Blow By Issues

[Bowie]

Engine compartment is smoking and sooty on an 82 300cd. This is becoming a serious issue and smoke is occasionally getting in the cabin through the steering column.

I've been trying to figure out what to do about this.

There is some build up on the turbo drain components but it's thick and doesn't look that fresh. I cleaned it off yesterday so to see if I can spot a leak there.

Do I need to clean adjust remove or replace the egr? Might that help.

Hope the rings are not spent. Can't afford a rebuild. I'm guessing a compression test might be in order. The engine seems to be really powerful especially at high rpm's It's really weak in the low rpms and especially when cold.

I've been looking at this thing called the en-valve that is supposed to work magic on the pcv valve. Here is the link: "www.envalve.com/">www.envalve.com/
I'm waiting to hear back from them. Doesn't seem like this engine works the same as the motors this valve was intended for. There is a check valve in the PCV system above the oil pan.

[Bowie]

I saw someone in another forum talk about alieving their blow by issues with: "high performance air intake on and made a new oil vapor separator"

How does one make a new oil vapor separator?

[kerry]

Sounds like you have an exhaust leak, not blowby issues. I don't think blowby will typically leave soot. Look for black soot around the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes etc.
All these engines lack horsepower until warmed up.

[Bowie]

Maybe a combination of problems then? Sooty might not had been the proper adjective. I've been losing oil through smoke vapor in the engine compartment. There is oil around the oil cap and a puddle will form on top of the air filter housing.

I used to have problems with smoke from the exhaust pipe, but not anymore, it was a bit very light blue almost white. Sometimes there is a bit at start up, but it's not that bad anymore.

She has been having a hard time when starting cold. I had to pull start it twice this winter and drop the shifter into second going 45-50. (An interesting trick on the I believe 215 automatic transmissions, got a 84 300 td a few years ago for $200 from a mechanic in TN who couldn't get the car going and had it started the first day by doing this outright) The glow plugs are good and I believe fuel delivery to be on point. Although, I was running b-20 with cetane boost so there might had been some gelling, and I had a small fuel leak at the fuel pump from running bio through the system.

I borrowed a compression tester from a friend and am going to check things out there. Kerry, I will also look for soot around the exhaust pipes and manifold.

There is an interesting post here from f18 about cleaning up the oil return galleys to possibly alieviate the oil in the air?
Blow-By curioisty questions

This is the message I got back from the fella over at en-valve.com

Bowie,
I have installed my system on a Buick diesel and it has worked fine. But it needed an electric vacuum pump and a lot of changes. If I could see your Mercedes I might guess how much is involved. Trouble with diesel is that there is no vacuum in the intake manifold.
There is not much help to displace blow-by. I know how black your oil is and how much gets splashed all over. There is no simple answer for diesel. Thank you for your interest.
Emil

[87tdwagen]

You likely have a combination of issues that need further investigation.
Degrease and clean as much as you can, as you do inspect for the obvious.

Not sure on your set-up but you may have an oil catch can on the air cleaner assembly that is full or overflowing, the return line to the sump can get clogged. You seal on the oil filler may be shot and letting a lot of oil drip onto the exhaust.

Another spot to check would be your EGR assembly, you could have a leak there one that would be very sooty, check the flex connector.

In the end its best to clean the area as best as you can and monitor until you find the sources of your smoke.

Originally Posted by Bowie

I saw someone in another forum talk about alieving their blow by issues with: "high performance air intake on and made a new oil vapor separator"

You were lied to, there is no such thing as a "high performance air intake", only a low performance K&N wannabe filter on the end of a tube.

[Bowie]

The oilly smoke is escaping almost exclusively through the breather hose going from the top of the valve cover to the top of the air filter housing. I thought I might need a new one because of the fitting between the two pieces was smoking and getting oily. The breather hoses are put together like that though. There is just too much pressure for the gases not to escape. An intake issue possibly?

On another note, got my tranny shifting really nice yesterday, lil vac mod adjustments. One battle is won!!

[dieseldan44]

Bowie -

Step #1 - get the updated baffled breather hose at a parts place if you don't have it already. Its flat and rubbery. They dont seem to have it here at MercedesShop. Give Phil or Roy a call.

Step #2 - use a hose clamp to keep the tube on the valve cover - mine needed it to stay on long term


You will be all set. Had the same problem...

dd

[vstech]

well that will solve some of the symptoms, but not the root of the problem. if it's sooty/oily out the vent tube, its got blow by that needs to be addressed. you can try the leak down test, basically you pressurize the cylinders and listen for where the air is escaping. if it's whiseling out the intake, you have bad valves, out the valve cover, it's bad guides, out the crankcase, it's bad rings...

[Bowie]

dieseldan: I do have the flat rubbery return hose. It is hose clamped
to the valve cover already. (It's leaking there too)

vstech: Leak down test eh? How do I pressurize the cylinders? I'm guessing that cranking the engine with no fuel supply do the trick. (What's the best way to cut off fuel supply, need to know to do a compression test as well)

As a disclaimer, I'm a wanna be shade tree mechanic with limited tools and very little budget at the moment!