I have been smelling burning oil over the last 2 weeks and decided to do some investigation. Here are the pictures, was wondering if this is common or if I have a blow-by problem developing. My first guess is that the plug seals are just not working correctly, but the worst pooling is around #7 plug. #1 is leaking a slight amount, #3 & #5 are clear.

Anybody have some insight?

Ron

PS how do you attach a picture?

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1995 E320 -171k-km
1995 S420 -333k-km

Which 420 motor - 116 or 119? Or what year and model. 116s and 119s are quite different motors. For pictures, under additional options, select "manage attachments".

Its a 95 S420, so I believe that makes it a 119 motor.

Regarding the pictures, can't seem to make them small enough to get past the editor. Oh well! Try something else.

I'll take a look for Kenp's article.

Thanks

PS all contributions greatly appreciated.

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1995 E320 -171k-km
1995 S420 -333k-km

I've given up working pictures to they fit the attachment criteria. Maybe you can set up a free picture account with yahoo or one of the many free picture hosting websites.

Check the post from the past couple of days on the cam lubrication tubes.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Can you not adjust the resolution and/or the size to get in down under the minimum requirement?

May be we are talking about 2 different issues. The oil leakage from Valve covers and stem seals/vlave.
The oil leak from valve covers can not get into the plugs, but can drop on the exhaust pipe and give you a burnig smell. Same thing can happen if transmissinon fluid is leaking and dropping on the exhaust pipe. I guess time to get under the car and investigate more.
As for as plugs being all oiled up, it could be stem seals leaking, bad valve or worse case worn up rings. How many miles on the car? how often you have to put a quart of oil in the engine? Does it gives you a puff of smoke on start up?

I hope these questions /investigation will help you to narrow it down to actual problem.

Good Luck.

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87 420 SEL
Looking for a nice mid 80's MB diesel.
87 BMW 528e (Sold)
99 TOYOTA 4Runner
1989 Honda Accord (Sold)
1988 Honda Accord (Total)

I just got a 86 420sel with an oil leak. It was also around the same plugs as you discribed(the left side). We found it to be the valve cover gasket. Apon inspection I found that oil was pooling up under the vavle cover and then flowing out of the engine. On the test drive wich was about ten miles we lost a quarter of a quart. Hope this helps.

My inspections/conversations (thanks Ray) have confimed my thoughts on the matter. It appears to be a combination of valve cover gasket and the sparkplug rubber seals. Benz locally was telling me that it could be an exhaust valve blow-by forcing the oil up around the spark plug, but at this stage I just can't seem to comprehend this. The major portion of the leakage appears around the spark plugs. These gaskets are harder than the valve cover gasket so I have ordered the replacement gasket and will give it a try.

I'll report back with lower quality pictures when I get them and install them.

Ron

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1995 E320 -171k-km
1995 S420 -333k-km