Hey, so I just got a #20 head installed on my 87 300d and got it running. It starts easily and idles well once its warm. Car runs great when driving, turbo spools well and makes good power. Alda needs adjustment as its a little sluggish off the line.
Now the problem is that after it sits for awhile(overnight) it smokes pretty bad on start up and continues to smoke until I give it heavy throttle and spool the turbo, then there is no noticeable smoke. Oil level was down about 1/2 quart in a hundred miles. I attributed that to new filter, 12 new lifters and a dry cylinder head.
Does this sound like turbo seals? Valve stem seals?

One other quirk is the temp gauge sometimes pegs out on cold start but after a little bit seems to drop and read accurately. Bad sending unit?

It sounds like a bad valve stem seal to me. Did you install new valve stem seals on it?

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

No I didn't. I was in a hurry to get the head on as I'm moving and didn't want to tow it. I am immediately regretting that decision as that's what I am suspecting.

Crappy valve stem seals will contribute to idle smoke and can contribute to that startup smoke, but they will NOT result in that kind of oil consumption! How oily is your crossover pipe? I'd be looking at turbo seals for a half quart in 100 miles.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Could most of that half quart have been from the new filter, lifters and a mostly dry head at restart. I did oil the cam and lifters with a little assembly lube.

Could be, could be consumption too. Keep an eye on it and see what the oil level does.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Ok I'll watch oil consumption over the next couple hundred miles. I took it in for an alignment today and have to replace the tierods. Apparently they are locked up and can't be adjusted.

^^^^ That's what a torch and PB blaster are for.... Who did you take it to pep boys?

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

I took it to firestone so I could get lifetime alignment service. They told me they tried using a torch and still got nowhere. Tie rods are pretty cheap so I figured I'd replace them then bring it back.

All is not lost, you can replace the seals while the head is installed. Not a lot of fun, you've got to set each piston to TDC to hold up the valves while you swap out the seals, but it has been done before.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

Another thing I noticed today, it starts easily and idles smooth and smoke free for about 15 seconds then begins idling poorly/missing and smoking.

See if there is a certain cylinder(s) causing all the smoke, just crack the fuel lines. Poor idle and missing and smoking is exactly what my diesel does too. You should do a compression test and a leakdown test to give yourself a good idea where you stand.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Have you modified the pre-glow system so you get after-glow too?

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

Did you mention the color of the smoke and if the smoke smells like Oil or Fuel?

Sounds like the heat from the Glow Plugs is allowing a smooth start and initial idle. After that 15 seconds of good idle turns to a poor idle does it continue to idle poorly and then the idle gets better as the Engine warms up?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have not added afterglow yet. Stock glowplug system with brand new bosch plugs. Smoke is blue and smells like oil.
Yes the poor idle continues and smoothes out as the engine warms, smoke continues until I spool the turbo for the first time then there is no smoke until the car sits not running for probably 4-5 hours.