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  #1  
Old 01-04-2005, 07:25 PM
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1987 420 SEL Engine Help

The engine is burning some oil and I here a clicking noize on the passenger side of the over head Cam. I am thinking of sending the car in for new piston rings, Valve Stem Seal Kit, Valve Guide and Valve Keeper. Is there something I may be missing besides what I have listed. Is there a local shop in seattle that some one trusted. Or should I spend the money on a rebuild engine.

rcaron@nwdemarc.com
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  #2  
Old 01-04-2005, 08:53 PM
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How many miles?
How much oil it burns? 1qt every 1000 or less.
Why you think it need piston rings and valve keeper?
If you are not the first owner, Do you have servcie record or repair history of the car?
It might be just valve stem seals, as for as noise is concern does it come in the mornig for few minutes or continueously as you drive. It could be just a chain slap, or oil is not reaching into the came area in the morning etc. What I am getting at is that do not start throwing money on the problem, first narrow it down to what it is. Give us more details about the problem you are having and may be some one can help you.
And by the way, welcome to the board.
Good Luck
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  #3  
Old 01-05-2005, 08:12 AM
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I would stop driving it as soon as possible. A cam oiler fitting or several of them has probably come loose and the cam is not getting properly lubed thus the valvetrain noise. Hopefully you haven't scored the cam yet. Pull the valve covers and see what you find. Might be time to service the timing chain, guides and tensioner anyhow.

Cam oiler tube fittings are definitely a wear item on these v8's. They will also cause an otherwise seemingly healthy engine to use oil, once the oil tubes pop off oil is pumped in massive amounts into the valve area but not onto the cam as it should, rising to high enough levels to overwhelm the valve seals which are probably weak anyways.
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  #4  
Old 01-08-2005, 08:44 AM
S Car Go's Avatar
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Your problems are easily solved by replacing the valve stem seals and one or more hydraulic compensators. The symptoms you describe are quite common for these engine. I would not think you need new rings as these engines usually go over 500k before needing new rings. Your "bottom end" is fine im sure. Do your seals and have the valve clearance checked and fixed if needed. You will be fine.
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  #5  
Old 01-10-2005, 09:43 AM
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Does it just smoke at start up? If so then your valve stem seals need replaced. You can check for guide wear when replacing the seals. If the valve "wiggles" then you need to replace them - which would require removing the heads. The valve stem seals can be replaced without removing the heads.
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  #6  
Old 01-10-2005, 05:08 PM
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Ok here you all go!!!

Thank you all for responding!

To "BenzMatic"
How many miles 255,000
How much oil it burns? 1qt every 750 Miles
There is no servcie record or repair history That I know of.
noise For a few seconds in the Cold morning.

To "126nut"
The Car runs really good after i changed the sparkplugs I will take pic's of the sparkplugs and put them on a web site so you guys can see what is going on.

To "S Car Go"
Wow thanks for the info 500k miles is alot of miles. Chevy motors could not even touch that.

To "benzboy87"
It did smoke before I changed the sparkplugs. (I'll get the web site Up soon) After I change the SP the smokeing went away. What i do notice is that when you drive for an hour or so that you sorta can smell oil burning, but there is no noise to go with that. You really notice the Oil Smell when you get off the freeway at a stop light.
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  #7  
Old 01-10-2005, 07:03 PM
MB, love..hate..love..
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S Car Go
Your problems are easily solved by replacing the valve stem seals and one or more hydraulic compensators. The symptoms you describe are quite common for these engine. I would not think you need new rings as these engines usually go over 500k before needing new rings. Your "bottom end" is fine im sure. Do your seals and have the valve clearance checked and fixed if needed. You will be fine.
I'll second that opinion. I did my own seals, helluva job but stopped the oil burning completely. Also, try some quality top-end gas additive to see if that doesn't clear a clogged compensator, which it might, like Techron.
P.S.: Are those pointy things on the consol your addition, or the previous owner's?
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  #8  
Old 01-11-2005, 03:42 PM
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New valve seals cured the oil usage on mine. Trouble is, I also had to get a new cam (not cheap). If you need a cam, get new lifters while you're in there. And yes, passenger side...after reading posts here for the last 5+ years, I've come to the conclusion that it happens more than anyone would like to admit.
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  #9  
Old 01-12-2005, 05:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donbryce
I'll second that opinion. I did my own seals, helluva job but stopped the oil burning completely. Also, try some quality top-end gas additive to see if that doesn't clear a clogged compensator, which it might, like Techron.
P.S.: Are those pointy things on the consol your addition, or the previous owner's?
LOL the spikes are what my wife and I added. We wanted to have alittle personal touch with the car.
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  #10  
Old 01-12-2005, 05:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donbryce
I'll second that opinion. I did my own seals, helluva job but stopped the oil burning completely. Also, try some quality top-end gas additive to see if that doesn't clear a clogged compensator, which it might, like Techron.
P.S.: Are those pointy things on the consol your addition, or the previous owner's?

