Bringing a 50 Year Old Diesel Back to Life

Bringing a 1971 Mercedes Om615.912 diesel engine back to running condition.
First start in ~15 years.

[@kkp0422]

Badassss sound. great job

[@Artiz...]

Outstanding video Cody! Thanks for the upload. It was a bit like viewing some kind of motor engineers therapy video... virtual hypnosis even! The visceral satisfaction from just watching this astonishing recondition and rebuild in 30 minutes is 'off the chart'! Beautiful work!

[@codyfazio6686]

Thank you!

[@sailingmutzer6426]

Having the OM 621 in my sailboat I love the healthy sound of this Mercedes 615!!! It looks lik new too. Great job and thanks for sharing this video.

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks for watching

[@luiscardozo7764]

Engine sounds like Berlin Symphonic!!

[@Milkybar3320011]

Love your work

[@nicolasnorena9837]

Great Video! I am rebuilding an Om616 for what's going to be my first car! (1981 240d), and this was a lot of help... Thanks!

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks for watching!

[@note_finger]

i have an 82 240D auto and I want to rebuild the engine so bad but theres nothing wrong with the engine besides piston ring wear causing blow by and buring some oil

[@johnsquier688]

That's amazing Cody! I would say the right person now has this car. My father would be smiling! Thanks for sharing this video.

[@ccsccs]

John Squier grandpa would definitely be happy to see this. Awesome job Cody.

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks, glad you guys enjoyed the video. I daily drive the white 300SD and love it!

[@ccsccs]

Cody Fazio i love it. That was always one of my favorites to drive. I was driving it when it quit out. Good job.

[@giselarappel2827]

great job , greetings from Bavaria, blessings Hermann

[@N-e.o]

Absolutely amazing, started right away and runs like new. Great job

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks, that's a good engine. I'm still looking for something to put it in

[@vincentsferrazza2034]

amazing work nice job.

[@r3FMusic]

Thanks a lot for the video. good health to your hands. Thanks to you, we have seen and learned a lot. I would appreciate if similar videos were uploaded. Thanks again. I left a big heart here

[@peterdrossler3944]

Wow! She sounds like a dream!! Great job!!!

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks

[@african.origins]

What a great video. I’m getting a OM617 to put in my ‘82 W460 SWB gelandewagen soon. Looking forward to be able to listen to that diesel purr! Looked freezing there - cheers from A much warmer South Africa.

[@lma112567007]

I absolutely love u for this video. I’m rebuilding my engine now, I’m a women, novice and u have giving me such insight. My farther maid me I un-afraid

[@killallfornothing]

u're dying kind... :(

[@attilakohbor3360]

Great work .

[@joaquinguarisma3]

Wooo Amazing!!!

[@grimchuck]

Sounds good! Great job

[@davidsaili7042]

Perfect job there sir salute

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrDoggy2024]

exelent work.

[@noahrhys]

Totally awesome. I’d love to have your help on my 1976 300D. You. Are. Amazing!!!!

[@codyfazio6686]

If you have any questions, let me know. Thanks for watching!

[@adventurousairman]

As a fan of Mercedes Diesels BRAVO !

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks, I enjoyed putting that engine together

[@killallfornothing]

Nice film.. no bullshit and disco music. I'm also fighting with my om615... btw. change glowplugs to fast glowers... helps a lot to battery

[@codyfazio6686]

I realized immediately after ordering the old style glowplugs that they offered the updated style, oh well. On top of that, two of the four new ones were defective...one was passing cylinder pressure through to atmosphere and another had a messed up insulator. Thanks for watching

[@killallfornothing]

@@codyfazio6686 it was my plesure :) and these old glowers take forever to heat up... i dont even mention that in line glowers are problematic. When one dies, alle are kaput... once again. Nice job man.

[@codyfazio6686]

@@killallfornothing Good luck with yours!

[@Juan_Doooh]

Damn thats nice and ready for an old Jeep.

[@codyfazio6686]

I'll eventually find a home for it in something

[@walterzoegernitz5210]

Very good video. I would recommend you to let the glow wire on the battery during the start.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

i am going thru my om617 right now. just going thru the injectors and putting it back together. funny how the 617 has many of the same things this eng has

[@kalikasurf]

Look out cousin Vic, Cody is obviously taking a shot across the bow with this video!!! Custom thumbnail......snapshot lead in.....hype party music......and some fancy grinder work. Kids movin into your territory!!! Gotta give him the rallenta!! I think a broken thumb out’a do the trick! Good stuff Cody, you got some patience man, I’d just break stuff and buy a new one! Came out fantastic! Well done

[@codyfazio6686]

You had me laughing lol. I'm running out of music. Having a hard time finding good stuff. I settled for half the songs in the video. Good ole' Vic definitely needs to up the thumbnail game

[@kalikasurf]

Cody Fazio with all the copyright stuff, it’s a huge limit for sure! But ya did fine! And what can ya do about Vic???? He’s an old millennial......they just can’t learn the new tricks! He’s hopeless! Ha ha.

