Advice

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Danny Clarke 22 years ago

W126 (500 SEL)

180K Miles and puffing smoke in two circumstances....what gives? .... what needs doing?

Standing for several minutes in stopped traffic, I notice cloud of smoke on pulling away from standing still.

On agressive acceleration (mainly on kick-down in sport mode) same thing.

Otherwise it runs fine and doesn't trail a big blue cloud.

Suggestions as to cause (Valve-stems, cylinder wear / piston rings),

Uses 1.5 - 2.0 Litres of Oil a week (depending on mileage - i.e 500 -

1000 )

Ideas/suggestions anyone?

All will be gratefully accepted (except "ditch the bitch" - because I love this classic car).

Regards,

Dan.

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Paul McKechnie 22 years ago

Valve guide seals.

Paul

1984 500 SEL (250,000 miles)

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T.G. Lambach 22 years ago

Classic symptom of worn valve stem seals.

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nick 22 years ago

Your only option is to get the heads rebuilt.

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Rockman59 22 years ago

Your only option is to get the heads rebuilt. ___________________________________________ I disagree with the above statement. I 'd say it is about a 98% chance that you only need the valve guide seals. About $500 to $700 job, maybe less at a good indie MB shop. It is a very common repair usually done about every

100K miles......

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Lee Sharp 22 years ago

What color is the smoke? Blue = Oil. Black = Fuel Rich Condition. White = Water. Blue is usually oil from the valve guides. Perhaps just seals, or perhaps guides. Guides usually require pulling the heads. White is almost always water from a blown head gasket, or sometimes a cracked head. Black means a fuel injection problem.

Lee

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Vic Palun 22 years ago

My 1983 W126 (280SE) had a similar problem a few months back and my Merc mechanic replaced valve stem seals without removing the head. No smoke and no more oil top-ups. He said he used a special tool to stop the valve(s) dropping into the combustion chamber. price for this was very reasonable about AUS$ 200.00.

Vic

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nick 22 years ago

2 Litres of oil per week sounds more than seals, more likely the guides are shot.

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IF YOU CAN'T SWIM DON'T JUMP IN 22 years ago

Re: Advice My 1983 W126 (280SE) had a similar problem a few months back and my Merc mechanic replaced valve stem seals without removing the head. No smoke and no more oil top-ups. He said he used a special tool to stop the valve(s) dropping into the combustion chamber. price for this was very reasonable about AUS$ 200.00.

Vic xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx that tool is compressed air in the spark plug hole. holds the valves closed.

case

the case, minus a few cans!

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IF YOU CAN'T SWIM DON'T JUMP IN 22 years ago

Re: Advice My 1983 W126 (280SE) had a similar problem a few months back and my Merc mechanic replaced valve stem seals without removing the head. No smoke and no more oil top-ups. He said he used a special tool to stop the valve(s) dropping into the combustion chamber. price for this was very reasonable about AUS$ 200.00.

Vic xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx that tool is compressed air in the spark plug hole. holds the valves closed.

case

the case, minus a few cans!

Vote

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