Still trying to conquer the smoking problem on my 220D. The car spits tons of unburned diesel fumes out the pipe, but has great compression on all 4 cylinders.

Here are some questions:

1. I checked the timing chain, and it seems very stiff to the touch and in good shape. I did not actually take any measurments, but I can only deflect it from its path by about 3-4mm by pulling it with my finger. This seems like an acceptable level of slack and I do not think it would be affecting the timing of the vehicle.

2. While the valve cover was off, I noticed that the number 2 cylinder's cam mount (??) was aligned poorly. Please see the pictures for a better understanding:





This looks a bit odd to me, but I dont see how it would be causing any problems?

3. I was replacing my clear fuel filter, because it looked sooty, and I accidently pulled the line from its source. Looky what I have on my shop floor:



Any idea where this connects? I obviously know to connect the filter end to a hard line around the IP ... but the other end??

4. I just got my injectors back from the shop. They were found to all be out of whack (squirting in a wierd pattern and dribbling)... but they were repaired and cleaned. Any idea if this would fix my smoking problem?

Since the timing chain looks good, I have pretty much narrowed down the issue to the IP on the #4 cylinder. I am guessing the number 4 squirter on the IP is at fault because #4 cylinder does not heat up as quick as the rest and does not "hit" like the other 3 cylinders. As far as I can tell, #4 isnt firing correctly and is belching the bits of fuel it gets out the tail pipe. Any other ideas/comments before I go back at this tommorow?

Cazzzidy,

The bent part near the cam is only a bracket that the valve bolts to. Will not affect engine performance.

The extra part is the primary filter. It goes between the end of the fuel line and the fuel pump. There will be another hose connector on the fuel line or the fuel pump that connects to the bare nipple on the filter.

I think you are due for a IP test and repair or rebuild. Take the IP to a Diesel injection shop where it can be tested and repaired.

Thats not the 'cam-mount'..... just fixture for attaching valve cover. It can be bent like preztel and wont make any difference.

That hose and filter combo is not original MB; it looks like bogus replacement for primary right-angle fuel filter that feeds injector pump.

From what you've said - it sounds like you've got bad #4 injector, so fix it.

Cazzidy:

You must measure the stretch, it won't show up as slack, you have a hydraulic tensioner in there that removes it all. To veryify, you must line up the marks on the cam with the mark on the front cam tower, then read the crank pulley at the indicator. This will give a rough idea of chain stretch.

I'd guess you have a combination of poor injectors (fixed now), late cam timing, and late injection timing. This will give you low effective (running) compression and lots of smoke from poor combustion.

Replacing the chain will fix the cam timing and the injection timing (Don't set the timing first, you will have to do it again on the IP if you do....)

Have you adjusted the valves yet? You will have to do that, to, I'm sure.

Put the injectors back in and run it, you may have fixed most of the smoke just from that.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!