[@codyfazio6686]

@@kalikasurf Vic thinks he's some micro generation called the xennials. He can't handle owning up to being a millennial.

[@kalikasurf]

Cody Fazio yup, that segment of the population born between February and April 1985......now I remember that generation😂😂😂😂

[@VicsYard]

kalikasurf Hahahaha

[@freddie407d7]

Good job. I have the same engine in my Bus and thinking about a turboconversion . Do you have recommendations?

[@marceloalmeida2919]

Hola! Exelente video!! Hermoso trabajo!!! A cuántos grados colcolaste la bomba de inyección? Estoy reconstruyendo un Om 615 y no tengo esa especificacion gracias!! Saludos desde Uruguay!!

[@codyfazio6686]

615.913/940 26 degrees before TDC 615.912/941 24 degrees before TDC

[@marceloalmeida2919]

@@codyfazio6686 muchas gracias Cody!! Saludos desde Uruguay!

[@jozaehtlopez3164]

Amazing!!! Any suggestions on a OM616 240D engine overhaul (torque specs,timing chain, oil pump etc)

[@codyfazio6686]

I have a service manual. Let me know what specs you need

[@sasaberbat7767]

Nice work...tell me what Is normal consumption of oil from service to service 10 000km engine 240D

[@SaricaTV]

harika

[@doitforfun460]

Nice job, how much would you charge for a job like that ?

[@raggarn12]

Sounds like music!

[@codyfazio6686]

Yes, now i need to find something to put it in

[@user-wq3qc8hh9f]

ОМ 615,2 литра!

[@meetbadrakiya1350]

Hey dude, really appreciate your work, any contact links for your contact?

[@Roman-navruzi1217]

You should stand another pistons ring.

[@RIZMINE]

Amazing job. How long did it take to complete

[@codyfazio6686]

A few days picking away at it

[@yunusemre8655]

Your work is very nice and congratulations. I have a question for you. I disassembled the diesel pump of an engine with the number om616 and now I need to reassemble it, so I need your information. To what degree should I turn the crankshaft?

[@codyfazio6686]

24° before top dead center

[@yunusemre8655]

@@codyfazio6686 Thank you very much

[@skalice1950]

Nice work! What have you been using for cleaning the engine and parts' What is that spray in yellow can?

[@codyfazio6686]

I use kerosene for getting off the heavy oil and grease then brake clean and acetone for surface prep. Thanks for watching

[@skalice1950]

@@codyfazio6686 kerosene fuel for jets? Did you use a steel brush for brishing surfaces after that?

[@codyfazio6686]

@@skalice1950 The kerosene that can be aquired at fuel stations that is used in salamander heaters. Sometimes I'll use diesel, gas works good too. I heard spray on oven cleaner works well. I almost never use degreasers like purple power or simple green, they never seem to cut through heavy grime. The bristles on the brush resemble fine strands of plastic or something like that.

[@dieselwagoneer18]

Nice video. That's a 240d motor?

[@codyfazio6686]

Thanks for watching. That is a 220d engine, Om615

[@naufalakarriou1188]

Nice Video Cody! I have the same engine i think OM615.. It was running great once! Then It was still for 3 years with little fuel in the tank. I started it, it was running good, then i ran out of fuel. Restarted it with fuel, ran for 10 minutes good on idle, then it just died. I topped a bit more fuel and tried to start but it did not want to, then it started a little but then died again. And last start attempt (yesterday) it was kind of running for 3s but with little power on full gas then it died again. Do i have water in the system or air ? or both? Can something get damaged if i just continue try to start it? Any tips? BR Nau

[@codyfazio6686]

I would start by placing a jug of fuel next to the engine, disconnect feed and return lines coming from the tank and run some lines right into the jug of fuel. Brake clean the injection pump and the hand primer. Watch for leaks, especially at the base of hand primer. Let me know how you make out.

