Crap, I was going to adjust my valves today but I left the block heater on.
 

1982 300D

Well, I finally had a chance to work on the car in a long while today. I was going to adjust the valves, but I just realized that I left the block-heater on overnight, so as of an hour ago, all the coolant in the engine was pretty darn hot. How long do I need to wait before the engine is cool enough to adjust the valves properly? It's in the mid 40s outside....

which brings me to another question...it will get into the 20s tonight. I'm have no problem working in such conditions, but I'm wonderin if that will affect valve adjustments. I posed this question before, but it was linked to adjusting the valves when it's in the 40s. What about below freezing?

Thanks,

Pete.

If its in the 40's outside I would imagine after maybe 2-3 hours you'd be fine adjusting them. And it probably shouldn't be any different in the 20's, it needs to be REAL cold to make a difference. At the dealer I had mine adjusted, and they do it hot (drive it in, shut it off, they do it about 20 mins later), and manage to do it perfectly.....probably just depends on what clearance spec's for what temp your looking at or something....

I can't remember what they are, but there are different specs somewhere out there for a hot adjustment.

Answer:
 

Ambient temperature is considered 70F in the automotive industry.
If the block is under that, do not worry, use the cold setting and all will be well.:)

Thanks.

I just came back into the house to put on some down pants under my jeans :-)

Doing this job in the rain is FUN!

NOT. *slippery oily hands*

i would opt for the artic quilted carhardts. MUCH BETTER:) :) :)




just gottem. love em.

Well, I did discover something that temperatures in the 20s can complicate...I snapped a vacuum line just by moving it! I should have known that from winter camping (I've broken the occassional plastic part when it's gotten really cold).

I think 25 degrees is a bit warm for plastic to snap, but then again there are differing grades of plastic in terms of temperature durability. I guess the vacuum lines on a MB are not rated well for low-temperature flexibility.

Won't do that again.

C'mon, any 20-30 year old plastic will get brittle, and lines that old can and do break easily at room temperature, too!.

M-B's are designed for all kinds of temperatures, but age will get the best of us! :D

I guess I should not complain bout the 50 degrees here right now. Way too cold for me!