Dear All,

I've had problems with oil ending up in my inlet / exhaust manifold =>

OM617 manifold oil = broken valve guide

(1981 W123 300D => OM617)

Unfortunately cleaning it up and tightening stuff hasn't worked so I'm now on a mission to check some things before I strip and rebuild the cylinder head.

I'd like to do a leak down test before I take it all apart (I hope it is just the head!). Does any one have any tips for this? Good / reliable tools? Cheap but effective DIY alternatives? Time saving advice? Links to good threads?

I expect I will have to check the valve guides, which will mean I'll have to dismantle the valve springs etc etc. Do I need to buy one of those expensive SIR tools valve compressors?

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!