Engine oil leak damage assessment - sanity check

[Yabu]

Ok, so having been watching Esky’s thread I thought I’d join in on the self inflicted pain…

So I’ve bought a diesel c class with the om651 engine which according to the previous owner has had a massive oil loss, car taken to garage but not looked at before it went back to the finance company.

This doesn’t seem to be an unheard of problem on these engines but I’m thinking I have two options, the first and not one I’m thinking of trying is to find the leak, fix, fill with oil and attempt to start.

The second is damage assessment, I’m going to pull the oil filter and open it up to look for debris and empty the oil pan and check the oil as a first step, I’m also thinking to drop the sump off for a better look in the engine.

Drop the sump or not?
Compression or leak down test worth doing if the leak is fixed first?

Obviously any damage found is going to change my approach after that point

Edited by Yabu on Monday 20th March 21:35

[E-bmw]

Sounds like you have a plan.

Go for it!

[LordLoveLength]

There is a screw-in timing chain tensioner at the rear of the block - these can come loose and result in a big oil loss.
There was a range of engine numbers likely to be affected in a service bulletin- easy enough to check.