I Forgot to add that the Spikes only represent the Goth side of my wife and I.
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  #11  
Old 01-10-2005, 06:35 PM
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URL link

Here is what the car looks like. There has been alot of work put in to it.
http://www.nwdemarc.com/benz/mbenz2.htm
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  #12  
Old 01-10-2005, 06:56 PM
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hi i just have a question. i see you've installed new speakers. the rears i can see their cover which look good. what about the fronts. i see the grille appears to be cut but aren't they covered??
tks
craig
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  #13  
Old 01-12-2005, 05:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by afmcorp
hi i just have a question. i see you've installed new speakers. the rears i can see their cover which look good. what about the fronts. i see the grille appears to be cut but aren't they covered??
tks
craig
Well the Tweeters are too tall for the Original speaker grills so I cut the grills so that it was not pressing against the tweeters. I will be making some custom stainless dome grills for the car in the next few months… I have to program it in to the C&C Mill

Rob
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  #14  
Old 01-12-2005, 06:43 PM
MB, love..hate..love..
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NB Canada
Posts: 1,173
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcaron
The engine is burning some oil and I here a clicking noize on the passenger side of the over head Cam. I am thinking of sending the car in for new piston rings, Valve Stem Seal Kit, Valve Guide and Valve Keeper. Is there something I may be missing besides what I have listed. Is there a local shop in seattle that some one trusted. Or should I spend the money on a rebuild engine.

rcaron@nwdemarc.com
Adsit lists a rebuilt 116.965 engine at $4995.00, FOB Muncie IN.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rcaron
It is funny you said "Cam's"
I have been thinking about replacing them. Here is the cost and you tell me what you think.
Camshaft left $303.37
Camshaft Right $294.37
Rocker Arm Laso $19.88 for one.
You'll need 16 rocker arms and 16 lifters (est. @ $19.00 ea.) plus cam bearings (no $$ idea, but imagine big$), valve shims, stuff I am omitting because I'm not a mechanic, and of course, labour.

I think you're better off to have a pro examine the situation and advise the condition of the cams, valve guides, valve stem seals, and related components (maybe only 1 or 2 lifters bad). Have the rings checked with a leak-down tester. I'm betting if the guides and cams are acceptable, you will be OK with new seals and replacing the bad lifter(s) (if any).

Nice sound system, and be sure to post pics of the CNC milled speaker grilles.
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  #15  
Old 01-12-2005, 07:30 PM
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Try changing your oil weight to get rid of "ticking" noise in the morning. I had it done so, I switch to 20-50W, the noise went away. It could be a lifter or it could be the wrong oil viscosity, and finally it is possible that valve in the oil filter housing is bad and let the oil flow back to the crankcase. Try doing a search on the forum and you will find tons of post on this topic.
Do not throw money on the issue, try to diagnose before spend some, you can end up spending $$$$ on a problem which could be very easy to fix. If you are not a serious DIYer, try to find a reliable independent machanic. This forum also has a link, look under "general discussion" and then click on "Good MB shops".
Hope it helps, Keep us posted.
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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)
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