83126

Hi all,

I have a 1983 380 SEL. The car has 85,981 miles on it and I have owned it a little over a year. It was purchased from the original owners brother and has been garaged all its life. The car is in near mint condition inside and out and has books and records.

Changing the oil a few weeks ago I found lots of very small metal shavings. I sent a sample to Blackstone labs and am hoping they can help me find the source, or point me in the right direction.

I have tried to see the timing chain with a dental mirror but have not been able to see the chain. I assume it has a single-row t-chain, no evidence of it being changed in the records.

So...What do I do? The car runs great, no odd sounds. If I do the double-row chain I may still have a crap motor if the shavings have done any damage...and the shavings may not be coming from the t-chain components....

A used motor might be found for 1500 plus 1000 to install it, a rebuild may cost 4500....

If its only a chain job and the shavings are too small and soft to ruin the motor then thats what I want to do.

What would you do? What would you check? I am going to pull the valve covers off for a look, and do a compression test....what else?

I am a cowboy and do not have alot of extra cash but will spend whatever it takes to put it back on the road.

Appreciate your help...and no, I'm not driving it until its fixed.

elolson

So what did the oil analysis say?

Untertürkheim

I would do the chain conversion and see what happens on the next oil change. I would also reccomend a good synthetic like Mobil 1 0w-40, it will keep that engine going forever.

GRAFH

Were they magnetic? This will tell you if they are from your bearings or not. Also i would install a magnetic drain plug.

83126

The shavings are not magnetic. I will get a magnetic plug though, thanks GRAFH.

The oil analysis showed high levels of aluminum and silica. I live on a dirt road and that may be where the high silica content is coming from, I will replace my air filter and check the intake for leaks (filter housing lid gasket etc...).

My plan is to tear it down and do a double-row conversion.

Hopefully I will find the source of shavings in the old guide rails, perhaps the plastic broke off and the chain is chewing up the rail....make sense?

If I do find the problem, I will then order the chain, sprockets tensioner and rails. If I do not find the source I guess I'll have to tear it down further until I find it. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

I am looking forward to doing the work myself and have a decent shop and tools.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I will probably start in a few weeks, and yes, I plan on running Mobil 1.

Untertürkheim

If the oil rails were not fastened properly you would have major oil consumption, it happened to me, one was warped and was 1mm popped up.

Untertürkheim

Also, good call on running synthetic oil. Mobil 1 is very good stuff, although I am becoming more concerned with the newer oil ratings requiring less anti-wear additive.

This makes me partial to Pentosin 5w-40: http://www.pentosin.com/shop_produkt...7&pid=667&vid=

It is still synthetic and MB 229.3 rated, but SL instead of SM so it should still be full of anti-wear additives, and amazon sells it with free shipping and no tax, so it works out to about the same price as Mobil 1

http://www.amazon.com/Pentosin-Perfo...1044330&sr=1-1

Don't worry about the pictures looking different, I have bought it from amazon, it is the correct product.

GRAFH

mOBIL one is good, i'm having better results with eneos though. Also elf seems to be pretty good.