[@naufalakarriou1188]

@@codyfazio6686 Thank you Cody! I will try this :)

[@naufalakarriou1188]

@@codyfazio6686 OK Cody! Its working like a clock now! Before i was going to try your thing i put used some start gas, water remover, and engine clean in the tank. I tried to check the oil level in the carburator, but could not make sense out of it. How do i check that and do you know what type i should use ? :)

[@codyfazio6686]

@@naufalakarriou1188 I used sae 30 oil. Been awhile since I assembled, I believe there's a plug on the side of the pump. Fill until it spills from that hole

[@GasGuzzlerV8]

Hi! I have the same your Om 615.912 powered a Steinbock forklift! They move transmission in flywheel side, and oleodynamic pump in nose pulley side. Have a problem: he makes gray smoke (not black) at all RPM! What is the problem in your opinion? Valve seals? Piston rings? Thank you!

[@codyfazio6686]

Blue smoke/haze usually indicates a ring/valve seal issue...gray could be an injection pump timing issue or an injector issue. Does it do it cold as well as hot? And did the problem come on over time or all at once?

[@GasGuzzlerV8]

@@codyfazio6686 thank you for answer! I don't know exactly because I have only recently. it seems to me that in the beginning it smoked less but not sure. I only made an oil change with 15w40 and refill oil pump. For sure it's not blue smoke but grey/white. Could the pump have gone out of phase?

[@codyfazio6686]

@@GasGuzzlerV8 Are you in the USA? I can run thru how to check timing chain stretch and pump timing on the phone. Too much to type

[@TatoGURIELI]

I wanna instal turbo on my w123 2.0D and is it possible? And is it ok for engine ?

[@codyfazio6686]

It's possible and been done. The problem is the injection pump can only provide so much fuel as it sits. May see slight benefits with low boost...5-8 pounds. The non turbo engines don't have oil squirters under the pistons to cool them like the factory turbo ones do. All in all, a small turbo running low boost with the stock injection pump won't yield that much more power for the money spent.

[@ricardodias3017]

How Many point you put the injection pump??? 24???

[@codyfazio6686]

Manual states the following: 615.913/940 engines set to 26 degrees before TDC 615.912/941 engines set to 24 degrees before TDC 616 engines set to 24 degrees before TDC

[@MotherlodeMotors]

What is the thing you are cleaning at 20:35? My 616 doesn’t have that.

[@codyfazio6686]

Some cars were equipped with SLS(self leveling suspension) in the rear. That's the hydraulic pump for that system.

[@MotherlodeMotors]

@@codyfazio6686 Thanks.

[@MotherlodeMotors]

​@@codyfazio6686 I've got some other questions, maybe you know. I plan to transplant a 616 into a model A, I bought an engine and transmission without a car so some of the stuff isn't clear just looking at it. - If I don't run a heater can I block off the water pipe on the side of the head? Same for the little pipe coming off the side of the water pump? Looks like you ran yours over and connected them for the test run. - Previous owner capped the oil cooler lines off the filter housing so I assume I can just leave it like that? - You left the line off from the vacuum pump to the manifold, does that need to be there? Can I get rid of the fitting on the manifold and just run a line from the vacuum pump to my brake booster if I run power brakes? What if I don't need vacuum at all, suppose I should just leave the line to the manifold? - What is the lever on the driver's side of the injection pump for? It's not hooked to anything, shut off?

[@codyfazio6686]

@@MotherlodeMotors You can plug the heater core lines. I usually loop together rather than dead-end them. You can run no oil cooler but I recommend putting one on there. These engines dissipate alot of heat thru those coolers. If you're just doing some light driving around town or reside in cooler climate you'll prolly be fine with it capped. Hot weather and pulling hills or highway driving, definitely add one. Off the top of my head I believe that line going to the intake from the vac pump is so the vac pump is sucking clean filtered air. The linkage on side of pump is the shutoff linkage. It moves the fuel rack to the off position.

[@MotherlodeMotors]

@@codyfazio6686 Awesome, thanks!

[@hrdtduck]

looks good, but no cylinder re-fresh or bearings, or valve job, cleaned up but not rebuilt, did you do anything new??

[@codyfazio6686]

No ridge, beautiful cross hatch. Seats and guides were fine, no pitting. I lapped them off camera. Cylinder head was off because of mice debris in one cylinder causing a lock up. There was no intent to rebuild, no where was that claimed. I solved the problem at hand and threw some lipstick on it. Will run for years.

[@madknoxrecords]

Um restoring the same engine as we speak

[@codyfazio6686]

Let me know if you need any info, I have the service manual for the engine

[@VicsYard]

Well well well look what we got here. Crusty ol wire wheel worn out to the steel. Contaminated with grease from Chernobyl. Clear kerosene soaked stretched out white underwear friggin did I just watch?!?!?!

[@codyfazio6686]

You're late ole chum