I will only know when I pull the engine some day. Till then we just add a quart every other fill up....
Have any idea how many highway miles on your car?
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Joined: Sep 2021
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190e, 450sl, 300D
Honestly no idea but the carfax is pretty helpful. It's basically my only records.
Interesting that the dealer opted to replace the entire head assembly when the gasket blew in 2004. So, it would be on its second head gasket at this point.
Interesting that the dealer opted to replace the entire head assembly when the gasket blew in 2004. So, it would be on its second head gasket at this point.
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Posts: 82
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89 190E 2.6 Blue, 89 190E 2.6, teal green, 99 SL500 Sport
I just did a cylinder head swap last year on my green car, but in that case the machine shop had a refurbished head ready to go that he needed to dump.
