1987 300d om603 loud clacking/ticking noise [VIDEO]
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From: Dublin Ohio
1988 300CE 160K & 1993 400E 115K
1987 300d om603 loud clacking/ticking noise [VIDEO]
Hey guys I recently purchased a nice little 300d a few weeks ago with roughly 110k miles on it. This is my first diesel and my knowledge of them is quite limited. I've noticed a loud metallic clacking noise coming from the top end primarily when its idling and loudest when the engine is cold. The clack or tick is isn't consistent in frequency but is proportional to the rpm (if that makes any sense). Also the noise disappears with higher rpm. Because the noise is inconsistent (occasionally skips a beat) I don't think its a lifter tick, its also louder than any lifter tick I've ever heard. From a stethoscope I've narrowed to the valve cover somewhere near cylinder 1 or 2. There also is some hammering noise coming from the 2nd injector nozzle. I've read that the injectors can cause this type of noise what do you guys think? I'm still not ruling out lifters either.
To help here's a link to a video of my engine:
The noise is especially noticeable towards the end of the video after the RPMs come back down. It's a higher pitch clack noise distinct from the lower-frequency noises of the engine.
P.S. Don't mind the oozing fuel line on injector one, I've got some hose ordered.
Thanks Guys!
To help here's a link to a video of my engine:
The noise is especially noticeable towards the end of the video after the RPMs come back down. It's a higher pitch clack noise distinct from the lower-frequency noises of the engine.
P.S. Don't mind the oozing fuel line on injector one, I've got some hose ordered.
Thanks Guys!
Last edited by Jollyroger054; May 23, 2013 at 06:57 PM.
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1987 300D /w124/om603
I have the same noise. The clacking sounds. I have removed and replaced injectors with new ones with same results. Only thing that takes the noise out is when doing a diesel purge. During the purge the engine runs without the clacking.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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1987 300D /w124/om603
Thanks Plutoe,
I have had the IP rebuilt after first noticing the noise. I don't think its the IP. I'll have to use your recommended method to find the location of the noise though. Thanks.
I have to say that i first noticed the noise after getting work done on the cylinder head. I had the old cracked cylinder head removed and replaced. The problem was that by the time the work was done my car had been sitting for almost a year. The cracked head let water into the cylinders that caused corrosion. The bottom half of the engine was then removed and replaced with another om603 that had been recently parted from a car that was sent to a parts yard. When the car was returned to me is when i noticed the noise. I don't remember the noise before the work was done.
I have had the IP rebuilt after first noticing the noise. I don't think its the IP. I'll have to use your recommended method to find the location of the noise though. Thanks.
I have to say that i first noticed the noise after getting work done on the cylinder head. I had the old cracked cylinder head removed and replaced. The problem was that by the time the work was done my car had been sitting for almost a year. The cracked head let water into the cylinders that caused corrosion. The bottom half of the engine was then removed and replaced with another om603 that had been recently parted from a car that was sent to a parts yard. When the car was returned to me is when i noticed the noise. I don't remember the noise before the work was done.
