Originally Posted by sun tortise

With much help and useful suggestions from the forum community, as well as visits to several local mechanics in the West Palm area, I have pretty near concluded that the tick tick tick noise my newly acquired 1980 300TD wagon is internal, and probably a rod bearing.

But Skippy had a "silly question"; is the ticking noise occurring 6 or 12 times per second at idle; that if it were 6 times per second, it would NOT be a rod, as the crank is spinning approximately 12 times per second at idle.

It is definitely about 6 times per second, not 12. So now I am perplexed.

Have an oil pan gasket on the way from Pelican, and will remove the lower oil pan when it arrives. Wondering what to look for in there in terms of play. I know to look for metal filings, but would there be any play in the portion of the rods I can reach from there, and would it be sideways, up down, or what?

Also, I have a quantity of old but clean and un-used 90 weight gear oil.

Wondering if mixing a couple of quarts of that with the regular engine oil would be a diagnostic tool in that a bad rod might run quieter with the thicker oil, or possibly even running such a mix if I chanced a 1500 mile trip with it ticking.

There is good oil pressure, no burnt smell to the oil, and the temp stays right at 80C.

Thanks again folks for all your help.

ed


1980 300TD Wagon with unknown different turbo engine.