Need advice on 86' 420sel/morning grey smoke
 

When the car parked overnight it always gives me a puff of grey smoke in the morning. Also I just added 2 qtrs. of oil since my last oil change, approx. 3K miles ago. The oil level was at the min. mark. Otherwise the car doesn't smoke. The valve job was done at 175K miles and it has about 250K miles now. Is this normal to consume oil like that? And what this smoke might indicate? :)

Your comments are appreciated.

Thanks

Time to change valve stem seals, you can do it yourself without taking the engine head off. Parts are about $20 from fast lane, but you would need a special valve spring compressor to do the job.

I did mine couple of weeks ago, took me 16 hours (drpopped the thrust piece into the engine :mad: ) to do it but the results are greatifying. no smoke neither I have to put any oil every week.
Good luck.

Many thanks for your advice. At least I know it's not a big deal.

Actually, it is a rather big deal unless you're a pro...
 

Whoa! Who did your 'valve job' that your seals only lasted 75K miles? I'd be PO'd if that were me! Maybe you only have one or two that weren't seated properly. Check your plugs for fouling, that may be all it is.
And Benzmatic, did you get 'lucky' and fish the thrust piece out with a magnetic pick-up or drop the oil pan? (I came within a whisker of dropping a cone half into the oil passage, so I'm just asking for the sake of it).

MB420SEL, yes it is no big deal as long as you do'nt mind putting a quart or two every week. As for as engine is concern, you would be fine. But try to do this Job in few months, it does help on fuel consumption also.

Donbryce, no i was not able to fish it out with any magnatic pic. It just went through the oil passage, and I had to drop the Oil Pan to get it :eek: . I had cover all the passages with cloth, but I removed the cloth when trying to rotate the engine to put the rocker arm back. Too late, the thrust piece went flying form intake valve to the passage :mad: . Oh well I fix an oil leak from oil pressure sensor, while pan was dropped.

Thanks