240D Engine Noise: Broken Piston

This video shows the end result of piston slap in a 1982 Mercedes Benz 240D engine (OM616 912) with 259,000 miles. Most of the larger pieces of the piston were found in the sump; the rest were caught in the oil strainer. There was no other visible damage inside the engine due to this failure. The other 3 pistons showed some wear and slap, but this must have been the one causing all the noise - see my other video for what this sounded like with the engine running. It could be useful to recognise that sound!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• piston slap
• W123
• om616

[papajoe666]

i just had a timing chain issue on my 2003 e200 petrol engine. only 75k on the clock. this resulted in a piston with similar damage. Is it possible to replace a piston and if so is it worth my while or should i try source a new engine. any help appreciated.

[om616912]

Hello! Anything can be fixed - but it can become expensive! Try contacting people in the trade and get a few quotations for different options. I would say a new engine would be expensive. Reconditioned should be cheaper. A used engine is also a good fix - if you find a good one. My preference would be to repair subject to cost. The cheapest and quickest option for me (which I took) was to install a used (2nd hand) engine. I hope that's some help. Regards.

[om616912]

Hi there, my amateur analysis is that through gradual wear, the increased clearance between piston & cylinder allowed the piston to slap hard against the cylinder wall. Over time, this constant battering managed to result in a fatigue failure of the aluminium piston. Maybe a tiny imperfection / scratch on one piston gave the fatigue its start. Rest of the engine was good, so servicing was prob OK. Just one of those things. Not something too many people would see every day I suppose!

[maersklandro]

And you think the bore isn't oval?

[TurboDieselRabbit]

I have a IS300 that has a piston broken like yours, I should have watched yours first.

[33river]

it'l buff out

[bddc201]

Looks like cutter tool geometry flaw. Or heat treat, or both.

[509horse]

@TheSharky666 me two

[TheSharky666]

i would like to see the block !

lol

[jamesdond1]

There are good engine rebuilders out there but it is a crap shoot. A good option if you have a Japanise car is buying a replaced engine from Japan or Japanise take-out. These are low millage engines from Japan and they are good and in larger markets very inexpensive. Japan has legal limits on engine milage.

[highdeserthater]

thats bad. lol i have seen some weird engine blowups before, but as far as blown pistons alone go, this one takes the cake!

[Masterplayah9]

its really really broken

[weldon0m]

have you tried oil in the sump?..it helps alot to stop this from happening